South Aussies selected in 2023 NAB AFL and AFLW Academies

By ZAC MILBANK

Ten of South Australia’s brightest young talents have been selected in the 2023 NAB AFL and AFLW Academies.

Spring-heeled South Adelaide goalsneak Jack Delean, North Adelaide ball magnet Kane McAuliffe, versatile West Adelaide utility Will Patton and athletic Glenelg forward Ashton Moir have been named in the AFL Academy headed up by former Collingwood star Tarkyn Lockyer.

In another pointer to SA’s emergence as a genuine producer of top-end female talent, six players were listed in the AFLW Academy.

Woodville-West Torrens midfielder Shineah Goody, who won the MVP award for the entire 2022 AFLW U18 National Championships, headlines the group, together with exciting West Adelaide playmaker Lauren Young.

Young, who injured the ACL in her knee at training late last year, is working her way back to full fitness after winning the SANFLW best-and fairest award in her debut season of 2021.

Glenelg ruck Matilda Scholz, hard-running Bays teammate Piper Window, balanced Norwood midfielder Molly Brooksby and speedy Central small forward Elaine Grigg have also been included.