The GIANTS Academy will proudly be represented on the biggest stage in Australian football this weekend, with talented teenager Ethan Matthews set to run out in the AFL Futures Game on AFL Grand Final day.
Bringing together the most talented under-17 footballers from across the country and played at the MCG as a curtain-raiser to the Toyota AFL Grand Final, the annual Futures Game is a showcase of the nation’s most promising underage prospects as they prepare to enter their 2026 draft year.
For the GIANTS’ Head of Academy, Jason Saddington, Matthews’ selection comes as no surprise after a standout season that has seen him shine at every level.
“Ethan has thoroughly deserved this great opportunity to play at the MCG on Grand Final day with the best young talent in the country,” Saddington said.
“He has been a standout performer for the Academy this year, and after a best on ground performance for NSW/ACT against Vic Country in August he was a clear pick for this game. We know he will perform well.”
The Futures Game is a rare chance for the nation’s best draft prospects to showcase their skills in front of recruiters, and Saddington believes Matthews is well placed to make an impression.
“Apart from an incredible opportunity to play on the MCG on Grand Final Day, the match gives AFL club recruiters an early look at the best prospects for next year’s draft and it’s a real chance to impress up against your peers. Performance will also play a part in selection for the AFL National U18 Academy for 2026 also, so we wish Ethan all the best.”
Matthews has already ticked off several milestones in 2025, including recently winning the under-17 AFL Sydney league Best and Fairest award. That achievement capped off a season in which he balanced commitments across community football, the GIANTS Academy, and higher representative levels.
“A sign of a very good player is their ability to perform well at any level, whether it be community footy or National level games,” Saddington said.
“He has performed strongly at U17, senior, Academy, National and VFL level this year. It’s great to see young talent coming through from Western Sydney and his performance with his local club certainly contributes to his ongoing development and improvement.”
Saddington said Matthews has a host of strong attributes.
“Ethan is a footy head. Loves the game and understands it really well. But not just passion and great footy IQ get you there. He has shown an elite level of skill by hand and foot, versatility to play a number of roles, and always seems to have an abundance of time with ball in hand. It’s like the game slows down around him at times.”
Looking ahead, the 2026 season looms as a crucial Draft year for Matthews, and the Academy is committed to giving him every opportunity to thrive.
“Certainly there’s plenty of water to still pass under the bridge but Ethan is a smart and composed young man with a steely resolve,” Saddington said.
“We see him moving into our midfield at Academy level next year, with hopefully greater opportunities with the Allies at Nationals level and for the GIANTS at VFL level. Ethan will also get the chance to spend time with our AFL men’s group through pre-season which no doubt will support his development for next season.”
For now, all eyes will be on the MCG this weekend, where Matthews has the chance to announce himself as one of the country’s brightest young footballers on the grandest of stages.
The Futures clash will get under way at 9:35am on Saturday, with the match to be broadcast live and free on the AFL website and the AFL Live Official app.
