TASMANIAN duo Matilda Lange and Jake Beams have been selected as the 2026 AFL Life Members Education Assistance Award winners.
The awards are presented annually at the AFL Life Members lunch held each September, with recipients receiving $10,000 to assist their education and personal development.
Lange was today announced as the winner of the Susan Alberti Education Assistance, joining past recipients Brylee Anderson and Georja Davies.
Hailing from Kingborough Football Club and a member of the Tasmania Devils, the 17-year-old midfielder this year won the Allies MVP award at the 2026 Marsh AFL National Championships – U18 Girls as a bottom-age player.
She was also selected at ruck rover in the All Australian team following her dominant performances throughout the Championships.
Lange was also a standout for the Devils during the 2026 Talent League home and away season, where she averaged 30 disposals, eight clearances, seven tackles and a goal a game.
She has been selected to play in the Marsh AFL National Futures Girls match at Windy Hill on Sunday, September 13.
Beams, who is a product of the Glenorchy Football Club and also represents the Tasmania Devils in the Talent League, was announced as the Jack Collins and Alan Schwab Memorial Education Assistance Award winner.
The 16-year-old played all four games for the Allies this year as a bottom-age player in the 2026 Marsh AFL National Championships – U18 Boys.
Beams had an outstanding Talent League season for the Devils, averaging 28 disposals at 76 per cent efficiency, as well as seven rebound 50s and four inside 50s per match.
His father Ben is a member of the AFL Tasmania Hall of Fame following a distinguished career that included 23 AFL games for Melbourne, including the 2000 Grand Final, and more than 100 VFL appearances for Tasmania and Sandringham.
Beams joins an impressive list of Jack Collins and Alan Schwab Memorial Education Assistance Award winners that includes Joel Selwood, Luke Hodge, Sam Walsh, Hayden Young, Harley Reid, Nic Naitanui, Daniel Wells and Willem Duursma.
Lange and Beams were presented with the awards at an AFL Life Members function held at Marvel Stadium on Tuesday. Guests in attendance included Mike Fitzpatrick, John Nicholls, David Parkin, Terry Daniher, Des Tuddenham and Marc Murphy.
