Sara Howley, Havana Harris, Levi Ashcroft and Sid Draper. Photos: AFL Photos

The AFL has today announced the 2024 AFL National Academy squads.

The AFL National Academy Boys and AFL National Academy Girls squads feature many of the country’s most promising young footballers.

All players named in the squads are born in 2006 and will be eligible for selection in the 2024 AFL Draft and 2024 AFLW Draft.

The AFL National Academy is an accelerated football and personal development program that provides the next generation of stars with experiences, learnings and further opportunities to best prepare them for the next steps in their football journey.

Ben (L) and Lucas Camporeale (R) after the AFL Futures match at the MCG on September 30, 2023. Picture: AFL Photos

The boys squad will take part in its first camp in Melbourne from Friday, December 8 to Sunday, December 10 before reconvening for a further two camps during the 2024 season.

The first of three camps for the girls squad will be held in Melbourne from Friday, January 19 to Sunday, January 21.

Both Academy programs will play two games during the 2024 season where players will represent their country as part of the Australia U18 team.

Further details on all camps and matches will be confirmed at a later date.

This is the 27th annual intake for the AFL National Academy Boys and the seventh intake for the AFL National Academy Girls.

Both squads feature players from every state and territory across Australia.

Molly O'Hehir in action for Western Australia during the AFL National Championships U18 Girls match against Victoria Country. Picture: James Worsfold/AFL Photos

AFL National Academy Manager Tarkyn Lockyer congratulated all players on their selection in the 2024 AFL National Academy squads.

“Being part of the AFL National Academy is a fantastic achievement. All players selected in the boys and girls squads have demonstrated outstanding football ability and a determination to advance further in their football journey,” Lockyer said.

“One of the philosophies of the AFL National Academy is to provide players with a different experience to what they receive as part of other programs they are involved in.

“Players will come together for high performance training camps and have the opportunity to play for their country in representative matches.

“They will also get to integrate into AFL environments and receive access to expert coaching and education to assist their football and personal development.

“The learnings and experiences players gain from the opportunities provided through the AFL National Academy is invaluable.”

2024 AFL NATIONAL ACADEMY GIRLS

Seven members of the 2023 AFL National Championships U18 Girls All Australian team headline the inclusions in the 2024 AFL National Academy Girls squad.

They include Ash Centra, Havana Harris, Sara Howley, Emma McDonald, Molly O’Hehir, India Rasheed and Poppy Scholz.

Queensland ruck and forward Havana Harris was crowned the best and fairest player at the 2023 AFL National Championships U18 Girls after a dominant campaign where she averaged 18.3 disposals, three marks and 17 hitouts.

She capped a huge 2023 season by winning the best on ground medal in the QAFLW Grand Final to steer Bond University to premiership success over Aspley.

Sara Howley and Ash Centra finished third to Harris in the 2023 AFL National Championships U18 Girls best and fairest voting.

Howley claimed the Coates Talent League Girls best and fairest following a dominant year for the Geelong Falcons where she averaged 33 disposals and one goal across 12 matches in the home-and-away season.

Centra is one of three team MVP winners from this year’s U18 Girls National Championships selected in the 2024 AFL National Academy Girls squad, along with Harris and South Australia’s India Rasheed.

Sophie McKay has also been selected after winning the best on ground medal following a dominant performance in the 2023 AFLW Futures game in September. McKay is the daughter of Carlton premiership player Andrew and sister of Blues midfielder Abbie.

The squad also features Poppy Scholz (sister of Port Adelaide’s Matilda Scholz), India Rasheed (daughter of Roger Rasheed) and Australian representative baseball pitcher Ashley Patton.

NAME

SURNAME

STATE

STATE LEAGUE CLUB

COMMUNITY CLUB

Grace

Baba

VIC M

Eastern Ranges

Mooroolbark

Lilly

Baker

QLD

Brisbane Lions Academy

Maroochydore

Zoe

Besanko

VIC C

Dandenong Stingrays

Frankston Dolphins

Ashley

Centra

VIC C

Gippsland Power

Sale City

Jasmine

Evans

SA

Central District

Salisbury

Zipporah

Fish

WA

East Fremantle

 

Sierra

Grieves

VIC M

Western Jets

Yarraville Seddon Eagles

Tara

Harrington

QLD

Gold Coast Suns Academy

Bond University

Havana

Harris

QLD

Gold Coast Suns Academy

Burleigh

Sara

Howley

VIC C

Geelong Falcons

Newtown & Chilwell

Emma

Juneja

NSW/ACT

Sydney Swans Academy

East Sydney

Millie

Lang

VIC C

GWV Rebels

Redan

Emma

McDonald

VIC M

Oakleigh Chargers

Ashburton

Sophie

McKay

VIC M

Sandringham Dragons

Prahran

Georgia

McKee

SA

Central District

Golden Grove

Molly

O'Hehir

WA

South Fremantle

South Coogee

Lucia

Painter

VIC C

Bendigo Pioneers

White Hills

Ashley

Patton

NSW/ACT

GWS Giants Academy

Tuggeranong

Tatyana

Perry

NT

Northern Territory Academy

Palmerston

India

Rasheed

SA

Sturt

Glenunga

Charlotte

Riggs

SA

Central District

Angle Vale

Poppy

Scholz

SA

Glenelg

Mitcham

Elli

Symonds

VIC C

Dandenong Stingrays

Frankston Dolphins

Sienna

Tallariti

VIC M

Oakleigh Chargers

Whitehorse Pioneers

Mackenzie

Williams

TAS

Tasmania Devils

North Hobart

Claudia

Wright

WA

Claremont

Claremont

2024 AFL NATIONAL ACADEMY BOYS

The 2024 AFL National Academy Boys squad features three players who were named in the 2023 AFL National Championships U18 Boys All Australian team in Levi Ashcroft, Sid Draper and Finn O’Sullivan.

Ashcroft is the son of three-time Brisbane Lions premiership player Marcus and brother of current Lions’ midfielder Will. The father-son prospect is already a two-time Coates Talent League premiership player with the Sandringham Dragons and this year claimed the club’s best and fairest award.

Draper was named South Australia’s MVP at the U18 Boys National Championships and in September was awarded the 2023 Jack Collins-Alan Schwab AFL Life Members scholarship before playing a key role in South Adelaide’s SANFL U18 premiership win.

O’Sullivan won the Kevin Sheehan Medal as the Division 1 best and fairest at the 2022 AFL National Development Championships U16 Boys before again impressing for Victoria Country at U18 level this year.

The 2024 AFL National Academy Boys squad also includes father-son prospects Ben and Lucas Camporeale and Tyler Welsh.

Twin brothers Ben and Lucas Camporeale are eligible to join Carlton where their father Scott played 233 matches. Ben was best afield in 2023 AFL Futures game which was played on the MCG as a curtain-raiser to the 2023 Toyota AFL Grand Final.

Key forward Welsh is eligible to join Adelaide where his dad Scott played 129 of his 205 AFL matches.

Gold Coast Suns Academy midfielder Leonardo Lombard has also been named after this year featuring in the Suns’ VFL premiership team at 16 years of age. He also played one match for the title-winning Allies at the U18 Boys National Championships.

NAME

SURNAME

STATE

STATE LEAGUE CLUB

COMMUNITY CLUB

Bo

Allan

WA

Peel Thunder

Halls Head

Levi

Ashcroft

VIC M

Sandringham Dragons

Old Brighton Grammarians

Ben

Camporeale

SA

Glenelg

Brighton Districts &
Old Scholars

Lucas

Camporeale

SA

Glenelg

Brighton Districts &
Old Scholars

Malakai

Champion

WA

Subiaco

Mines Rovers

Joel

Cochran

NSW/ACT

Sydney Swans Academy

East Sydney

Archer

Day-Wicks

VIC C

Bendigo Pioneers

Sandhurst

Oliver

Dean

TAS

Tasmania Devils

North Launceston

Sid

Draper

SA

South Adelaide

Willunga

Jonty

Faull

VIC C

GWV Rebels

Redan

Tom

Gross

VIC M

Oakleigh Chargers

Old Trinity Grammarians

Sam

Lalor

VIC C

GWV Rebels

Bacchus Marsh

Harvey

Langford

VIC C

Dandenong Stingrays

Mount Martha

Xavier

Lindsay

VIC C

Gippsland Power

Leongatha

Leonardo

Lombard

QLD

Gold Coast Suns Academy

Broadbeach

Sam

Marshall

QLD

Brisbane Lions Academy
Sandringham Dragons

St Bedes/Mentone

Ricky

Mentha

NT

Northern Territory Academy
Gippsland Power

Morwell

Christian

Moraes

VIC M

Eastern Ranges

Glen Waverley

Noah

Mraz

VIC C

Dandenong Stingrays

Narre North Foxes

Harry

O’Farrell

VIC M

Calder Cannons

Maribyrnong Park

Finn

O’Sullivan

VIC C

Oakleigh Chargers

Koroit

Jobe

Shanahan

NSW/ACT

Bendigo Pioneers

Moama

Josh

Smillie

VIC M

Eastern Ranges

Park Orchards

Jagga

Smith

VIC M

Oakleigh Chargers

Richmond

Luke

Trainor

VIC M

Sandringham Dragons

Old Brighton
Grammarians

Tyler

Welsh

SA

Woodville West-Torrens

Henley