The AFL has today announced the squads for the 2025 National Futures match and plenty of WA talent is set to be on show.<\/p>\n
The National Futures Match has become a staple on the Grand Final Day calendar, featuring as the curtain raiser for the sport\u2019s biggest game since 2016. With no U17 National Championships Carnival, this match provides the opportunity for many of those who starred as U16s to show that they are still developing and improving ahead of their draft years as 18-year-olds.<\/p>\n
All players selected were born in 2008 and will be eligible in the 2026 Telstra AFL Draft and 2026 Telstra AFLW draft. Players were nominated by state talent programs, national selectors and AFL and AFLW club recruiters, and many of the players selected in the futures squads will go on to feature in the 2026 Marsh AFL National Academy.<\/p>\n
Two boys teams stacked full of the best under-age talent do battle on the morning of Grand Final Day on the famous MCG turf, while recruiters from all clubs watch on tantalisingly. This year\u2019s boys match, which will be played on Grand Final day again, features eight Western Australians, up from seven selected players in last year\u2019s event.<\/p>\n
Headlined by Fremantle Dockers Next Generation Academy (NGA) prospect Lucas Robinson, West Coast Eagles NGA prospect Garrison Kenh, and Koby LeCras, the nephew of 219-game and 441-goal West Coast Eagles legend Mark LeCras, the list includes 48 names from across the country, vying for a chance to boost their draft stock ahead of their top-age seasons in 2026. <\/p>\n
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Robinson, Kenh and LeCras were all rewarded with All-Australian selections following the 2024 U16 National Championships, and Robinson was named WA\u2019s MVP of the tournament. <\/p>\n
Other promising prospects set to feature in the 2025 Futures Match include Claremont trio George Gale, Heath Mellody and Benji van Rooyen, who is the younger brother of Melbourne Demons player Jacob van Rooyen, Harvey Spawton-Guy (West Perth) and Mitch Stirling (Peel Thunder).<\/p>\n
In the Girls Match, seven Western Australians have been selected, headlined by the selection of U18s All-Australian Cara Dziegielewski of West Perth, who was awarded the honour after a brilliant 2025 National Championships as a bottom-ager. She is one of just four 2008-born players to have made the 2025 All-Australia team.<\/p>\n
Others included in the squad are fellow Falcon Lexi Strachan, Perth\u2019s Mia Carlshausen, Peel Thunder\u2019s Heidi Ireland, East Fremantle\u2019s Avuya Nomlatyu and South Fremantle\u2019s Marie Polimeno, while India Bonadeo of Claremont was the only selection to have not been a member of this year\u2019s U18s State side.<\/p>\n
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The girls squad will arrive in Melbourne for a three-day camp from September 12-14, concluding with the showcase game.<\/p>\n
The 2025 AFL National Futures Girls Match will be played as a curtain-raiser to the Round 5 Richmond v Geelong AFLW match at IKON Park on September 14, while the Boys match will be played on AFL Grand Final Day, on September 27.<\/p>\n