By Matt Fotia
The AFL Outer East Juniors have announced an extended 37 player squad that will take on the New Zealand Under 18 side in a one off exhibition match on the 23rd of April at the Thomas Barclay Oval in Hastings.
The game against the Kiwis will provide the final squad of 24 another opportunity to impress Eastern Ranges selectors, as well as give exposure to some quality footballers from overseas.
The New Zealand side is made up of players currently playing in the AFL New Zealand Youth Competition, Local Club or the AFL New Zealand Premiership. The New Zealand U18 team tour each year, facing off against the Mornington Peninsula Football Netball League Juniors and will add the fixture against the AFL Outer East Juniors to their tour itinerary.
This match signals the start of what is hopefully a lengthy partnership between the AFL Outer East Juniors and AFL New Zealand, with the possibility of a reciprocal Tour of NZ in the near future.
Squad :
| Angus Sheldrake | Emerald |
| Ben Lewis | Emerald |
| Brodie Walker | Emerald |
| Callum Bourne | Gembrook – Cockatoo |
| Mitchell Candy | Gembrook – Cockatoo |
| Patrick Snoxell | Gembrook – Cockatoo |
| Callum Sibley | Healesville |
| Samuel Gebert | Healesville |
| Jack Howie | Healesville |
| Brandon Murphy | Healesville |
| Alex Green | Monbulk |
| Jake Niclasen | Monbulk |
| Ben Grimes | Monbulk |
| Bailey Syswerda | Mt Evelyn |
| Declan Thiele | Mt Evelyn |
| Cooper Colee | Mt Evelyn |
| Lauchlin Johnson | Olinda |
| Brad Langridge | Olinda |
| Tyler Belloni | Olinda |
| Alex Buckingham-Brown | Olinda |
| Frank Seal | Olinda |
| Max Thornton | Olinda |
| John Koutros | Upwey Tecoma |
| Ben Matthews | Upwey Tecoma |
| Will Hutcheon | Upwey Tecoma |
| Matthew Brasher | Upwey Tecoma |
| Flynn Kroeger | Wandin |
| Lachlan Riddiford | Wandin |
| Aiden Norfolk | Wesburn |
| Benson Dunn | Wandin |
| Ben Burke | Wesburn |
| Kai Hatch | Wesburn |
| Lachlan Marr | Wesburn |
| Dylan Briggs | Woori Yallock |
| Liam O’Dea | Woori Yallock |
| Angus Smith | Woori Yallock |
| Rory Smith | Yarra Glen |
