{"id":205538,"date":"2025-11-10T10:28:48","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T00:28:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=205538"},"modified":"2025-11-10T10:28:53","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T00:28:53","slug":"2026-afl-academy-squad-announced","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2025\/11\/10\/2026-afl-academy-squad-announced\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 AFL Academy squad announced"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

THE 2026 AFL Academy squad has been announced, featuring 25 of the nation’s brightest 2008-born prospects. A total of 13 Under 16 All-Australians from last year have been inducted to the elite program, including captain of said side, Cody Walker<\/a>, a father-son candidate set to land at Carlton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>> SCROLL to see the full squad<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Walker is one of seven club-tied talents to have made the cut. Fellow Richmond Next Generation Academy (NGA) member Tanner Armstrong<\/a> has been included, along with North Academy stars Archie Hill<\/a> (Gold Coast), Ethan Matthews<\/a> (GWS), Aidan McCartney<\/a> (Sydney), and Caylen Murray<\/a> (Brisbane). West Coast also has first dibs on NGA prospect Garrison Kenh<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There could well be an eighth member on that list, with early pick one contender Dougie Cochrane<\/a> pending AFL approval to be added to Port Adelaide’s Indigenous Academy. His elder brother Tom is a rookie at the Power, where father Stuart played 54 AFL games from 2003-2005.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Walker and Armstrong are among a seven-strong group of Vic Country representatives to make the squad. Vic Metro and South Australia boast five members each, followed by Western Australia on four, and NSW\/ACT and Queensland on two each. No players from Tasmania or the Northern Territory were selected this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The group of 25 will travel to New Zealand for a high performance camp from December 10-14, before spending a week in Melbourne during April of 2026. It will be the Academy’s first international trip since 2018. The program will them culminate in two matches against VFL opposition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>> ANNOUNCED: <\/strong>2026 AFLW Academy squad<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2026 AFL ACADEMY SQUAD<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PLAYER<\/strong><\/td>STATE<\/strong><\/td>STATE LEAGUE CLUB<\/strong><\/td>COMMUNITY CLUB<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Tanner Armstrong<\/td>VIC C<\/td>Murray Bushrangers<\/td>Shepparton United<\/td><\/tr>
Arki Butler<\/td>VIC M<\/td>Sandringham Dragons<\/td>Beaumaris<\/td><\/tr>
Harrison Chapman<\/td>VIC M<\/td>Eastern Ranges<\/td>Boronia<\/td><\/tr>
Dougie Cochrane<\/td>SA<\/td>Central District<\/td>Port District<\/td><\/tr>
Kodah Edwards<\/td>SA<\/td>South Adelaide<\/td>Willunga<\/td><\/tr>
Jack Gordon<\/td>SA<\/td>Central District<\/td>Port District<\/td><\/tr>
Ethan Herbert<\/td>SA<\/td>North Adelaide<\/td>Walkerville<\/td><\/tr>
Archie Hill<\/td>QLD<\/td>Gold Coast Suns Academy<\/td>Broadbeach<\/td><\/tr>
Tate Hodgson<\/td>VIC M<\/td>Northern Knights<\/td>Park Orchards NRP<\/td><\/tr>
Lewis Houndsome<\/td>VIC M<\/td>Northern Knights<\/td>Yarrambat<\/td><\/tr>
Garrison Kenh<\/td>WA<\/td>East Perth<\/td>Ellenbrook<\/td><\/tr>
Xavier Ladbrook<\/td>VIC C<\/td>Gippsland Power<\/td>Nar Nar Goon<\/td><\/tr>
Koby LeCras<\/td>WA<\/td>West Perth<\/td>Manning<\/td><\/tr>
Wil Malady<\/td>VIC C<\/td>Gippsland Power<\/td>Bairnsdale<\/td><\/tr>
Ethan Matthews<\/td>NSW\/ACT<\/td>GWS GIANTS Academy<\/td>Ingleburn<\/td><\/tr>
Aidan McCartney<\/td>NSW\/ACT<\/td>Sydney Swans Academy<\/td>Willoughby<\/td><\/tr>
Heath Mellody<\/td>WA<\/td>Claremont<\/td>Wembley Downs<\/td><\/tr>
Caylen Murray<\/td>QLD<\/td>Brisbane Lions Academy<\/td>Maroochydore<\/td><\/tr>
Gabriel Patterson<\/td>SA<\/td>Glenelg<\/td>Plympton<\/td><\/tr>
Jack Pickett<\/td>VIC C<\/td>Geelong Falcons<\/td>Torquay<\/td><\/tr>
Darcy Szerszyn<\/td>VIC C<\/td>Dandenong Stingrays<\/td>Seaford<\/td><\/tr>
Harry Van Hattum<\/td>VIC M<\/td>Northern Knights<\/td>St Mary’s<\/td><\/tr>
Benji van Rooyen<\/td>WA<\/td>Claremont<\/td>Wembley Downs<\/td><\/tr>
Cody Walker<\/td>VIC C<\/td>Bendigo Pioneers<\/td>Echuca<\/td><\/tr>
Noah Williams<\/td>VIC C<\/td>Geelong Falcons<\/td>St Joseph’s<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mentions<\/span><\/span><\/div>