Five Tasmania Devils have been named in the initial 30-player NAB AFL National Academy Allies squad for 2020.
Sam Banks (Clarence), Jackson Callow (North Launceston), Sam Collins (North Hobart), Oliver Davis (Clarence) and Patrick Walker (North Hobart) have all been named in the squad that is made up of the best young talent from New South Wales / Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, Northern Territory and Tasmania.
Callow, Collins and Davis all got a taste for Allies action in 2019, while fellow draft-age player Walker and bottom-ager Banks have been named in the Allies squad for the first time.
Davis, the Tasmania Devils co-captain in 2019, took out the Best & Fairest and Midfielder of the Year awards at last week’s Devils Awards Night, while Callow took home the Forward of the Year award as well as Runner Up in the Best & Fairest.
Patrick Walker (seventh) and Sam Collins (10th) also featured inside the top 10, while rising star Sam Banks took home the U16 Best & Fairest Award in a year that also saw him claim the Alan McLean Medal as the U16 Division 2 Championships MVP, play eight NAB League games and two senior Bupa TSL games with Clarence.
The recently expanded NAB AFL Academy program will see 150 players across each state and territory take part in high performance camps focusing on players on and off-field education.
All five NAB AFL Academy Squads will come together for the first camps in the coming weeks, with the Allies squad training at AFL clubs from throughout November and December.
AFL National Talent Pathways Manager Marcus Ashcroft said it is an exciting time for the country’s best young talent.
“The new approach to the national NAB AFL Academy, introduced for the first time in 2018, will again ensure more of our most talented players have access to AFL facilities, while receiving the best quality coaching, high performance and well-being services in the country,” he said.
“Importantly these players will spend more time in their home states, with year-round first-class support that will enhance their opportunity to perform at an elite level.
“I congratulate all players who have been named in their NAB AFL Academy Squads today and I look forward to watching their development over the next few years.”
The best Under-17 and Under-18 players from the state academies will also have the opportunity to attend national camps. These activities include:
- NAB AFL Under-17 Futures players to spend a week at an AFL club (December 2019)
- The best 24 Under-18 players to represent Australia against VFL opposition (April 2020)
- The best 24 Under-17 players to represent Australia against New Zealand (April 2020)
- NAB AFL Under-17 Futures Game (2020 Toyota AFL Grand Final Day)
This year marks the 23rd NAB AFL Academy intake. Since its inception in 1997, 515 NAB AFL Academy players (81 per cent of all NAB AFL Academy players) have been drafted to AFL clubs.
2020 NAB AFL ACADEMY SQUAD
Tahj Abberley (Brisbane Lions Academy/Sandgate)
Samuel Banks (Tasmania Devils/Clarence)
Jack Briskey (Brisbane Lions Academy/Western Magpies/Toowoomba)
Charlie Byrne (Murray Bushrangers/Albury)
Jackson Callow Tasmania Devils/North Launceston
Braeden Campbell (Sydney Swans Academy/Westbrook)
Blake Coleman (Brisbane Lions Academy/Morningside)
Sam Collins (Tasmania Devils/North Hobart)
Saxon Crozier (Brisbane Lions Academy/Morningside)
Alex Davies (Gold Coast SUNS Academy/Cairns/Broadbeach)
Oliver Davis (Tasmania Devils/Clarence)
Jack Driscoll (GWS GIANTS Academy/Yerong Creek)
Ryan Eyers (Murray Bushrangers/Corowa/Rotherglen)
Joshua Fahey (GWS GIANTS Academy/Queanbeyan Tigers)
Aidan Fyfe (Gold Coast SUNS Academy/Broadbeach)
Joshua Green (GWS GIANTS Academy/Marist/ACT)
Errol Gulden (Sydney Swans Academy/Maroubra Saints)
Joel Jeffrey (NT Thunder/Wanderers)
Jack Johnston (Gold Coast SUNS Academy/Palm Beach)
Brodie Lake (NT Thunder/Southern Districts)
Tyrell Lui (NT Thunder/Wanderers)
Noah McFadyen (Brisbane Lions Academy/Wilston Grange)
Carter Michael (Brisbane Lions Academy/Maroochydore)
Rhys Nicholls (Gold Coast SUNS Academy/Labrador)
Kye Pfrengle (Sydney Swans Academy/Cronulla Sharks)
Ryan Pickering (Gold Coast SUNS Academy/Townsville/Hermit Park Tigers)
Marco Rossman (Sydney Swans Academy/East Sydney Bulldogs)
Mark Sheather (Sydney Swans Academy/Pennant Hills)
Sam Stening (GWS GIANTS Academy/Wagga Swans)
Patrick Walker (Tasmania Devils/North Hobart)