Five male, female NSW/ACT talents enhance AFL/AFLW Draft claims after extraordinary honour

Five of NSW/ACT’s brightest young prospects have enhanced their AFL/AFLW Draft claims after being named in National Academies. Meet the five young guns destined for big things.

Liam Hetherton is one of five players from NSW/ACT selected in the AFL National Academy. Photo: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Five of NSW’s brightest male and female prospects will showcase their draft prospects after landing an extraordinary honour for next season.

The rising state will be represented with two female players and three males in their respective Marsh AFL National Academies for 2025.

Maddie Quinn (Maroubra Saints) and Isla Wiencke (Belconnen Magpies) will fly the flag for the girls, with Lachlan Carmichael (Mosman), Noah Chamberlain (East Sydney) and Liam Hetherton (North Albury) making up the boys division.

All five are eligible for their respective AFL and AFLW Drafts later next year.

Selection in the AFL National Academy is a major indicator of high level talent as spotted by scouts, with a significant portion of the 55 male and female players expected to be drafted.

Wiencke is a member of the GWS Giants Academy and turned heads when she was named best on ground for the Allies against Queensland earlier this year.

Swans Academy young gun Noah Chamberlain in action. Picture: Keith McInnes Photography

Quinn is a talented ruck who impressed with her showings for the Swans Academy in the Coates Talent League as well as the Allies.

Carmichael (back) and Chamberlain (forward) were both named in the all-Australian U16s side last year after their showings at the National Championships, and the pair were both in the National Futures Boys Squad that played as a curtain raiser on AFL grand final day.

Hetherton was also a fixture on the biggest day of the Aussie rules season, with the tall forward hard to miss, standing at close to 2m in height.