For over 20 years, the Sydney Swans Foundation has shaped the next generation of red and white – proudly supporting the QBE Sydney Swans Academy and future stars of our game by providing crucial resources that allow them to thrive both on and off the field.

This year, four Sydney Swans Academy players were selected as part of the All-Australian Squad: Aurelia Russell, Charlotte Tidemann, Ash Barlow & Frankie Walsh.

"To be recognised after all the hard work, dedication and sacrifices it has taken to get here makes it all worthwhile," Barlow said.

The ongoing connection and work between the Academy and the Foundation have supported all of these players to achieve success, including recent selection in the 2026 All-Australian teams. With Ash describing the Swans as "like a family. I have always been proud to represent and say that I am a part of the Sydney Swans Academy."

Some of these players have also received scholarships awarded by the foundation that has helped in various facets of their young careers.

Frankie Walsh was the 2026 recipient of the Frank Burton Scholarship. A scholarship that honours and recognises Frank Burton, a former employee of the Sydney Swans and a member for more than 30 years. Frank's legacy is for the Sydney Swans Foundation to continue financial support for young athletes.

For Frankie, the scholarship has provided her with extra motivation to reach her dreams of playing senior football at the Swans and “especially at this stage in my footy career where everything's really critical for development, it just means so much,” Walsh said.

Both Aurelia Russell and Charlotte Tidemann were awarded the Basil Sellers Scholarship in December last year, a scholarship that aims to assist athletes with pursuing their chosen sport alongside education, training, employment, and personal development.

For Aurelia, who travels from the Newcastle region, the scholarship allowed her to purchase her own car, which has freed up time for her parents and also provided her with the opportunity to better manage her time as she aims to pursue a teaching degree in PE post-Year 12 graduation.

The Basil Sellers Scholarship has an ever-growing list of recipients who have gone on to join the AFLW side, including Alex Neyland, Maddie Quinn and Emma Juneja.

Now joining that list, Charlotte is honoured to be entrusted with their legacy and hopefully continue the strong connection from the Academy into the senior team. “It's so special to join a group like theirs and follow their journey. Even though they're young and it's still their first year, it's really inspiring,” Tidemann said.

The Sydney Swans Foundation has released its 2026 Impact Report which showcases the collective contribution of the Swans community in creating positive change both on and off the field.

For more information about the Sydney Swans Foundation and how to get involved, visit Sydney Swans Foundation.

Click here to view the 2026 Sydney Swans Foundation Impact Report.