Mega gallery: Canberra's future AFL stars tested against best in NSW

The smell of barbequed sausages and sunscreen filled the air on a picture perfect spring day at Margaret Donohoe Oval for a highly-anticipated junior AFL gala day with future superstars in action.

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Teenagers in the Canberra region don't get too many opportunities to play rival clubs from around NSW, but the Champion of Champions tournament at Karabar provided just that.

Champion of Champions AFL junior gala day for under-16s and under-17s boys and girls at Patches Park in Karabar. Pictures by Keegan Carroll

For some of the 200 boys and girls aged between 15 and 17, it was also a chance to get scouted by AFL and AFLW clubs, including the GWS Giants.

The invitation-only carnival included the grand finalist clubs from the top junior grades of six regional leagues in AFL Riverina, AFL Central West, AFL Farrer, AFL Sapphire Coast, AFL South Coast, and of course, AFL Canberra.

Tuggeranong Valley prevailed in the under 17 girls division with a 10.10 (70) to 0.1 (1) win over the Queanbeyan Tigers. The Eastlake Demons lifted the cup in the under 17 boys competition with a 6.5 (41) to 0.3 (3) win over Narrandera Eagles, while Kiama Power beat Wollongong Lions 9.6 (6) to 0.0 (0) in the plate final.

Coleambally Blues cousins Alex, Harvey and Damon Pound got up at 5am to make the four-hour drive to Karabar for the Champion of Champions and were chomping at the bit to compete against strong teams from the regions.

"It's been heaps of fun," Alex Pound told The Canberra Times after Eastlake Demons handed the Blues a hard-fought 6.4 (40) - 1.4 (10) defeat.

"It's good to see our skills against some of the rest of NSW and ACT - it's a good challenge. We don't get to do this out in the middle of nowhere in Colly.

"It's a good group of boys that we play with, so it makes it pretty special.

"No-one from Colly has made the AFL so far. There is only about 1000 people there, but it's a good footy club.

"We just want to get a couple of wins on the board here and show that just because we're from a small town we can stick it to the best teams in ACT and NSW."

Towering Narrandera Eagles full forward Riley Boag bagged three goals in a big 9.6 (60) - 1.0 (6) win over a combined AFL Central West team.

Boag is hoping to one day follow in the footsteps of hometown AFL stars Zac Williams (Carlton) and Matt Flynn (West Coast Eagles).

Boag is already in the Giants Academy and the 17-year-old wants to build on his game to get a shot at the draft as soon as next year.

"It is my goal to be in the AFL so hopefully there's some people watching, but just trying to have fun too," Boag said.

"It's a small town in Narrandera, but a good community and everyone gets around each other.

"Next year I want to hit the ground running, focus on fitness and see where it all gets me."

Team included the Kiama Power (boys), the Queanbeyan Tigers (boys and girls), Narrandera Eagles (boys), Tuggeranong Valley (girls), Eastlake Demons (boys), Wollongong Lions (boys), Coleambally Blues (boys), Bathurst Giants (girls only) and a combined AFL Central West team (boys).

The inaugural Champion of Champions last year proved a huge success and the 2026 edition promised to build on that momentum by showcasing more elite junior talent across the ACT and other NSW regions.

The winners of the round-robin format of games on Saturday in Karabar qualified for the tournament cup on Sunday at Manuka Oval, while the remaining teams still had a shot at claiming the Plate.

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