Team Mitchell and Team Melksham have been selected for the 2026 Marsh AFL National Futures Boys match at the MCG on Saturday.
The talent showcase will feature 46 of the country’s most talented under-17 footballers, commencing from 9:35am AEST as a curtain-raiser to the 2026 Toyota AFL Grand Final between Fremantle and the Brisbane Lions.
As is tradition, the teams for the Marsh AFL National Futures Boys match have been named after two recently retired AFL stars.
This year’s team names recognise 2018 Brownlow medalist and 2023 Collingwood premiership player Tom Mitchell and Melbourne life member and 255-gamer Jake Melksham.
All players selected for the Futures program are born in 2009 and are eligible to be selected in the 2027 Telstra AFL Draft, unless pre-signed by the Tasmania Football Club.
The squad features representatives from every state and territory across Australia, with players nominated for the programs by state talent managers, national selectors and AFL club recruiters.
The original squad was announced in August, with several changes made due to injuries.
Victorian trio Zane Adams, Moustafa Darwish and Oliver Bond, South Australian Josh Jarrad and Tasmanian Max Gulliver have all been included to replace Cooper French, Nate Jenkins, Zemes Pilot, Brynley Ryan, Louis Salopek and Tom Steinfort
The Marsh AFL National Futures match will assist the selection process for the 2027 Marsh AFL National Academy Boys program. Players who don’t take part in Saturday’s match will still be eligible to be selected for the National Academy.
The two teams will train at the NEC Hangar on Friday morning, before taking part in a range of football and team bonding activities throughout the afternoon.
Melksham and Mitchell will address their respective teams on Friday evening ahead of
Saturday’s showcase match.
Team Melksham will be coached by Tasmania Devils boys coach Scott Moore, with retired star and AFL National Next Generation Academy Manager Chad Wingard, James Gellie and Rob Harding to also serve on the coaching panel.
Gippsland Power premiership coach Kris Pendlebury will coach Team Mitchell, with assistants to include Adelaide Crows triple-premiership star Chelsea Randall, Trent Goodrem and Sam Mainwaring.
2026 MARSH AFL NATIONAL FUTURES BOYS MATCH
Team Mitchell vs Team Melksham Saturday, September 26
9:35am AEST MCG
BROADCAST
The 2026 Marsh AFL National Futures Boys match will be broadcast live and free on the AFL website and AFL Live Official App.
MEDIA
Media who wish to attend the 2026 Marsh AFL National Futures Boys match are required to have 2026 Toyota AFL Grand Final accreditation.
TEAM MELKSHAM
Uniform: White jumpers with blue shorts
# | PLAYER | STATE | CLUBS |
1 | Angus Brown | VIC M | Sandringham Dragons/Caulfield Bears |
2 | Laurence Andriani | SA | West Adelaide/SMOSH West Lakes |
3 | Max Holden | QLD | Brisbane Lions Academy/Maroochydore |
4 | Jett Flower | VIC M | Eastern Ranges/Wantirna South |
5 | Taj Murray | QLD | Gold Coast Suns Academy/Burleigh |
6 | Charlie Fischer | VIC C | Gippsland Power/Phillip Island |
7 | Charlie McClennan | NSW/ACT | Sydney Swans Academy/Manly Bombers |
8 | Tony Marrone | SA | Central/District Virginia |
9 | James Artemis | WA | East Fremantle/Hammond Park |
10 | Benji Russell | TAS | Tasmania Devils/Lauderdale |
11 | Harper McCullough | VIC M | Oakleigh Chargers/Beaconsfield |
12 | Gary Lawford | NT | Northern Territory Academy/Oakleigh Chargers |
14 | Oscar Henwood | VIC C | Gippsland Power/Nar Nar Goon |
15 | Griffin Barker | VIC M | Western Jets/Yarraville Seddon Eagles |
16 | Riley Stratford | VIC M | Sandringham Dragons/Hampton Rovers |
17 | Fynn Tomasini | WA | Perth/Belmont |
18 | Toby Hellessey | VIC C | GWV Rebels/Warrnambool |
19 | Harvey Chapman | SA | Sturt/Goodwood Saints |
20 | Zane Adams | VIC M | Oakleigh Chargers/Blackburn |
21 | Jake Miller | VIC M | Western Jets/Yarraville Seddon Eagles |
27 | Jed Corbett | NSW/ACT | GWS Giants Academy/Ganmain Grong Grong Matong |
28 | Cohen Dent | VIC C | Gippsland Power/Warragul Industrials |
29 | Baden Smith | NSW/ACT | GWS Giants Academy/Queanbeyan |
Head coach: Scott Moore
Assistant coaches: James Gellie, Rob Harding and Chad Wingard
TEAM MITCHELL
Uniform: Green and blue jumper with green shorts
# | PLAYER | STATE | CLUBS |
2 | Max Thompson | VIC C | Bendigo Pioneers/Nyah Nyah West United |
3 | Koby Bewick | VIC M | Calder Cannons/Strathmore |
4 | Max Gulliver | TAS | Tasmania Devils/Glenorchy |
5 | Moustafa Darwish | VIC M | Calder Cannons/Craigieburn |
6 | Tevita Rodan | VIC M | Calder Cannons/Aberfeldie |
7 | Jake Beams | TAS | Tasmania Devils/Glenorchy |
8 | Campbell Rooks | VIC M | Northern Knights/Montmorency |
9 | Baxter Sruk | VIC M | Eastern Ranges/Rowville |
10 | Campbell Creyk | WA | West Perth/North Beach |
11 | Kai Ivins | SA | Norwood/Payneham Norwood Union |
12 | Leo Stephenson | VIC C | Gippsland Power/Maffra |
13 | Taj Garrett | SA | Sturt/Imperial |
14 | Percy Burgoyne | SA | West Adelaide/Henley |
15 | Jackson Bridge | QLD | Brisbane Lions Academy/Sherwood |
16 | Rafe Williamson | WA | West Perth/Ocean Ridge |
17 | Oliver Bond | VIC M | Oakleigh Chargers/Hawthorn Citizens |
18 | Archie Bakoulas | VIC M | Sandringham Dragons/East Brighton |
19 | Maxim Collins | WA | West Perth/North Beach |
20 | Hugo Timms | NT | Northern Territory Academy/Oakleigh Chargers |
21 | Coen Hardy | NSW/ACT | Sydney Swans Academy/Miranda Bombers |
22 | Henry Allsop | VIC C | Gippsland Power/Warragul |
23 | Josh Jarrad | SA | Glenelg/Brighton Districts & Old Scholars |
27 | Axel Walsh | WA | East Perth/Mt Lawley Inglewood |
Head coach: Kris Pendlebury
Assistant coaches: Trent Goodrem, Sam Mainwaring and Chelsea Randall