PORT ADELAIDE’s SANFL team will host the country’s most talented draft-age footballers in a trial game in the Adelaide Hills on Saturday as part of the AFL’s Gather Round - A Festival of Footy.

The AFL Academy Boys are taking part in their second camp of the 2023 program in Adelaide this week, with Saturday’s match a feature of the program.

The match will be played as a curtain-closer to the Round 5 AFL game between the Brisbane Lions and North Melbourne at Adelaide Hills (Summit Sports and Recreation Park, Mount Barker), commencing at 4:00pm ACST.

The game will be live streamed through the AFL website.

Port Adelaide’s side for the game includes nine SANFL-contracted players, giving coach Tyson Goldsack an opportunity to see some of them, including brothers Hugh and Will Ferrari and Charlie McArthur., who each came through Sturt’s juniors, in action for the first time.

AFL emergencies Tom Clurey, Mitch Georgiades, Riley Bonner and Jackson Mead could each be involved if not required for the AFL match against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night.

The AFL Academy features a selection of the most talented male footballers across the country. All players were aged 17 as of January 1, 2023 and will be eligible in the 2023 AFL Draft.

Players in the AFL Academy participate in high performance and personal development programs throughout the 2023 season, with the Academy’s purpose to best prepare players for transition from talent pathways into elite football programs.

The 30-player squad includes a host of the most exciting prospects in this year’s draft pool, with all states and territories represented.

Among those who will represent Australia in Saturday’s game against Port Adelaide are Caiden Cleary (NSW/ACT), Orlando Turner (Northern Territory), Jed Walter (Queensland), Ashton Moir (South Australia), Colby McKercher (Tasmania), Harley Reid (Victoria Country), Nick Watson (Victoria Metro) and Daniel Curtin (Western Australia).

“It’s a great thrill to have the AFL Academy together in South Australia and experience the excitement of Gather Round,” said National Academy Manager, Tarkyn Lockyer.“Those selected in the AFL Academy represent the future of the AFL and we are pleased to provide the opportunity for the players to represent Australia against Port Adelaide on Saturday.

“We are excited to see them put their talents on show in front of South Australian football fans.”


HOW TO WATCH: The match between the AFL Academy and Port Adelaide SANFL will be available to watch live and free on the AFL website.


AUSTRALIA
 

PORT ADELAIDE

*bold denotes SANFL-contracted player