The Geelong Cats Academy brought together more than 180 players from across its expanded region for the 2026 Academy Series, with six teams taking to the field in matches run in conjunction with the Western Bulldogs Academy.
The players represented 66 clubs and 56 schools across the Barwon, Western District and Wimmera regions.
The series featured the U14, U15 and U18 Boys and Girls programs, providing players with four weeks of training and development before culminating in matches that allowed them to put their learnings into practice and compete against quality opposition.
The U14 program brought together 90 players, including 45 boys and 45 girls, at Central Reserve in Colac on September 30. The boys and girls matches provided an opportunity to celebrate and showcase the emerging talent across the region.
The U15 and U18 teams then travelled to Ballarat to face the Western Bulldogs Academy across October 3 and 4, with all four Geelong teams recording wins.
The U15 girls opened the weekend with a 61-point victory, followed by a 29-point win for the U18 girls. The following day, the U15 boys played out a high-quality contest, securing a 33-point win in an impressive display of football from both sides. The U18 boys then rounded out the series with a commanding 155-point victory, completing a clean sweep for the Cats across all four matches.
Beyond the matches, the Academy Series included regional training experiences in Hamilton and Geelong, giving players access to football development, education and athletic profiling. The Hamilton session at Monivae College welcomed 30 players, while more than 130 players attended the Geelong experiences at GMHBA Stadium.
The program also provided valuable development opportunities for 32 coaches from across the region, who supported the Academy over four weeks while undertaking their own coach development. Their involvement helped strengthen connections between the Cats and community football, building coaching knowledge and capability across the Barwon, Western District and Wimmera regions.
The series also connected the Academy with players from its Northern Territory NGA zone, with five players travelling from Katherine and surrounding communities with the support of AFLNT. Identified through national Indigenous football programs, including the Michael Long Cup in Darwin, the players were given the opportunity to train and play within the Geelong Cats Academy. Their involvement reflects the Academy’s commitment to identifying talent, building relationships and creating opportunities for young people, whether at home or far away.
The Academy thanks the players, coaches, staff and families who contributed to the program and helped create these opportunities for young people across the region.
2026 ACADEMY SERIES – U18 BOYS
Sunday 4 October - Mars Stadium, Ballarat
Geelong Cats Academy U18 Boys 25.14 (164) defeated Western Bulldogs Academy U18 Boys 1.3 (9)
Geelong Cats 7.3 | 12.6 | 16.10 | 25.14.164
Western Bulldogs 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.3.9
GOALS: Zander de Beer 5, Alex Assemani 4, John Tattersall 3, Max Clark 3, Thomas Dunstan 2, Max Mansfield 2, Oscar Fatnowna 2, Sonni Andrews 1, Oska Rose 1, Ezra Perera 1, Alex Makuey 1
BEST: Max Clark, Alex Assemani, Zander de Beer, Max Mansfield, Jack Hollis, Alex Makuey, Luke De Noronha, Oscar King
2026 ACADEMY SERIES – U15 BOYS
Sunday 4 October - Mars Stadium, Ballarat
Geelong Cats Academy U15 Boys 12.10 (82) defeated Western Bulldogs Academy U15 Boys 7.7 (49)
Geelong Cats 2.3 | 7.6 | 9.7 | 12.10.82
Western Bulldogs 1.2 | 5.4 | 7.7 | 7.7.49
GOALS: Kade Witney 3, Zayne Medina 1, Rustom Surty 1, David Roydhouse 1, Xyrus Gragasin 1, Hylton Penfold 1, Terrance Runyu 1, Harry Chatfield 1, Luke Harrison 1, Gano Akoch 1
BEST: Kade Witney, Hylton Penfold, Zavier Jarvis, David Gow, Finn Harrison, Elijah Kiwi, Zayne Medina, Waylon Bulumbara
2026 ACADEMY SERIES – U14 BOYS
Wednesday 30 September – Central Reserve, Colac
Team Stewart 10.12 (72) defeated Team Cameron 4.9 (33)
Team Stewart 0.3 | 3.4 | 5.9 | 10.12.72
Team Cameron 2.5 | 2.7 | 3.8 | 4.9.33
GOALS (Stewart): Ashton Ramsay 2, Cruz Chatfield 1, Archie Johnson 1, Douglas Lunga 1, Boston Kingsley 1, Hunter Machao 1, Boh Enright 1, Henry Dart 1, Evans Ajang 1
BEST (Stewart): Max Ling, Douglas Lunga, Kiylahn Comollatti, Evans Ajang, Boh Enright, Hunter Machao, Archie Johnson, Boston Kingsley
GOALS (Cameron): Aiden Stanley 1, Xavier Jansen Van Vuuren 1, Heath Whittaker 1, James Richardson 1
BEST (Cameron): James Richardson, Ah Nee Nwe, Isiah Ali, Judd Oakley, Aiden Stanley, Xavier Jansen Van Vuuren, Heath Whittaker, Solomone Buini
2026 ACADEMY SERIES – U18 GIRLS
Saturday 3 October – City Oval, Ballarat
Geelong Cats Academy U18 Girls 5.7 (37) defeated Western Bulldogs Academy U18 Girls 1.2 (8)
Geelong Cats 1.0 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 5.7.37
Western Bulldogs 0.2 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 1.2.8
GOALS: Catherine Gandolfo 3, Chontelle Jolly 1, Charmaine Lockwood 1
BEST: Kayla Reilly, Niamh Ginley, Leayla Pohl, Mikaylah Gillespie-Seers, Mikela Pohl, Catherine Gandolfo, Akia-Marie Lake, Katelyn Edwards
2026 ACADEMY SERIES – U15 GIRLS
Saturday 3 October – City Oval, Ballarat
Geelong Cats Academy U15 Girls 8.13 (61) defeated Western Bulldogs Academy U15 Girls 0.0 (0)
Geelong Cats 3.4 | 6.6 | 7.7 | 8.13.61
Western Bulldogs 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0.0
GOALS: Charlotte Spark 3, Macy Maddock 2, Indianna Kmon 1, Abby Simamora 1, Talulah Glenda 1
BEST: Emma Henderson, Akeima Lake, Sharvarntay Edwards, Ella Corn, Mia Baker, Alison Robinson, Chelsea Jolly, Charlotte Spark
2026 ACADEMY SERIES – U14 GIRLS
Wednesday 30 September – Central Reserve, Colac
Team Webster 13.6 (84) defeated Team Prespakis 1.5 (11)
Team Webster 2.3 | 4.6 | 9.6 | 13.6.84
Team Prespakis 0.1 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 1.5.11
GOALS (Webster): Willow Annand 4, Kayley Grayson 3, Mia Mason 2, Belle Parfitt 1, Sacha Gordon 1, Sasha Halliburton 1, Wren Rahilly 1
BEST (Webster): Wren Rahilly, Zayli Witney, Sacha Gordon, Mackenzie Moore, Gracie Martella, Willow Annand, Kaley Grayson, Abigail Baines
GOALS (Prespakis): Aylah May Hunter 1
BEST (Prespakis): Kinaree Gow, Shiou-Fen Hayden, Scarlett Nolan, Aylah May Hunter, Sahsah Summerfield, Sarah Murphy, Myah Cadman, Matilda Corcoran
