AFL Draft: In-form brother of Saint named in extended AFL Academy squad for clash with VFL club

A 29-player squad has been named for the AFL National Academy ahead of its first game of 2024, with the side featuring this year's top draft stars.

The Academy will face VFL outfit Coburg this weekend at Princes Park, with leading teenage talent Levi Ashcroft, Jagga Smith, Leonardo Lombard and Josh Smillie among those named to face the Lions.

Victorian-based trio Taj Hotton (Sandringham), Tobie Travaglia (Bendigo) and Jack Whitlock (Murray) have been included in the squad for Saturday's clash with Coburg due to recent injuries to existing members of the AFL National Academy.

Hotton, the younger brother of St Kilda's Ollie, has enjoyed a strong start to his draft campaign in the Talent League, averaging 28.7 disposals, 7.3 marks, 4.7 inside 50s and 1.7 goals per game from his three appearances for the Dragons.

His addition to the Academy comes as Bo Allan, Malakai Champion, Sid Draper, Archer Day-Wicks, Jonty Faull, Sam Lalor and Finn O'Sullivan all miss the Academy's first game of the year through injury.

All absent players for Saturday's match will still travel to Melbourne for the high-performance camp and remain included in the listed AFL Academy Squad.

“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,” National Academy manager Tarkyn 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.”

The U18s side face Coburg at IKON Park at 1:00pm (AEST) on Saturday, April 13.