The stage is set for the next crop of AFL stars from NSW and the ACT to shine when they travel to Sydney for round one of the Under-18 AFL NAB Championships being held on Saturday, May 22 at Blacktown Olympic Park - the new home of Team GWS.

The national event will provide a sneak preview of Australia's best emerging talent, who will burst onto the AFL scene next season.

The NSW/ACT RAMS, coached by former Western Bulldogs dual All-Australian Rohan Smith, will take on Northern Territory at 1:30pm for their first big challenge of the Championships. Prior to this match Queensland will face Tasmania at 11am.

The RAMS will then return to Blacktown Olympic Park on June 6 when they play Victoria Country for their round two encounter.

Playing for the RAMS on Saturday will be a number of players already on scholarships with AFL clubs, including Sam Martyn (Adelaide), Harrison Cumming (Port Adelaide), Trent Stubbs (Hawthorn), Jack Mahony (Hawthorn), Blake Bray (Carlton), Kane Murphy (St Kilda) and James Webster (Essendon).

With all 16 AFL club talent scouts looking on, as well as Gold Coast and Team GWS, there will be plenty to play for this weekend.

Two players to keep an eye out for on Saturday is the exciting Northern Territorian Curtly Hampton and RAMS player Anthony Miles.

AFL (NSW/ACT) State Talent Manager, Darren Denneman, said the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships provides players with a platform to fulfill their dreams of being selected by an AFL club in the end of season drafts.

"The first game of the nationals presents itself as a great opportunity for these players to showcase their talents to show us how much preparation and work they've done in the previous weeks, months and years," Denneman said.

"With the concessions that are being offered to the two news clubs (Team GWS and Gold Coast), club talent scouts will be there watching as they are trying to scour the country to find the best available talent.

"This weekend at least the division two sides will be here in NSW and in particular at Blacktown and those players get their opportunity to impress."

The RAMS will be looking for a repeat of last year when the Under-18 side won the division two final against Tasmania by 37-points.

The Under-16 RAMS last year, fell short in the grand final by 21 points against Queensland. Some players who competed in last year's game will be on show again on Saturday for the Under-18 RAMS.

Current super stars of the competition, Chris Judd (Vic Metro), Lance 'Buddy' Franklin (Western Australia), Jonathan Brown (Vic Country), Matthew Pavlich (South Australia) and Lenny Hayes (NSW/ACT) are products of this great event. A number of AFL greats have also played in the carnival including Tony Lockett, James Hird and Michael Voss.

2010 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships Fixture

Round 1

Round 2

Under-18 RAMS side

Media Enquiries
Jordan Laing, Communications Coordinator
E jordan.laing@aflnswact.com.au