The AFL has today announced the intake for the 2023 NAB AFL and AFLW Academy programs, with five Tasmanians selected.
The 2023 NAB AFL Academy and 2023 NAB AFLW Academy squads each feature 30 players and include a selection of the most talented 17-year-old footballers across the country. Brooke Barwick (Glenorchy) and Georgia Clark (Glenorchy) have been named in the AFLW Academy, with Colby McKercher (Launceston) and Jack Callinan (Clarence) earning a place in the AFL Academy.
Players will participate in high performance and personal development programs throughout the 2023 season. Program content will be delivered through a mixture of face-to-face and online modules.
Barwick was a star in the midfield for the Devils this season, winning the program’s NAB League Girls best and fairest award as a bottom-age player. With fierce attack on the football at the stoppages and silky skills by foot and hand, she averaged 15.6 disposals, 6.2 tackles and 3.6 inside 50s per game in the NAB League Girls. She was equally dominant when representing the Allies at the NAB AFLW National Championships, earning selection in the All-Australian side, and she was a member of last year’s AFLW Academy class.
One of the best tall prospects in the country, Clark’s strong marking overhead and hard running style has earned her a place in the AFLW Academy. She led the NAB League Girls in contested marks and finished her work well, kicking 13 goals from nine games. Averaging 15.2 disposals, 4.4 marks and 4.3 tackles per game for the Devils, she combines the size of a key position player with the mobility and skills of a midfielder, making her a supremely versatile player.
McKercher enhanced his reputation as a rising star in 2022, winning the Toby Nankervis Medal as the club’s best young player in the NAB League Boys. Averaging 22.7 disposals, four tackles and 4.8 inside 50s per game, his combination of strength on the inside and blistering pace on the outside made him one of the country’s most dynamic midfielders. He also represented the Allies at the NAB AFL National Championships and was selected in the NAB AFL Futures game at the MCG, where he racked up 20 disposals and four clearances on the big stage.
A dynamic midfielder-forward with plenty of x-factor in his game, Callinan emerged as one of the NAB League’s most exciting players in 2022. He finished the season in red-hot form as the Devils stormed to a maiden preliminary final berth, kicking eight goals in his last four games and averaging 18.3 disposals across his last six outings. He too played in the NAB AFL Futures game on AFL grand final day and continued his late-season surge, booting two goals from 13 disposals against the top prospects in the country.
The 2023 NAB AFL Academy will come together for an induction camp in December, before reconvening for camps and matches in April and May.The 2023 NAB AFLW Academy will commence with a camp in January, which will be followed by camps in April and June, and a match.
National Academy Manager Tarkyn Lockyer congratulated all players on their selection and said he was excited to work with the future stars of our game.
“Selection in the NAB AFL and AFLW Academy is a significant achievement and all players are thoroughly deserving of their place in the squads,” Lockyer said.“It is extremely pleasing to again have all states and territories represented in this year’s intake and highlights Australian Football remains the first-choice sport for our country’s most talented young athletes.“We are very excited about the high level of talent within this group of future stars of the AFL and AFLW, many of whom have already showcased their outstanding skills and abilities at representative level.“As part of their selection in the 2023 NAB AFL and AFLW Academy, players will be given the opportunity to continue to develop on and off the field under the guidance of expert coaching, high performance and wellbeing staff.“They will also be given the opportunity to be part of AFL and AFLW environments by attend training sessions with AFL and AFLW clubs, which will provide first-hand experience of the standards required to make it at the highest level.” Both squads will be coached by Tarkyn Lockyer, who will be supported by a combination of male and female coaches who have experience working with girls and boys football programs.