A NEW-LOOK All Stars lineup will look to take it up to a stacked National Academy outfit when the two sides clash at the Kennedy Community Centre on Sunday. The All Stars has previously only featured one over-age player, but in 2026, has also added five of the most promising talents for the 2027 AFLW Draft to see how their fare against the draft class above them.
The National Academy will regain the services of pick one contender Emma Charlton and Suns Academy winger Summer Browning after they missed game one, while also having fellow Suns Academy member Stephanie Aguinaldo added to the squad. Oakleigh Chargers skipper and Giants Academy member Zoe Curry and West Perth ruck Cara Dziegielewski are out with injury, as is injury-replacement player from game one Darcie Prosser-Shaw.
Three of the other injury replacement players from game one in Lions Academy midfielder Molly Ferguson, Western Jets utility Kiara Boyd and Swans Academy winger Frances Walsh will now plot against the National Academy when they don the All Stars jumper. They are among 14 top-agers in the All Stars team with two over-agers and five bottom-agers comprising of the 24-strong team.
Among the top young stars to watch from the All Stars are in-form South Adelaide prospect Layla Vizgaudis and Geelong Falcons utility Ava Bilyk, both of whom are first-round contenders in this year’s AFLW Draft. Gippsland Power’s Lily Milner, Bendigo Pioneers’ Lacey Nihill and Eastern Ranges’ Emily Rankin are also amongst the players in scintillating form who will represent the All Stars.
Past National Academy member Marika Carlton will wear the Australian jumper again, while the two best players in next year’s AFLW Draft, Matilda Lange and Lani Cocks will get their opportunity against the best of the 2026 crop, as will tall utilities Maya Duane and Hannah Seaborn, and tenacious midfielder Peggy Rock.
While the National Academy always features the best of the best, some of the names in contention for the top pick include Charlton and Oakleigh Chargers’ goalkicking machine Bailee Martin, while Giants Academy’s Majella Day, South Australian duo Emily Mableson and Miyu Endersby, and West Perth’s Lexi Strachan are all among the ones to watch.
The match will kick off from 11am at the Kennedy Community Centre in Dingley, with Tarkyn Lockyer leading the AFLW Academy side, while former Swans AFLW now Eastern Ranges coach Scott Gowans will be in charge of the All Stars team.
Lockyer said it was an exciting time for everyone involved.
“Wearing the Australia jumper and representing the Australia U18 team is a huge honour for any player and we are delighted to provide our Marsh AFL National Academy participants the opportunity to do that again this weekend.
“We’re thrilled to also give more players in our pathways programs the opportunity to showcase their talent and gain an additional development experience by representing the All Stars team in what will be an exciting contest on Sunday.”
AFLW NATIONAL ACADEMY TEAM LIST:
| # | PLAYER | STATE | STATE LEAGUE CLUB | COMMUNITY CLUB |
| 2 | Emma Charlton | SA | South Adelaide | Willunga |
| 3 | Harlee McIlwain | QLD | Brisbane Lions Academy | Morningside |
| 5 | Charlotte Tidemann | NSW/ACT | Sydney Swans Academy | Willoughby |
| 6 | Mia Geere | QLD | Brisbane Lions Academy | Wilston Grange |
| 7 | Summer Browning | QLD | Gold Coast Suns Academy | Tweed Coast Tigers |
| 8 | Evie Ward | TAS | Tasmania Devils | Lauderdale |
| 9 | Marika Carlton^ | NT | Northern Territory Academy | Palmerston Magpies |
| 10 | Evie Bingham | TAS | Tasmania Devils | North Hobart |
| 11 | Emily Mableson | SA | West Adelaide | Unley |
| 13 | Steph Aguinaldo^ | QLD | Gold Coast Suns Academy | Broadbeach |
| 14 | Miyu Endersby | SA | Central District | Angaston |
| 15 | Aiyana Pritchard | QLD | Brisbane Lions Academy | University of Queensland |
| 16 | Morgan Stevens | NSW/ACT | GWS Giants Academy | Tuggeranong Valley |
| 17 | Bailee Martin | VIC M | Oakleigh Chargers | East Malvern |
| 19 | Greea McKeegan | VIC C | Geelong Falcons | Torquay |
| 20 | Brylee Anderson | VIC M | Eastern Ranges | Healesville |
| 21 | Cara Dziegielewski | WA | West Perth | Yanchep District |
| 22 | Scout Semple | VIC M | Eastern Ranges | Wantirna South |
| 23 | Majella Day | NSW/ACT | GWS Giants Academy Murray Bushrangers | Lavington |
| 29 | Sophie White | VIC C | Dandenong Stingrays | Mt Eliza |
| 30 | Lexi Strachan | WA | West Perth | Ocean Ridge |
| 31 | Mia Carlshausen | WA | Perth | Manning |
| 32 | Grace Tracey* | NSW/ACT | Sydney Swans Academy | East Coast Eagles |
| 33 | Zoe Curry* | NSW/ACT | GWS Giants Academy Oakleigh Chargers | Turvey Park |
| 38 | Taya Maxwell* | SA | South Adelaide | Reynella |
* Won’t play against All Stars due to injury
^ Addition to squad to play against All Stars as injury replacement
ALL STARS TEAM LIST:
| # | PLAYER | STATE | STATE LEAGUE CLUB | COMMUNITY CLUB |
| 4 | Lani Cocks | SA | Norwood | Tumby Bay |
| 5 | Maddison Meagher | VIC M | Northern Knights | Diamond Creek Womens |
| 7 | Layla Vizgaudis | SA | South Adelaide | Aldinga |
| 8 | Frances Walsh | NSW/ACT | Sydney Swans Academy | Sydney University |
| 14 | Ava Bilyk | VIC C | Geelong Falcons | St Marys |
| 15 | Kiara Boyd | VIC M | Western Jets | Aberfeldie |
| 16 | Maya Duane | VIC M | Sandringham Dragons | East Malvern |
| 17 | Molly Ferguson | QLD | Brisbane Lions Academy | Maroochydore |
| 18 | Ava Horneman | NSW | Sydney Swans Academy | North Shore Bombers |
| 19 | Matilda Lange | TAS | Tasmania Devis | Kingborough |
| 20 | Lily Milner | VIC C | Gippsland Power | Traralgon |
| 21 | Lacey Nihill | VIC C | Bendigo Pioneers | Sandhurst |
| 22 | Emily Rankin | VIC M | Eastern Ranges | Park Orchards NRP |
| 23 | Grace McIntyre | VIC M | Sandringham Dragons | Murrumbeena |
| 24 | Bella Mazzei | VIC M | Oakleigh Chargers | Kew Comets |
| 28 | Alli Allen | VIC M | Northern Knights | Lower Plenty |
| 29 | India Bonadeo | WA | Claremont | West Coast |
| 30 | Ella Gibson | QLD | Brisbane Lions Academy | Morningside |
| 31 | Ruby Lynch | SA | Woodville-West Torrens | Henley |
| 32 | Peggy Rock | NT | Northern Territory Academy GWV Rebels | Nightcliff |
| 37 | Hannah Seaborn | WA | Claremont | Marist |
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