YJFL Talent Programs
The Gladiators proactively participate in talent programs run by the YJFL.
The Yarra Junior Football League run several talent programs on the calendar every year, covering Under 12s through to the Under 17.5 Boys and Under 18 Girls.
Program Details:
| Age Group | Progam | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Under 12 | Future Program | October |
| Under 13 | Yarra Magpies | October/ November |
| Under 14 | Yarra Magpies | March/April/May/June |
| Under 15 | Yarra Magpies | March/April/May/June |
| Under 16 | Mornington | June/July |
| Under 17.5 Boys & Under 18 Girls | Team of the Year | September |
Under 12 Boys & Girls – ‘Futures Program’
The Under 12 Futures Program takes place in October each year. Based on club nominations, the futures program allows each club to nominate a select number of players to participate in a four week training program.
The futures program gives Under 12 players their first opportunity to be part of a representative program and provides a strong orientation ahead of longer representative programs in future years.
Invitations to players selected for the squad will be sent out in September.
Under 13, 14 & 15 Boys & Girls – Yarra Magpies Academy
The Yarra Magpies Academy model sees the YJFL interleague training program partner with Collingwood NGA for Under 13 to Under 15 players.
The Under 14 boys, Under 15 boys and Under 15 Girls teams participate in AFL Victoria’s Metropolitan Junior Development Series, with matches held on the Saturday and Monday of Queen’s Birthday weekend.
Our Under 13 boys, Under 13 girls and Under 14 girls squad will play intra-squad matches.
More information regarding the Yarra Magpies program can be found here
Under 16 Boys & Girls – Mornington
The Under 16 program relies on club nominations and generally gives players who have not represented the YJFL previously an opportunity to earn a representative jumper. The program consists of three training sessions and a match.
Two former members of the U16 YJFL boys team have been drafted by AFL clubs in the previous years – Justin McInerney (Banyule/Sydney Swans) and Francis Evans (Brunswick/Geelong/Port Adelaide).
Players invited to participate in the squad will receive notification in the first week of June.
Team of the Year Matches
The YJFL Under 17.5 Boys and Under 18 Girls Teams of the Year play a match against an Oakleigh Chargers Development squad at the end of the season.
The match allows the best YJFL players of the season in these age groups to participate in match together, with the Oakleigh Chargers using the game as a trial for their bottom age players.
The match will be played in mid-September following the YJFL finals series.
NGA Programs
As players reach the older age groups, some will be selected to participate in NGA programs run by AFL Clubs (Under 15) and the NAB League (Under 16 & Under 18). Players with multicultural or indigenous backgrounds may be selected to participate in NGA program at a younger age.
The geographical location of our league sees players dispersed into four NGA talent zones and four NAB League zones. The majority of YJFL clubs are based within the Oakleigh Chargers/Collingwood NGA region, and the Northern Knights/Carlton NGA region.
Check out here for a map with the locations of our clubs, the NAB League and NGA boundaries.
Players can check which NGA region they live in by searching their residential address at the link below:
https://www.afl.com.au/discover/competitions/next-generation-and-club-academy-programs