Next Generation on the Road to the NAB AFL Draft

The AFL has today released the dates and times for the NAB AFL U17 Championships and NAB AFL U19 Championships scheduled to take place over the next three months across Australia.
 
The NAB AFL Championships represents the highest level of representative football for boys aged 17 years and under and 19 years and under in their quest to join the AFL. 2021 represents the 25th year of the dual-age-group Championships with the first competition held in 1996 featuring former AFL stars Warren Tredrea, Tom Harley, Stuart Dew and Nathan Brown.
 
The best boys from across Australia will be selected to represent their respective states in a competition matching the best against the best. The majority of players selected at the 2021 NAB AFL Draft in December will play in the Championships this year.
 
AFL Head of Talent Pathways and State League Competitions Tristan Salter said it is great to have the NAB AFL Championships back in 2021.
 
“These players represent the future of Australian Football and will feature prominently on NAB AFL Draft night for the next two years,” Salter said.
 
“The NAB AFL Championships presents the highest standard of representative football for aspiring talent across Australia and the players selected are the best of the best from their states and territories.”
 
“The talent pool across both age divisions provides a clear indicator that our game is strong and our AFL Talent Pathway programs continue to deliver the best Australian athletes and we can’t wait to see them perform over the next few months.”

The AFL talent identification teams will descend on GMHBA Stadium this Saturday to see Victoria Metro take on Victoria Country at 11.30am in the second game of the NAB AFL U17 Championships after South Australia nudged out Western Australia in game one last Sunday by three points.

The AFL remains committed to aligning the National, State and Community programs and how it can best benefit the development, skill and pathway for girls and boys. The Talent Pathway Program will continue to focus on a holistic football program which is heavily invested in on and off field development and performance.

The 2021 NAB AFL U17 and U19 All-Australian teams will be selected at conclusion of the respective Championships.
 
All squads and coaches will be announced in the coming weeks.
 
NAB AFL U17 Championship Teams
Division 1
South Australia
Victoria Country
Victoria Metro
Western Australia
 
Division 2
Queensland
Tasmania                                                     
Northern Territory
NSW/ACT          
 
NAB AFL U19 Championship Teams
Allies – New South Wales, ACT, Tasmania, Queensland and Northern Territory
South Australia
Victoria Country
Victoria Metro
Western Australia

All matches will be broadcast live across multiple platforms on afl.com.au and Fox Footy.
 
The AFL will host the NAB AFL National Draft Combine in Melbourne following the NAB AFL U19 Championships on September 29 and 30. The two-day Combine will feature up to 60 nominated players be medically screened by the AFL clubs medical staff and interviewed by AFL clubs.
 
Following the NAB AFL National Draft Combine; state based draft combines will occur where national and state combine invitees will conduct the physical portion of the combine include the 20m sprint, vertical jump, AFL agility and two-kilometre time-trial. These will be held in Victoria on Sunday October 10, South Australia on Saturday October 16 and Western Australia on Sunday October 17.

The final game of the NAB AFLW U19 Championships between Queensland and Victoria will be played at the Metricon Stadium Training Complex on Saturday July 10 at 11.00am. 
 
The 2021 NAB AFL Draft will be held in November.
 
While COVID-19 continues to impact the community, the health and welfare of our players and the community remains the priority and all matches will operate in a safe manner anchored in the advice of respective governments, public health officials and medical experts. Strict protocols will be in place to protect players, officials, staff and the wider public at all matches. 
 
All matches are subject to change and will reflect the COVID protocols and border restrictions at the time.
 
For all information relating to the NAB AFL Championships please visit afl.com.au/draft.