WA Trio Selected For Marsh AFL National Girls AcademyFriday, November 7, 2025 - 12:05 PM

Three promising local players have been named in a 25 player squad for the 2026 Marsh AFL National Academy.

West Perth pair Cara Dziegielweski and Lexi Strachan, along with Perth’s Mia Carlshausen have been rewarded with selection in the squad.

Dziegielweski is an exciting ruck prospect, while Strachan is a highly regarded inside midfielder and Carlshausen is a talented utility.

The squad features four players who were selected in the 2025 Marsh AFL National Championships U18 Girls All Australian Team, including Dziegielweski.

Content is delivered across multiple football camps, with the 2026 program to commence with a high-performance camp at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport (NZCIS) in December.

The last time an international camp featured as part of the National Academy program was 2018, with the upcoming camp in New Zealand set to be the first time the AFL National Academy Girls program has travelled overseas.

AFL National Academy Manager Tarkyn Lockyer is excited about the players being part of an overseas experience.

“We are thrilled to be able to include a camp at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport as part of our 2026 program,” Lockyer said.

“The camp will provide a unique experience for our participants and will give them the opportunity to challenge themselves at an internationally acclaimed facilityThe Marsh AFL National Academy will also come together for football camps in Melbourne during the 2026 season.

Those camps will feature talent showcase matches where the National Academy squads will represent their country when they compete as the Australia U18 team.

In addition to the Academy camps, players will also take part in AFLW club experiences and will have the opportunity to train with an AFLW club.

“For all the girls selected in the squad we congratulate them as they prepare for the next step in their football journey,” Lockyer said.

The 2026 Marsh AFL National Academy marks the 10th intake for girls.

Camp Dates
December 17-21: High-performance camp at NZCIS
April 24-26: Camp in Melbourne + match
June 5-7: Camp in Melbourne + match