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 29th annual intake for boys and 10th intake for girls.
2026 Marsh AFL National Academy squads
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 |
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 |