2026 Marsh AFL National Academy representative Cody Walker (Echuca/Victoria Country) who won the best on ground medal in last year's National Futures match. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos
The Marsh AFL National Academy Boys squad will represent Australia in two matches against VFL opposition over the next week.
The Academy, which features a host of his year’s most talented Draft prospects, including five boys from Victoria Metro and seven boys from Victoria Country, will come together in Melbourne from Friday to take part in an eight-day high-performance camp.
The highlight of the schedule will be two showcase matches, where the Academy play as the Australia U18 team.
The first match will be played on Sunday, April 12 against North Melbourne’s VFL side at Arden Street Oval from 12:30pm.
The clash against the Kangaroos will be followed by a match against Richmond’s VFL team at IKON Park on Saturday, April 18 from 12:30pm.
The Academy will remain in Melbourne throughout the week between the two games, where they will take part in a host of high-performance training and education sessions.
Players will have access to AFL club facilities throughout the camp, with training and recovery sessions to be held at Arden Street Oval (North Melbourne), Kennedy Community Centre (Hawthorn), KGM Centre (Collingwood) and NEC Hangar (Essendon).
It will be the second time the Marsh AFL National Academy Boys squad has come together, following an induction camp that was held at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport (NZCIS) last December.
AUSTRALIA U18 TEAM LIST
| # | PLAYER | STATE | STATE LEAGUE CLUB | COMMUNITY CLUB |
| 4 | Arki Butler | VIC M | Sandringham Dragons | Beaumaris |
| 5 | Garrison Kenh | WA | East Perth | Ellenbrook |
| 6 | Gabriel Patterson | SA | Glenelg | Plympton |
| 7 | Noah Williams | VIC C | Geelong Falcons | St Joseph's |
| 8 | Harrison Chapman | VIC M | Eastern Ranges | Boronia |
| 9 | Heath Mellody | WA | Claremont | Wembley Downs |
| 10 | Archie Hill | QLD | Gold Coast Suns Academy | Broadbeach |
| 11 | Caylen Murray | QLD | Brisbane Lions Academy | Maroochydore |
| 12 | Tanner Armstrong | VIC C | Murray Bushrangers | Shepparton United |
| 14 | Sonny Smiler^ | NT | Northern Territory Academy | Wanderers |
| 18 | Cody Walker | VIC C | Bendigo Pioneers | Echuca |
| 20 | Darcy Szerszyn* | VIC C | Dandenong Stingrays | Seaford |
| 21 | Jack Gordon | SA | Central District | Port District |
| 22 | Jack Pickett* | VIC C | Geelong Falcons | Torquay |
| 23 | Ethan Matthews | NSW/ACT | GWS GIANTS Academy | Ingleburn |
| 24 | Kodah Edwards | SA | South Adelaide | Willunga |
| 25 | Aidan McCartney* | NSW/ACT | Sydney Swans Academy | Willoughby |
| 26 | Wil Malady | VIC C | Gippsland Power | Bairnsdale |
| 27 | Koby LeCras | WA | West Perth | Manning |
| 28 | Kale Matthews-Hampton^ | SA | Sturt | Strathalbyn |
| 29 | Tate Hodgson | VIC M | Northern Knights | Park Orchards NRP |
| 33 | Xavier Ladbrook | VIC C | Gippsland Power | Nar Nar Goon |
| 34 | Ethan Herbert | SA | North Adelaide | Walkerville |
| 35 | Lewis Houndsome | VIC M | Northern Knights | Yarrambat |
| 38 | Benji van Rooyen | WA | Claremont | Wembley Downs |
| 39 | Dougie Cochrane* | SA | Central District | Port District |
| 40 | Harry Van Hattum | VIC M | Northern Knights | St Mary's |
* Injured and won’t play in match against North Melbourne
^ Addition to squad to play in match against North Melbourne as injury replacement
MATCH DETAILS
Australia U18 vs North Melbourne VFL
Sunday, April 12, 2026
12:30pm AEST
Arden Street Oval
Free entry
Australia U18 vs Richmond VFL
Saturday, April 18 2026
12:30pm AEST
IKON Park
Free entry
HOW TO WATCH
Both matches will be available to stream live and free on the AFL website and AFL Live Official App.