Eagles Academy Development Tour 2026
Better footy. Better men. Better mates.
An invitation from Marcellin Old Collegians Football Club.
A structured high-performance football and personal development experience for boys at or beyond the end of school football, and heading into the next stage of their football, leadership, and community journey.
Who is it for?
- Boys finishing the Marcellin School football program in 2026.
- Boys still playing, or entering, the Marcellin Senior School program in 2027.
- Boys who finished the Marcellin School football program or connected to those who finished the school program in the 2025 season are welcome to express interest.
- Boys finishing in 2026 from a Victorian Marist or rural school football program
Timing
Indicative window: 20 to 27 September 2026*,during school holidays. Exact dates and duration to be confirmed.
Locations under Review
Option 1: Darwin. Option 2: Brisbane. Final destination depends on interest, availability and logistics.**
Experience
Elite training facilities, purposeful football sessions, recovery, team connection, leadership content and exposure to MOCFC culture.
Status
Concept stage only. This expression of interest is not a commitment by families, players or the Club.
What the boys will experience
Elite football development in a professional-style environment, with high standards around preparation, training and recovery.
Training and connection with men from MOCFC, giving boys a genuine feel for the people, culture and pathway beyond school football.
Personal growth through responsibility, independence, leadership conversations and reflection on the next stage of their journey.
Real mateship through shared routines, team standards and positive experiences away from the normal environment.
Open to Everyone
This is not a representative team, selected squad or reward program. It is open to boys of all football abilities who are interested in developing their football, building connection and understanding what MOCFC can offer after school football.
That said, we'll be upfront about it: a lot of the boys on this trip will be coming into MOCFC, and you'll spend the week training and living alongside blokes already playing there. If you're weighing up where you'll play once school footy finishes, this is the best look you'll get at what the club is actually like. Plenty of boys will come, love it, and end up at Marcellin. Plenty will come, love it, and play elsewhere.
Why we are doing this
The purpose is simple: strengthen the Marcellin football pathway so the end of school football is not the end of the ride.
For the boys, the experience should help them sharpen their football, understand what good standards look like, become clearer about their ambitions and come home more connected to their mates, mentors and the Club.
Done well, footy clubs & trips build good men and stronger communities. This week points the group squarely in that direction.
Cost & Support
There will be some shared costs, however the MOCFC Coterie has committed support so cost is not a barrier for any boy or family who wants to be part of the program at this important point of transition. Full cost details, inclusions and available subsidies will be shared directly with families as expressions of interest progress.
Every program should deliver three outcomes
- A genuinely unique football experience that the boys cannot get from a normal training session.
- Meaningful personal growth, including clarity on who they are becoming on and off the field.
- Stronger connection to each other, to coaches, to mentors and to Marcellin Old Collegians Football Club.
Timeline
Expressions of Interest Close - Monday the 10th of August.
*Noting that the timing falls proximate to Yr.11 &12 exams. The program can be built to include 60 to 90 mins of dedicated study time per day or a period that aligns with likely study requirements at that stage of the year for those who need it.
**Sydney/Adelaide — We also have the opportunity to explore options in Sydney with connections at the Swans, GWS & Port Adelaide. Earlier in the journey than Darwin or Brisbane, but a live possibility if that's where the momentum heads. Darwin is the most advanced option to date.
Option 1: Darwin — Culture, Growth & Connection
01 / Elite level football & Train like it matters
Training led by a MOCFC team & high performance coaches from the Cazaly NT Academy, on the TIO Stadium oval, capped off with a match against a local NT side.
Access to accommodation, elite gym and pool facilities at the Michael Long Centre. Daily recovery and strength work in a genuine high-performance environment.
02 / Personal Growth & Culture —
Proper boyhood to manhood work with time to land, plus unique engagement with Indigenous culture most boys will never otherwise experience. For most of our group it will be a first, and it will change how they see things.
03 / Purpose & Connection —
A social enterprise and service thread woven through the week, building perspective, gratitude and a sense of contributing to something bigger than footy.
Trip Highlights
Real Football, Real Standards
Two to three training sessions on the TIO Stadium oval with high-performance coaches from the Cazaly NT Academy, and one to two games against local NT opposition.
Train Like It Matters
Daily recovery and strength work in the elite gym and pool facilities at the Michael Long Centre. Habits that carry straight back into the season.
Boyhood to Manhood, Done Properly
Two dedicated sessions with real time to land. Not a tacked-on talk, a genuine part of the week.
Learn Something You Can't Learn in Melbourne
Time to listen, learn and engage with Indigenous culture and community in the Territory. For most of our group it will be a first, and it will change how they see things.
Give Something Back
A social enterprise and service thread woven through the week, building perspective and purpose beyond footy.
Note: this is an indicative structure. Exact days, order and activities will flex around travel times, opponent availability and weather.
Option 2: Brisbane — Next Level Footy
01 / Elite Level Football
We're working to secure time inside the Brisbane Lions' Next Generation Academy, training alongside AFL-program coaches, capped off with a match against a Marist or local Brisbane club.
02 / Personal Growth & Culture —
Proper boyhood-to-manhood work, done with real time to land, supported by elite coaches lifting the whole experience.
03 / Purpose & Connection —
A social enterprise/service thread woven through the week, building perspective, gratitude, and a sense of contributing to something bigger than footy.
Trip Highlights — Brisbane NGA Experience
Train Inside an AFL Program
We're working to secure time inside the Brisbane Lions' Next Generation Academy, training and learning alongside AFL-program coaches, a level of exposure most boys never get.
A Genuine Match
A game against a Marist or local Brisbane club — real footy, real opposition, in a new environment.
Boyhood to Manhood, Done Properly
Dedicated time for this work, built into the week — not a tacked-on talk, a genuine part of the experience.
Give Something Back
A social enterprise component woven through the week — building perspective and purpose beyond footy.
Elevated by Elite Coaches
Sessions potentially run alongside Brisbane Lions coaches, lifting the level of the whole trip while staying unmistakably Marcellin.
Note: this is an indicative structure — exact days, order, and activities will flex around travel times, opponent availability, and weather.
Why we are doing this
Every Marcellin footy trip should do three things:
Give the boys a genuinely unique football experience — something they can't get at a normal training session
Support real personal growth — clarity on who they're becoming, on and off the field.
Build connection — Stronger connection to each other, to coaches, to mentors, and to Marcellin Old Collegians Football Club.
The purpose is simple: strengthen the Marcellin football pathway so the end of school football is not the end of the ride.
For the boys, the experience should help them sharpen their football, understand what good standards look like, become clearer about their ambitions and come home more connected to their mates, mentors and the Club.
Done well, footy clubs & trips build good men and stronger communities. This week points this group and individuals squarely in that direction.
Expression of Interest
Not sure yet? Register anyway. If you're even a 20 per cent chance, put your hand up and we'll keep you in the loop. This is not a commitment.
Child Safety and Wellbeing
The safety, wellbeing and participation of every young person on this trip is our first priority. Ahead of football, and ahead of everything else.
Marcellin OCFC, have zero tolerance for child abuse or harm of any kind. We are committed to creating an environment where every young person feels safe, respected, valued, and heard.
Commitments
Everyone is checked and cleared
Every coach, staff member, volunteer and adult travelling with the group holds a current, verified Working with Children Check. No exceptions, and no one travels without it.
Everyone is trained
All personnel complete child safeguarding training before departure — covering their obligations, recognising and responding to concerns, appropriate boundaries, and how to escalate an issue quickly.
Clear boundaries and supervision
Adults and participants are accommodated separately. Supervision arrangements, rooming, transport and activity protocols are set in advance, documented, and communicated to families before the trip.
Every young person knows who to go to
Each participant will be given a named contact for the trip — someone they can raise a concern with at any time, about anything. Concerns are taken seriously, acted on promptly, and reported to the relevant authorities where required.
Families are informed and involved
Parents and guardians receive full details of the itinerary, supervision arrangements, contact points and emergency procedures before departure, and have direct contact with trip leaders throughout.
Culturally safe and inclusive
We are committed to an environment that is safe and respectful for all young people, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants, participants from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, participants with disability, and participants of all sexualities and gender identities.
Aligned to the standards
This trip operates in line with the Victorian Child Safe Standards, and AFL and VAFA child safeguarding requirements.