WA talent aplenty in national Indigenous, Multicultural squads

Sixteen of the State’s most talented young Indigenous and multicultural footballers have been selected to take part in a high-performance camp in Melbourne this month.

The Indigenous squads will feature six West Aussies – three girls and three boys – while the Multicultural have five boys and five girls.

Peel Thunder rebounding defender Heidi Ireland, rated among WA’s best AFLW Draft prospects, is one to watch in the Indigenous girls squad.

Ireland will be joined by her Thunder teammate Tiama Collard and South Fremantle talent Alexis Edgley.

Five WAFL clubs will be represented in the Multicultural Girls squad – Claremont (Hannah Seaborn), East Fremantle (Avuya Nomlatyu), Perth (Niah Catto), Swan Districts (Penelope Punaivaha) and West Perth (Lunay Van Den Heever).

WA’s Indigenous Boys squad contingent is headlined by Summer Squad member Xaiver Little of Peel Thunder.

Little will play alongside fellow West Aussies Gus Mourish (East Fremantle) and Djavian Narrier (Swan Districts).

The Indigenous boys squad has a strong WA flavour in the coaching department, headlined by Fremantle greats Roger Hayden (head coach), Michael Walters (assistant coach) and former Melbourne defender Neville Jetta (assistant coach).

Walters has recently started at WA Football as Indigenous and Multicultural Relationship Manager in the Performance Pathways and Development Team.

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The boys Multicultural team will have a pair of South Fremantle talents – Max Jones and Lucas Dravitzki – alongside Claremont’s Gabriel Giltrow, Subiaco’s Tom Clements and East Perth’s Kobe Lam.

The 2026 AFL Indigenous and Multicultural Academies will come together in Melbourne across the next fortnight to take part in a high-performance camp.

The girls squads will be in camp from February 20 to 22, followed by the boys squads from February 27 to March 1.

Each three-day camp will feature a showcase match, with the Indigenous Academy taking on the Multicultural Academy.

Both matches will be played at Dingley’s Kennedy Community Centre, the new home of Hawthorn Football Club.

The girls match will be played on Saturday February 21 from 11.30am WST, with the boys match to be played on Saturday, February 28 from 11.30am WST.

You can watch both games live on the AFL Play YouTube channel.

“We congratulate all players who have been selected in 2026 AFL Indigenous and Multicultural Academies,” AFL Diversity Talent Programs Manager Narelle Long said.

“The Academies provide an advanced football experience for our emerging Indigenous and Multicultural footballers.

“Players will have access to a specialised development model focused on their individual needs to further assist them to reach their Draft potential, as week as tailored support to assist their growth off the field.

“We are thrilled to offer an expanded offering this year with the inclusion of an addition high-performance camp, which will also provide opportunities for 16-year-old players later in the year to support their progress into next year’s Talent Pathways programs.”

WA representatives

Indigenous Academy Girls: Tiama Collard (Peel Thunder), Alexis Edgley (South Fremantle), Heidi Ireland (Peel Thunder)

Multicultural Academy Girls: Niah Catto (Perth), Avuya Nomlatyu (East Fremantle), Penelope Punaivaha (Swan Districts), Hannah Seaborn (Claremont), Lunay Van Den Heever (West Perth)

Indigenous Academy Boys: Xaiver Little (Peel Thunder), Gus Mourish (East Fremantle), Djavian Narrier (Swan Districts)

Multicultural Academy Boys: Gabriel Giltrow (Claremont), Tom Clements (Subiaco), Lucas Dravitzki (South Fremantle), Max Jones (South Fremantle), Kobe Lam (East Perth)