Ricky Mentha to feature in Australia Under 18's vs VFL side Coburg Match

The 2024 Marsh AFL National Academy Boys squad will don the Australia jumper for the first time this year when they take on VFL outfit Coburg at IKON Park this Saturday, April 13.
 
The Marsh AFL National Academy is an accelerated football and personal development program that provides the next generation of stars with experiences, learnings and further opportunities to best prepare them for the next steps in their football journey.
 
The 2024 Marsh AFL National Academy Boys squad comprises many of the nation’s most promising footballers born in 2006 who will be eligible to be selected in the 2024 AFL Draft.
 
Saturday’s game at IKON Park will be the first of two matches the 2024 Marsh AFL National Academy squad will play as the Australia U18 team this month. They will also take on VFL team Footscray in Melbourne on the weekend of April 27-28.
 
Due to several injuries within the Marsh AFL National Academy Boys squad, three additional players have been invited to take part in this week’s camp.
 
Taj Hotton (Sandringham Dragons), Tobie Travaglia (Bendigo Pioneers) and Jack Whitlock (Murray Bushrangers) have been included and will feature in the Australia U18 team that takes on Coburg at IKON Park.
 
Existing squad members Bo Allan, Malakai Champion, Sid Draper, Archer Day-Wicks, Jonty Faull, Sam Lalor, Finn O’Sullivan won’t play in Saturday’s match due to injury but will still travel to Melbourne to take part in the camp.
 
The Marsh AFL National Academy Boys squad will arrive in Melbourne on Thursday for their second high-performance camp of the 2024 program. It follows an induction camp that was held in Victoria last December.
 
The squad will feature in a range of wellbeing, education and team bonding sessions throughout the three-day camp and will also train at Sandringham’s Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning in preparation for Saturday’s match.
 
Marsh AFL National Academy Manager, Tarkyn Lockyer, said: “We are looking forward to having the Marsh AFL National Academy Boys squad together again this weekend and providing the players with new learnings and experiences to further enhance their development on and off the field,” Lockyer said.
 
“Having the opportunity to wear the Australia jumper in a match is one of the great highlights of the Marsh AFNL National Academy program and we look forward to this year’s squad having that chance this Saturday when they take on Coburg.”
 
Saturday’s match between Australia U18 and Coburg will commence at 1:00pm, with entry free for all spectators.
 
AUSTRALIA U18 vs COBURG
Saturday, April 13, 2024
1:00pm AEST
IKON Park
Free entry
 
HOW TO WATCH: Saturday’s match between Australia U18 and Coburg will be available to watch live and free on the AFL website.
 
Continue below to view the Australia U18 squad for Saturday’s match at IKON Park.
*Denotes injured and won’t play