NSW/ACT Scholarship Program

NSW/ACT Scholarships

AFL Objectives

> Attract quality athletes to our code by providing a direct path to the elite AFL competition.
> To enhance the future quality of the code in areas of NSW where AFL is emerging, by developing a broader base of quality players and coaches.
> Attract resources of the AFL clubs into the Greater Sydney market.
> Develop partnerships with schools interested in attracting talented people to their school via the AFL Scholarship program.

Eligiblity for scholarship

> Must turn 15/16/17 by at latest 31st December of the year of being listed
> Must live in a developing market region (DMR) or live in NSW/ACT and be a student at a DMR for at least 3 years
> DMR include: All of NSW north of the southern boundary running east to west following Kiama, Nowra, Goulburn, Cootamundra, West Wyalong, Hillston, Broken Hill and north to the Queensland border.

Maintaing Eligibility

> Remain living in a DMR and be a student at a DMR or be a student in a DMR and live in NSW/ACT
> Registered to play football in a football competition located in a DMR
> Represent NSW/ACT at any underage National Championships if selected.

Number of Scholarship Players Allowed:

> Clubs may sign a maximum of 2 players each year, with a maximum of 6 total scholarship players at one time.

Contracts and Benefits

> Clubs musn’t enter into contractual agreements before May 1st of the year prior to the players scholarship listing
> When signed to a clubs scholarship list: 15 year olds (in the year that they are listed on the scholarship list) are given 3 year contracts, 16 year olds are given 2 year contracts, 17 year olds are given 1 year contracts – contracts expire on 31st October of the relevant year
> Scholarship players are provided with football benefits by/on behalf of the club between $10000-20000 per year (all payments made are excluded as football payments in the purpose of calculating total player payments for salary cap purposes)

Inclusion onto an AFL List

> If the scholarship listed player is of eligible draft age, a club may apply to transfer the player from the scholarship list to the main list on the day the main list is lodged (off-season) with the AFL prior to the National Draft (normal list numbers must be maintained).
> If the scholarship listed player is of eligible draft age, a club may apply to transfer the player from the scholarship list to the rookie list on the day the main list is lodged (off-season) with the AFL prior to the National Draft and the player consents (i.e. if the player believes he will be taken in the National Draft by another club he may choose to forgo being rookie listed).
> If the scholarship player is not chosen to be listed on either the main or rookie list, he may nominate for the National Draft at the expiration of his contract – if the player nominates himself and is not selected his club may include him on their rookie list prior to the Rookie draft

Sources: AFL Scholarship Program Information for Clubs, AFL Scholarship Program Information for Parents and AFL Scholarship Program FAQ

For latest news regarding Scholarship players visit: AFL NSW/ACT Scholarship Program

Scholarship Listed players by club

Adelaide

Sam Martyn
Aaron Duncan

Brisbane

James Brain
Richard Newell

Collingwood

Michael Hartley
Nick Perry
Thomas Young
Jarrod Witts
Josh Parsons
Adrian Yakimov
Tyson Carracher

Essendon
Oliver Tweedale
James Webster

Geelong

Kale Temple
Beau Black
Lachlan Urwin
Tim Whales
Jack Dimery

Hawthorn

Michael Johnston
Thomas Kickett
Trent Stubbs
Dylan Stuart
Heath Caldwell
Jack Mahoney

Melbourne

Ted Strudwick

North Melbourne

Jac Simmonds
Joel McInerney
Ryder Court

Port Adelaide

Simon O’Brien
Harrison Cumming
Jordan Johns

St Kilda

Kane Murphy
Jackson Ferguson
Josh Duncan | Video

Sydney

Ryan Bottin-Noonan
Matt May
Jay Lewis
Nathan Kenny
Jackson Potter
Blake Guthrie
Jack Lynch
Mitchell May
Nathan Gordon
Harry Butchart
Stephen Wray
Daniel Robinson
Mitchell Crawford

West Coast Eagles

Jake King
Kieran Emery
Alexander Sneddon

Western Bulldogs

Braedon Jones
Daniel Lloyd