The best U22s of AFL Sydney, AFL Canberra will meet the Sydney Swans Academy and GWS GIANTS Academy later this month in a Summer Series that will officially open the 2026 Representative AFL season.
The best young talent from both leagues will face off against each other as well as the cross-town rival academies in a series that will showcase the burgeoning AFL talent in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.
The series will begin on Saturday, February 28 when the Men’s and Women’s U22 teams of AFL Sydney will play the GIANTS Academy while AFL Canberra’s sides play the Sydney Swans Academy at Henson Park.
Henson Park will again host the next round of clashes, with AFL Sydney and AFL Canberra swapping opponents the following weekend on Saturday, March 7.
The series will then conclude when AFL Sydney and AFL Canberra play each other at Bob Prenter Reserve on Saturday, March 14 – the first game to be played at the ground since it reopened after its nationally-recognised refurbishment – while the GIANTS and Swans Academies will meet in a series of clashes at Blacktown International Sports Park on Saturday, March 14 and Sunday, March 15.
Later this season, AFL Sydney and AFL Canberra’s respective representative teams will play each other once again in a Representative match at Manuka Oval in Canberra on Saturday, May 16.
From this match, the best talent will be handpicked from both sides to determine the combined team that will meet Queensland Country in July.
For more information about the upcoming community football seasons across AFL Sydney and AFL Canberra, visit here.
2026 U22s Summer Series fixture:
Saturday, February 28
Sydney Swans v AFL Canberra at Henson Park, Marrickville
Women’s match – 11.00am
Men’s match – 12.50pm
AFL Sydney v GWS GIANTS Academy at Henson Park, Marrickville
Women’s match – 2.50pm
Men’s match – 4.40pm
Saturday, March 7
GWS GIANTS Academy v AFL Canberra at Henson Park, Marrickville
Women’s match – 11.00am
Men’s match – 12.50pm
AFL Sydney v Sydney Swans Academy at Henson Park, Marrickville
Women’s match – 2.50pm
Men’s match – 4.40pm
Saturday, March 14
AFL Canberra v AFL Sydney at Bob Prenter Reserve, Macquarie Fields
Women’s match – 11.00am
Men’s match – 12.50pm
Squad lists and coaching panels:
AFL Sydney Women’s U22 Summer Series squad list and coaching panel – view here
AFL Sydney Men’s U22 Summer Series squad list and coaching panel – view here
AFL Canberra Women’s U22 Summer Series squad list and coaching panel – view here
AFL Canberra Men’s U22 Summer Series squad list and coaching panel – view here