THE AFL has released the schedule for the 2024 Marsh AFL National Championships (U18) and 2024 Marsh AFL National Development Championships (U16).

The competitions will run from April to August and will feature the most talented under 18 and under 16 boys and girls footballers from across Australia, some of who may become the next generation of stars in the men’s and women’s game.

AFL Head of Talent Pathways, Grant Williams, said: “The Marsh AFL National Championships are the highest standard of representative state and territory football for aspiring talented footballers.

“The AFL is committed to providing the most talented young footballers with a pathways system that provides them with an opportunity to be the best they can be.

“The Championships feature the best young players from across the country and provide these players the chance to showcase their talent to a national audience.

“We thank Marsh for their support of the Marsh AFL National Championships and their ongoing and long-standing commitment to supporting Australian rules football.”

The action commences with the 2024 Marsh AFL National Development Championships – U16 Girls, which will be played from Sunday, April 7 through to Monday, April 15.

The competition will feature 10 teams playing in two pools. Each team will play two matches, with all games to be played across a nine-day period, which will include three double-headers.

The 2024 Marsh AFL National Development Championships – U16 Boys will also feature 10 teams playing in two pools and will commence with a double-header in Victoria on Saturday, June 8 during the King’s Birthday weekend.

The first round of fixtures will see matches played across four states, with all matches in the final two rounds to be played on the Gold Coast from July 8 to 12 during the school holidays.

The 2024 AFL National Championships – U18 Boys will be played from Sunday, May 26 to Sunday, July 14.

All five teams will again play each other once in the round-robin series, with nine of the 10  matches at this year’s Championships scheduled to be played on a Sunday.

The 2024 Marsh AFL National Championships – U18 Boys will commence with a game between South Australia and reigning champion the Allies, who last year made history by claiming their first title, and will conclude with a clash between Victoria Metro and Victoria Metro.

The 2024 Marsh AFL National Championships – U18 Girls will be played from Saturday, June 29 to Saturday, August 24.

The Championships will again feature six teams, including Queensland, South Australia, Victoria Country, Victoria Metro and Western Australia and the Allies, which will comprise players from New South Wales, ACT, Northern Territory and Tasmania.

Venues for the 2024 Marsh AFL National Development Championships – U16 Girls have been confirmed. Host states have been announced for each of the other Championships, with venues to be confirmed in due course.

Squads and broadcast details will also be announced ahead of each of the Championships.

Continue below to view the schedules for the 2024 Marsh AFL National Championships (U18) and 2024 Marsh AFL National Development Championships (U16).

2024 Marsh AFL National Development Championships – U16 Girls
Teams: Pool A: Brisbane Lions Academy, Gold Coast Suns Academy, South Australia, Victoria Country, Victoria Metro and Western Australia;
Pool B: GWS Giants Academy, Northern Territory, Sydney Swans Academy and Tasmania.

2024 Marsh AFL National Development Championships – U16 Boys
Teams: Pool A: South Australia, Victoria Country, Victoria Metro and Western Australia;
Pool B: Brisbane Lions Academy, Gold Coast Suns Academy, GWS Giants Academy, Northern Territory, Sydney Swans Academy and Tasmania.

2024 Marsh AFL National Championships – U18 Girls
Teams: Allies (comprising ACT, New South Wales, Northern Territory and Tasmania), Queensland, South Australia, Victoria Country, Victoria Metro and Western Australia.

2024 Marsh AFL National Championships – U18 Boys
Teams: Allies (comprising ACT, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland and Tasmania), South Australia, Victoria Country, Victoria Metro and Western Australia.