AFL North Coast juniors selected to Sydney Swans Academy

AFL North Coast’s top junior players have been selected into Sydney Swans Academy squads for 2026.

A record number of 52 players from the region were selected to the squads, bettering the 45 players chosen in 2024.

The QBE Sydney Swans Academy exists to increase the number of players in NSW who have expert AFL knowledge and high-level skills.

Established in 2010, the Academy has nurtured and developed a number of elite AFL-level players, but also made a significant contribution to the growth and strength of the code in NSW.

The Academy provides a professional, age-appropriate development program for males and females aged 11 to 19, and each year the Academy trains up to 700 players.

AFL North Coast juniors selected to the Sydney Swans Academy for 2026.

Boys

Under 11s: Zeke Boulet (Port Macquarie Magpies), Arlo Burkinshaw (Nambucca Valley Lions), Aubrey Dixon (Northern Beaches Blues), Ace MacGregor (Lower Clarence Suns).

Under 12s: Edward Epis (Lower Clarence Suns), Eli Fernie (Sawtell/Toormina Saints), George Lake (Coffs Harbour Breakers), Xavier Upston (Port Macquarie Magpies).

Under 13s: Chase Allen (Northern Beaches Blues), Beau Lill (Port Macquarie Magpies), Alby Lindsay (Sawtell/Toormina Saints), Ashton Miller (Lower Clarence Suns), Matthew Welsh (Coffs Harbour Breakers).

Under 14s: Oscar Churton (Lower Clarence Suns), Noah Bates (Port Macquarie Magpies), Mason Embling (Port Macquarie Magpies), Henry Fryer (Port Macquarie Magpies), Deziah Marsters-Nootai (Macleay Valley Eagles/Nambucca Valley Lions), Jack Morris (Port Macquarie Magpies), Blair Sibarani (Port Macquarie Magpies)

Under 15s: Sam Dicker (Port Macquarie Magpies), Sonny Dusting (Northern Beaches Blues), Jackson Sierakowski (Northern Beaches Blues), Clancy Tune (Sawtell/Toormina Saints), Xavier Mat (Port Macquarie Magpies), Taj Upston (Port Macquarie Magpies)

Under 16s: Finlay Campbell (Nambucca Valley Lions), Zane Guthrie (Coffs Harbour Breakers)

Under 17s: Thomas Epis (Northern Beaches Blues), Duke Marshall-Orr (Coffs Harbour Breakers/Northern Beaches Blues), Edward Redfern (Port Macquarie Magpies)

Under 18s: Isaac Luke (Port Macquarie Magpies)

Girls

Under 12s: Jane Marsters-Nootai (Macleay Valley Eagles/Nambucca Valley Lions), Violet Trevail (Port Macquarie Magpies)

Under 13s: Valla Parsons (Northern Beaches Blues), Emily Carson (Port Macquarie Magpies), Ella Cronin (South West Rocks Dockers).

Under 14s: Lexi Findlay (Northern Beaches Blues), Mireille Marshall (South West Rocks Dockers), Willow Matthews (Sawtell/Toormina Saints), Eliette Munn-Power (North Coffs Kangaroos)

Under 15s: Reese Legend (Nambucca Valley Lions), Harpa Skinner (Sawtell/Toormina Saints), Josephine Tait (Nambucca Valley Lions), Zoe Tarlinton (Coffs Harbour Breakers), Hayley Woods (Sawtell/Toormina Saints)

Under 16s: Chloe Murphy (Sawtell/Toormina Saints), Gia Hudson (Port Macquarie Magpies), Ruby Luke (Port Macquarie Magpies), Grace Morris (Port Macquarie Magpies)

Under 17s: Annalise Crawley (Coffs Harbour Breakers)

Under 19s: Amaia Wain (Bellingen Bulldogs/ Sawtell/Toormina Saints)

By Aiden BURGESS