{"id":212657,"date":"2026-04-24T08:56:21","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T22:56:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=212657"},"modified":"2026-04-24T08:56:24","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T22:56:24","slug":"national-academy-side-named-for-blues-battle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2026\/04\/24\/national-academy-side-named-for-blues-battle\/","title":{"rendered":"National Academy side named for Blues battle"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

AUSTRALIA’S top young AFLW Draft hopefuls will take on Carlton VFLW in the first clash against a senior opposition since 2018. The National Academy will face the Blues at the opposition’s spiritual home of Ikon Park on Sunday, breaking the drought of consecutive years against a ‘best-of-the-rest’ setup against an All-Stars team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With those results heavily lob-sided in favour of the National Academy – as one would expect given the handpicked, invite-only nature of the high-performance program – 2026 marked a change of format for the squad. While in a couple of months the Naitonal Academy will take on an All-Stars team, Australia’s top talent gets its chance against an opponent who has had the entire off-season to train and be a cohesive unit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The last time the National Academy took on a senior side was back in 2018 when the Academy went down to GMHBA Stadium to tackle Geelong VFLW. On that day, the likes of Madison Prespakis<\/strong>, Tyla<\/strong> Hanks<\/strong>, Jordyn Allen<\/strong> and Becky Webster<\/strong> ran around for the Academy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking ahead to Sunday’s match and the 2026 edition, the National Academy is a little light on numbers given withdrawals and injuries. Pick one contenders Emma Charlton<\/a> and Taya Maxwell<\/a> are both out of action at the moment, as is hard-running Suns Academy prospect Summer Browning<\/a> and hard-luck story Grace Tracey<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the flip side it has provided an opportunity for New South Wales talents Darcie Prosser-Shaw<\/a> and Frances Walsh<\/a> to don the jumper, as will Lions Academy midfielder Molly Ferguson<\/a> and versatile Western Jet Kiara Boyd<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among the players to watch are goalkicking machine Bailee Martin<\/a>, smooth-moving Emily Mableson<\/a>, Eastern Ranges pair Brylee Anderson<\/a> and Scout Semple<\/a> and Swans Academy star Charlotte Tidemann<\/a>. West Perth duo Cara Dziegielewski<\/a> and Lexi Strachan<\/a> will look to combine for the Australian side after doing so for the Falcons last weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

AUSTRALIA U18 TEAM LIST<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

PLAYER<\/strong><\/td>		STATE<\/strong><\/td>STATE LEAGUE CLUB<\/strong><\/td>COMMUNITY CLUB<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
2<\/td>Emma Charlton*<\/td>SA<\/td>South Adelaide<\/td><\/tr>
3<\/td>Harlee McIlwain<\/td>QLD<\/td>Brisbane Lions Academy<\/td><\/tr>
4<\/td>Darcie Prosser-Shaw^<\/td>NSW\/ACT<\/td>GWS Giants Academy<\/td><\/tr>
5<\/td>Charlotte Tidemann<\/td>NSW\/ACT<\/td>Sydney Swans Academy<\/td><\/tr>
6<\/td>Mia Geere<\/td>QLD<\/td>Brisbane Lions Academy<\/td><\/tr>
7<\/td>Summer Browning*<\/td>QLD<\/td>Gold Coast Suns Academy<\/td><\/tr>
8<\/td>Evie Ward<\/td>TAS<\/td>Tasmania Devils<\/td><\/tr>
10<\/td>Evie Bingham<\/td>TAS<\/td>Tasmania Devils<\/td><\/tr>
11<\/td>Emily Mableson<\/td>SA<\/td>West Adelaide<\/td><\/tr>
12<\/td>Frances Walsh^<\/td>NSW\/ACT<\/td>Sydney Swans Academy<\/td><\/tr>
14<\/td>Miyu Endersby<\/td>SA<\/td>Central District<\/td><\/tr>
15<\/td>Aiyana Pritchard<\/td>QLD<\/td>Brisbane Lions Academy<\/td><\/tr>
16<\/td>Morgan Stevens<\/td>NSW\/ACT<\/td>GWS Giants Academy<\/td><\/tr>
17<\/td>Bailee Martin<\/td>VIC M<\/td>Oakleigh Chargers<\/td><\/tr>
19<\/td>Greea McKeegan<\/td>VIC C<\/td>Geelong Falcons<\/td><\/tr>
20<\/td>Brylee Anderson<\/td>VIC M<\/td>Eastern Ranges<\/td><\/tr>
21<\/td>Cara Dziegielewski<\/td>WA<\/td>West Perth<\/td><\/tr>
22<\/td>Scout Semple<\/td>VIC M<\/td>Eastern Ranges<\/td><\/tr>
23<\/td>Majella Day<\/td>NSW\/ACT<\/td>GWS Giants Academy
Murray Bushrangers<\/td><\/tr>
24<\/td>Kiara Boyd^<\/td>VIC M<\/td>Western Jets<\/td><\/tr>
25<\/td>Molly Ferguson^<\/td>QLD<\/td>Brisbane Lions Academy<\/td><\/tr>
29<\/td>Sophie White<\/td>VIC C<\/td>Dandenong Stingrays<\/td><\/tr>
30<\/td>Lexi Strachan<\/td>WA<\/td>West Perth<\/td><\/tr>
31<\/td>Mia Carlshausen<\/td>WA<\/td>Perth<\/td><\/tr>
32<\/td>Grace Tracey*<\/td>NSW\/ACT<\/td>Sydney Swans Academy<\/td><\/tr>
33<\/td>Zoe Curry<\/td>NSW\/ACT<\/td>GWS Giants Academy
Oakleigh Chargers<\/td><\/tr>
38<\/td>Taya Maxwell*<\/td>SA<\/td>South Adelaide<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

* Won\u2019t play against Carlton VFLW due to injury
^ Addition to squad to play against Carlton VFLW as injury replacement<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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