Fifty of the country’s most talented young footballers have been selected to take part in the 2026 Marsh AFL National Academy during their Draft year.

Each of the boys and girls squads feature 25 players who were born in 2008 and will be eligible for the 2026 Telstra AFL Draft and 2026 Telstra AFLW Draft.

The Marsh AFL National Academy provides the next generation of stars with valuable experiences, insights and education to best prepare them for the next steps in their football journey.

The holistic program combines football performance and personal growth in a high-performance environment by providing unique opportunities and learnings that differ from other football programs they are involved in.

Content is delivered across multiple football camps, with the 2026 program to commence with a high-performance camp at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport (NZCIS) in December.

The Wellington-based facility is the official training base of New Zealand Rugby, including the All Blacks and Super Rugby club the Hurricanes, along with A-League outfit the Wellington Phoenix.

It has also been visited by a host of international sporting organisations, including Wrexham FC, the Barca Academy and Melbourne’s AFLW team, who visited the facility during their 2025 pre-season campaign.

The high-performance camps at the NZCIS will be held from December 10-14 (boys) and December 17-21 (girls).

The last time an international camp featured as part of the National Academy program was 2018, with the upcoming camp in New Zealand set to be the first time the AFL National Academy Girls program has travelled overseas.

The Marsh AFL National Academy will also come together for football camps in Melbourne during the 2026 season.

Those camps will feature talent showcase matches where the National Academy squads will represent their country when they compete as the Australia U18 team.

In addition to the Academy camps, players will also take part in AFL and AFLW club experiences and will have the opportunity to train with an AFL and AFLW club.

AFL National Academy Manager Tarkyn Lockyer said: “Congratulations to all players who have been named in the 2026 Marsh AFL National Academy.

“One of the aims of the National Academy is to provide new experiences to our up-and-coming stars outside of what is already delivered at their state talent program to best prepare players for the next step in their football journey.

“We are thrilled to be able to include a camp at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport as part of our 2026 program.

“The camp will provide a unique experience for our participants and will give them the opportunity to challenge themselves at an internationally acclaimed facility.”

The 2026 Marsh AFL National Academy marks the 29^th annual intake for boys and 10^th intake for girls.

2026 MARSH AFL NATIONAL ACADEMY GIRLS

The 2026 Marsh AFL National Academy Girls squad features four players who were selected in the 2025 Marsh AFL National Championships U18 Girls All Australian Team.

They include South Australia MVP Emma Charlton, Victoria Metro forward Bailee Martin, Western Australia ruck Cara Dziegielweski and Allies and GWS Giants Academy forward Majella Day.

Susan Alberti Education Assistance Award recipient Brylee Anderson was also selected after an outstanding season for the Eastern Ranges and Victoria Metro. Anderson was presented the $10,000 scholarship at this year’s AFL Life Members lunch.

Camp Dates:
December 17-21: High-performance camp at NZCIS
April 24-26: Camp in Melbourne + match
June 5-7: Camp in Melbourne + match

PLAYER	STATE	STATE LEAGUE CLUB	COMMUNITY CLUB
Brylee Anderson	VIC M	Eastern Ranges	Healesville
Evie Bingham	TAS	Tasmania Devils	North Hobart
Summer Browning	QLD	Gold Coast Suns Academy	Tweed Coast Tigers
Mia Carlshausen	WA	Perth	Manning
Emma Charlton	SA	South Adelaide	Willunga
Alice Cunnington	VIC C	Dandenong Stingrays	Mount Eliza
Zoe Curry	NSW/ACT	GWS Giants Academy Oakleigh Chargers	Turvey Park
Majella Day	NSW/ACT	GWS Giants Academy Murray Bushrangers	Lavington
Cara Dziegielewski	WA	West Perth	Yanchep District
Miyu Endersby	SA	Central District	Angaston
Mia Geere	QLD	Brisbane Lions Academy	Wilston Grange
Ruby Geurts	VIC C	Dandenong Stingrays	Red Hill
Emily Mableson	SA	West Adelaide	Unley
Bailee Martin	VIC M	Oakleigh Chargers	East Malvern
Taya Maxwell	SA	South Adelaide	Reynella
Harlee McIlwain	QLD	Brisbane Lions Academy	Morningside
Greea McKeegan	VIC C	Geelong Falcons	Torquay
Aiyana Pritchard	QLD	Brisbane Lions Academy	University of Queensland
Scout Semple	VIC M	Eastern Ranges	Wantirna South
Morgan Stevens	NSW/ACT	GWS Giants Academy	Tuggeranong Valley
Lexi Strachan	WA	West Perth	Ocean Ridge
Charlotte Tidemann	NSW/ACT	Sydney Swans Academy	Willoughby
Grace Tracey	NSW/ACT	Sydney Swans Academy	East Coast Eagles
Evie Ward	TAS	Tasmania Devils	Lauderdale
Sophie White	VIC C	Dandenong Stingrays	Mt Eliza

2026 MARSH AFL NATIONAL ACADEMY BOYS

The 2026 AFL National Academy Boys squad includes 13 players who were selected in last year’s U16 Boys All Australian Team after impressing at the 2024 Marsh AFL National Development Championships.

That includes Carlton father-son prospect Cody Walker, who was named captain of the 2024 U16 Boys All Australian Team.

The Bendigo Pioneers midfielder also claimed the MVP medal for Team Docherty in this year’s Marsh AFL National Futures Match. Noah Williams, who was named Team Boak’s MVP in the same match at the MCG, has also been selected.

Walker is one of several familiar names selected in the National Academy squad, alongside Dougie Cochrane (son of Stuart), Aidan McCartney (son of Jason), Koby Lecras (son of Brent and nephew of Mark), Gabriel Patterson (son of Stephen and brother of Violet) and Benji van Rooyen (brother of Jacob).

Camp Dates:
December 10-14: High-performance camp at NZCIS
April 11-18: Camp in Melbourne + two matches against VFL clubs

PLAYER	STATE	STATE LEAGUE CLUB	COMMUNITY CLUB
Tanner Armstrong	VIC C	Murray Bushrangers	Shepparton United
Arki Butler	VIC M	Sandringham Dragons	Beaumaris
Harrison Chapman	VIC M	Eastern Ranges	Boronia
Dougie Cochrane	SA	Central District	Port District
Kodah Edwards	SA	South Adelaide	Willunga
Jack Gordon	SA	Central District	Port District
Ethan Herbert	SA	North Adelaide	Walkerville
Archie Hill	QLD	Gold Coast Suns Academy	Broadbeach
Tate Hodgson	VIC M	Northern Knights	Park Orchards NRP
Lewis Houndsome	VIC M	Northern Knights	Yarrambat
Garrison Kenh	WA	East Perth	Ellenbrook
Xavier Ladbrook	VIC C	Gippsland Power	Nar Nar Goon
Koby LeCras	WA	West Perth	Manning
Wil Malady	VIC C	Gippsland Power	Bairnsdale
Ethan Matthews	NSW/ACT	GWS GIANTS Academy	Ingleburn
Aidan McCartney	NSW/ACT	Sydney Swans Academy	Willoughby
Heath Mellody	WA	Claremont	Wembley Downs
Caylen Murray	QLD	Brisbane Lions Academy	Maroochydore
Gabriel Patterson	SA	Glenelg	Plympton
Jack Pickett	VIC C	Geelong Falcons	Torquay
Darcy Szerszyn	VIC C	Dandenong Stingrays	Seaford
Harry Van Hattum	VIC M	Northern Knights	St Mary's
Benji van Rooyen	WA	Claremont	Wembley Downs
Cody Walker	VIC C	Bendigo Pioneers	Echuca
Noah Williams	VIC C	Geelong Falcons	St Joseph's