Earlier this month, eight promising athletes from the QBE Sydney Swans Academy have been inducted into the Basil Sellers Scholarship Programme in an intimate dinner at Sydney Swans HQ.
Following the overwhelming success of its inaugural year, the Basil Sellers Scholarship has entered its second year of fostering talent and supporting the next generation of elite AFL and AFLW players.
Sellers, a long-time patron and generous donor to the Sydney Swans Foundation, along with CEO Tom Harley, was in attendance to award the recipients earlier this month.
“The first thing about the scholarship is Basil himself. He's obviously such a significant contributor to the Sydney Swans Football Club and I know how passionate he is about the QBE Sydney Swans Academy,” Harley said.
“When he came up with the idea to support the young athletes on and off the field via his scholarship we were absolutely wrapped with his generosity.”
“Like a lot of sports clubs around the world, we pride ourselves on giving our athletes the best chance to succeed and our simple reference point is when they leave, whenever that is, it might be a couple of years in the Academy or it could be after a 15-year AFL or AFLW career that they leave a better person” Harley added.
Funds received by the scholars will assist to pursue their chosen sport alongside education, training, employment, and personal development.
The program provides an opportunity for young athletes to excel in their chosen sport while receiving holistic support for their overall development.
“Thank you so much Basil, he has helped and contributed a lot to me,” said second time scholar Noah Chamberlain.
“As a second time recipient, this will go towards my studies and my AFL journey.”
“It’s been great for me, starting with the Academy in the Under 12s all the way to now with the Under 17s, I have been taught such great values and lessons. I couldn’t have done what I have done and I wouldn’t be who I am today without the support.”
“About two years ago, I injured my ACL, but they have been so supportive,“ said scholar Alex Neyland on the support of the program.
“I got to come to training, be with the team still and just feel a part of it even though I couldn’t play.”
“My goals for 2025 are definitely to get drafted, but I also want to finish HSC with a good ATAR.”
The Academy has been successful for more than 14 years in helping young players improve their AFL skills. Over 700 kids are currently enrolled across NSW.
The Sydney Swans Foundation plays a vital role in funding to provide the Academy with the best opportunity to produce a pipeline of talent.
Young Bloods - A TikTok documentary series
One season. Eight athletes.
The 28-part TikTok docuseries, or Tok-umentary, follows eight aspiring young players from the male and female Under 18 squads throughout the 2024 season, blending documentary footage with self-filmed vision from the players themselves.
With exclusive access to the QBE Sydney Swans Academy, during each of the 60-90 second TikTok episodes, viewers will see players immerse themselves in the Sydney Swans' ‘Bloods’ culture, celebrate success, and build resilience as they deal with setbacks including losses and injuries.
Basil Sellers Scholarship Recipients
Noah Chamberlain: UNSW Bulldogs
Noah is a very talented athlete who plays with a competitive and fearless mentality. With a great mixture of speed and endurance, Noah competes hard at every contest and regularly hits the scoreboard. His trademarks include his overhead marking, pressure application, and continual desire to develop his footy IQ. This is Noah's second year receiving the Basil Sellers Scholarship, having been a recipient in 2024, the inaugural year of the scholarship program.
Lachlan Carmichael: North Shore Bombers
Lachlan is a composed player with exceptional game awareness, showcasing a high level of decision-making and footy IQ. A selfless teammate, Lachlan consistently creates opportunities for those around him and backs up his skills with strong leadership qualities and setting the standard both on and off the field. This marks Lachlan's second year as a Basil Sellers Scholarship recipient, having first been awarded the honor in 2024, the inaugural year of the program.
Max King: Cardiff Hawks
Athletic, agile, quick, and powerful are four key attributes that define Max King. With a Top 3 National time of 2.88 seconds for the 20m Sprint, Max's unmatched acceleration allows him to burst out of stoppages with explosive impact.
Mason McGroder: Maroubra Saints
A dual-sport athlete excelling in both athletics and AFL, Mason is a raw yet powerful player with the ball in hand. At just 15 years old, Mason achieved a remarkable feat, winning a bronze medal in the Long Jump at the U20 World Athletics Championships in Peru. He also holds gold medals from the Australian Athletics Championships in the U20 Long Jump (7.73m) and U17 400m (49.37s) events.
Telaya Blacksmith: Miranda Bombers
Telaya is a rising star in the world of sport, celebrated for her achievements both on the football field and in athletics. At just 16 years of age, Telaya performed on the National stage at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, setting an Australian record in the T20 400m sprint, to qualify her into the finals. On the football field, Telaya is known for her competitive spirit, hard work and determination.
Alex Neyland: Singleton Roosters
Alex's journey exemplifies resilience and dedication. After a dominant start to the 2023 Under 16 season, a significant injury sidelined her for the remainder of the year. Undeterred, Alex channelled her unwavering commitment into a rigorous rehabilitation program, spending countless hours training on her family farm with her sisters. This dedication not only facilitated her return to the high-performance squad at the end of 2024, but also saw her return stronger and more determined than before, seamlessly reintegrating into hte team. This is Alex's second year receiving the prestigious Basil Sellers Scholarship, having been a recipient in the inaugural year (2024), a testament to her unwavering dedication and potential.
Kiera Yerbury: Macquarie University / Parramatta Goannas Premier Women's
Kiera is a powerful and promising young athlete who has rapidly emerged as a stand-out player in the Top End Academy program. Her exceptional athleticism and innate ability to attach the football are defining characteristics of her on-field performance. This talent, combined with her exceptional game awareness and decisive decision -making under pressure, resulted in her playing all but one Under 18 Top End game in 2024 (missing only due to injury), a remarkable achievement for an underage player. This is Kiera's second year as a Basil Sellers Scholar, having been a recipient in the inaugural year of the program (2024), further highlighting her potential and commitment.
Madeleine Quinn: UTS Bats
Madeleine is a talented player whose skills have blossomed since she joined the Academy at just 13 years old. Her consistent high-level performance has earnt her recognition at the national level. Madeleine has represented the Academy in every Top End game since her Under 16 year, including in the Coates Talent League, National Championships and AFL Summer Series. Madeleine was also seelcted as an under-ager in the 2024 Allies Squad and was recently selected in the 2025 Marsh AFLW National Academy Squad, cementing her status as one of the most promising young players in the country.
