2022 SANFL U17 Futures Squad

By ZAC MILBANK

A 64-player SANFL U17 Futures Squad has been released ahead of the program beginning on Thursday September 1.

As many as 44 of South Australia’s most talented Under-17s have been listed, headlined by exciting South goalsneak Jack Delean, Sturt midfielder Luca Slade, West utility Will Patton and Eagles forward Patrick Weckert, who will make his SANFL League debut on Saturday.

All of these players will be eligible for the 2023 AFL Draft, with the SANFL U17 Futures program the first step towards next year’s SA U18 Talent Hub.

The 2022 squad is also made up of 20 U16 players, including several of this year’s victorious Torrens University SA U16 team in Glenelg’s Lucas Camporeale, Sturt’s Ned Atkinson, South’s Sid Draper and the Eagles’ Tyler Welsh.

Training, under head coach Tony Bamford, will take place at Thebarton Oval around U16 and U18 SANFL Finals across a three-week period.

The program will culminate in a showcase U17 Futures match being played at Adelaide Oval on  SANFL Grand Final day, Sunday September 18.

Only players not participating for their SANFL club in an U16 or U18 Torrens University Cup Grand Final will be available for the U17 Futures match.