The next generation of football stars will take centre stage over the next month when they compete at the 2026 Marsh AFL National Championships.
The best under 18 footballers from across Australia will showcase their skills in the AFL Talent Pathway’s highest standard of representative state and territory football ahead of the Telstra AFL Draft and Telstra AFLW Draft later this year.
Both the boys and girls Championships will commence this weekend, launching with a double-header between Western Australia and South Australia at Mineral Resources Park in Perth on Saturday.
The action continues on Sunday, with the Allies and Victoria Country to meet in another double-header at Blacktown International Sport Park. Meanwhile, Victoria Metro hosts Queensland in a standalone girls match at GMHBA Stadium on the same day.
BOYS
The 2026 Marsh AFL National Championships – U18 Boys will be played from Saturday, June 13 to Sunday, July 19.
The Allies, South Australia, Victoria Country, Victoria Metro and Western Australia will each play each other once in the round-robin series. The Allies will again comprise players from the ACT, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland and Tasmania.
This year’s boys carnival features matches in four states, which includes a double-header at Marvel Stadium on Friday, July 3 and another at Mars Stadium on Wednesday, July 8.
The team that finishes atop the standings at the conclusion of the carnival will be crowned title winner.
If two teams finish equal on points atop the ladder, the title will be awarded to the team that won the round-robin match between those teams. If more than two teams finish equal on points atop the ladder, the title will be awarded to the team with the highest percentage.
South Australia is the reigning title holder after completing a clean sweep last year to lift the trophy for the first time since 2018.
The Larke Medal for the competition best and fairest and the All Australian team will be selected by a panel comprising AFL Talent Pathways staff and AFL club recruiters at the conclusion of the 2026 Marsh AFL National Championships – U18 Boys.
GIRLS
The 2026 Marsh AFL National Championships – U18 Girls will be played from Saturday, June 13 to Saturday, July 11.
The girls Championships again features six teams, including Queensland, South Australia, Victoria Country, Victoria Metro, Western Australia and the Allies, with the latter to comprise players from the ACT, New South Wales, Northern Territory and Tasmania.
Each team will play four matches, with the team that finishes atop the standings at the conclusion of the carnival to be crowned title winner.
If two teams finish equal on points atop the ladder, the title will be awarded to the team that won the match between those teams. If those two teams didn’t play against each other, or if more than two teams finish equal on points atop the ladder, the title will be awarded to the team with the highest percentage.
Victoria Metro is the two-time reigning title holder, having claimed title victory in both 2025 and 2024.
A competition best and fairest and All Australian team will be selected by a panel comprising AFL Talent Pathways staff and AFL club recruiters at the conclusion of the 2026 Marsh AFL National Championships – U18 Girls.
WATCH
All matches in the 2026 Marsh AFL National Championships will be streamed live and free on AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App.
MATCH CENTRE
Fixtures, live streams, live scores, player stats and team stats will be available in the match centre, via the links below.
Click here for boys match centre
Click here for girls match centre
SQUADS
Download the Marsh AFL National Championships squad lists via the links below. Please note: players can be added to squads throughout the course of the Championships.
Click here for boys squads
Click here for girls squads
