WITH a massively successful 2019 NAB League season in the books, it is almost time for the Under-18s development league to start back once more. A combined 60 players were drafted across the boys and girls leagues in 2019, making this season an interesting one with plenty of young talent hoping to break into contention. The NAB League Girls season will run for 10 weeks with two weeks of finals action, while the NAB League Boys will run for 19 weeks, following by a Wildcard Round and then four-week finals series as per the same as last year.
“In just one season the NAB League has had a major impact on the AFL/AFLW national drafts with more than 50 per cent of the total draftees coming from the NAB League,” AFL Head of Talent Pathways and State League Competitions, Tristan Salter. said “Our aim is to continue to build a professional environment across both the girls and boys’ competitions that exposes the players to the best coaching, facilities, training and development.”
The 2020 season of NAB League boys will begin on Saturday, March 21, and will see academy sides in Gold Coast Suns, Brisbane Lions, Sydney Swans, GWS Giants and Northern Territory return once more. Key dates for the season are the annual ‘Country Round’, scheduled for early April, with a Queens Birthday clash between Sandringham Dragons and Oakley Chargers on Friday July 5. The season will end with triple headers at Avalon Airport Oval and Mars Stadium Ballarat respectively, with Wildcard round the following weekend of August 22.
Among big match-ups for both leagues are respective 2019 Grand final rematches, which sees Eastern Ranges take on premiers, Oakleigh Chargers in Round 3 (April 5) while in the girls competition, premiers Northern Knights host a massive Round 1 clash against Calder Cannons to start the season with a bang (February 29).
Under-18 girls matches will open for three AFL Women’s fixtures this season, and Tasmania Devils will be joining the NAB League Girls full time in 2020 after a successful introduction to the Boys’ competition in 2019. Northern Territory follows Tasmania’s pathway from 2019, playing three matches in the league, while both Queensland pathways in Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast Suns will play invitationals in early May.
Northern Territory will host both girls and boys teams in Darwin in a double header in April, with selected girls fixtures streamed and all boys fixtures live-streamed.
Fixtures will be available on the website shortly.
Q&A: Megan Norbury (West Perth)
WEST Perth winger Megan Norbury posted one of the best yo-yo times at the Preseason Testing Day, with the top-age runner one of a number of West Australian AFLW draft prospects this year. We spoke to Norbury at the event about her football journey, game and future goals. Q: Megan, tell us about your footy […]
Swans and Giants enter Talent League Girls
SYDNEY Swans and GWS Giants fans have another competition to keep an eye on this weekend, with the New South Wales Academies taking part in the Coates Talent League Girls competition for the first time in 2024. Having taken part the last few years as a way of involving the Northern Academies and assisting in […]
2024 SANFLW Round 7: Friday preview
A HUGE contest under Friday night lights sees ladder leaders Glenelg face off against big improvers Woodville-West Torrens with the latter eyeing off a spot inside the top four with a win, while the Bays need victory to fend off last year’s grand finalists who are closing fast.
Scouting Notes: 2024 VFLW – Round 4
DESPITE plenty of AFLW players still being around there were a number of VFLW listed players who were crucial for their respective sides and we took note of how they performed in our weekly Scouting notes. All notes are the opinion of the individual author. Western Bulldogs 4.4 (28) defeated Essendon 3.8 (26) Western Bulldogs: […]
2024 AFL Sydney Women’s Premier preview: Round 3
A BLOCKBUSTER third round of action sees two of the title contenders go head-to-head at Gipps Road Ovals with Parramatta Goannas up against East Coast Eagles. Both sides have quality lineups and will be wanting to go 2-0 to start the season with the Eagles still missing some quality players and the Goannas keen to […]
PODCAST | Final Siren: Episode 168
REPRESENTATIVE action is upon us and much more looms on the horizon in the men’s footballing pathway. That means there’s plenty for the Final Siren Podcast team to chat about in the latest episode and those to come. Tune in for a glimpse of the prospects emerging in state and national colours. EPISODE TIMESTAMPS Episode […]
PODCAST | Game Sense: Season 3, Episode 6
THE GAME Sense Podcast is back for another episode, with plenty of talking points to touch on after an action-packed week of women’s pathway football. From top prospects strutting their stuff, to players returning from long-term injuries, and the Under 16 National Championships, there is plenty to get through with host Michael Alvaro and resident […]
2024 Young Guns squad announced
VICTORIAN mid-season draft hopefuls will have a chance to impress over the next fortnight as the annual Young Guns series gets underway on Saturday. A 24-player squad to take on Vic Metro and Vic Country has been announced, featuring 23 players eligible for the intake. >> SCROLL to see the full squad AFL recruiters lodged […]
Academy experience helps Williams develop
VIC Metro Under 16s representative Lara Williams donned the ‘Big V’ last week in Shepparton where her side defeated Vic Country by two points in a thriller. A member of the Rookie Me Academy, Williams moved through the pathways from interleague to state, while also having the opportunity to train with the Eastern Ranges Under […]
