A pair of teenage Wimmera football talents had plenty to celebrate in the past week, with Chase Whelan named to the under-16 boys All-Australian Team while draft prospect Archie Elliott kicked seven goals in the Talent League.

Whelan was named in a forward pocket of the All-Australian Team following his outstanding play for Victoria Country in the AFL National Development Championships during the past two months.

He starred for Victoria Country with four goals in a win against arch-rival Victoria Metro, before kicking two more in a loss to South Australia.

Despite being sidelined early in his team’s third game – a loss to Western Australia – his first two performances did enough to earn him a nod from the All-Australian selectors.

While Whelan, 16, is too young for this year’s AFL draft, Horsham Demons product Archie Elliott boosted his draft stock only a few days short of his 18th birthday with a seven-goal haul against the Bendigo Pioneers on Sunday.

Playing for the Greater Western Victoria Rebels at Ballarat’s Mars Stadium, Elliott also added four marks and four tackles to his 13 disposals.

AFL draft analysis website Rookie Me currently lists the 182cm forward as the 31st-best prospect on its 2026 draft board, but his play at the weekend could see Elliott rise higher before November’s national draft.

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