2026 AAMI SA U18 Squad Finalised

By ZAC MILBANK

A 35-player AAMI South Australian U18 squad has been finalised ahead of the 2026 Marsh AFL Boys National Championships. 

Set to play four matches in the highly-anticipated national tournament, the Croweaters will kick off their campaign interstate against Western Australia in Perth on Saturday June 13.

To be coached for the final time by SANFL U18 Academy Manager Tony Bamford, SA’s line-up boasts seven underage players and two overage players, Woodville-West Torrens forward Jack Slattery and West Adelaide tall Lincoln Pitt.

Exciting talents include Central District pair Dougie Cochrane and Jack Gordon, Glenelg livewire Gabe Patterson, North Adelaide ruck Ethan Herbert and South Adelaide ball magnet Kodah Edwards, who are all members of the AFL Academy.

Cochrane, who is currently a part of Port Adelaide’s SANFL program as he is a Power NGA prospect, is currently managing knee tendinitis.

Another Power NGA prospect, South Adelaide’s Zemes Pilot, is among the bottom-age players in the squad, together with Sturt pair Harvey Chapman and Taj Garrett, West Adelaide duo Laurence Andriani and Dean Hatedakis, as well as Norwood midfielder Kai Ivins.

Eagle Jack Leys, the son of former Richmond defender Brian Leys, is a potential father-son prospect for the Tigers, while Jack Nelson is the son of former Crow and Carlton utility Ben Nelson.

Training begins on Wednesday April 22, with SA’s following matches to be played against the Allies (Sunday June 21) at Alberton in SA, Victoria Metro (Friday July 3) in Melbourne and Victoria Country (Wednesday July 8) in Melbourne.