BLACKBURN ACADEMY
It's back for 2026/27.Â
Blackburn Junior Football Club is pumped to be running the Blackburn Academy – powered by AFL Max again this year - our very own player development program created exclusively for Blackburn Junior Football Club.
It’s not just extra training — it’s a holistic program designed to help every player grow in four key areas:
- Strength & fitness
- Skills & game sense
- Nutrition
- Wellbeing & mindfulness
With three tailored streams – Elite, Development and Skills-Based – the Academy gives every player an opportunity to improve, whether they’re aiming for high-performance football or just wanting to build confidence, fitness, and fun.
This program goes beyond football skills. It’s about developing the whole player – on and off the field.
Academy Structure
The inaugural Academy program kicks off November 2026, with:
- 5 weekly sessions pre-Christmas
- 5 weekly sessions post-Christmas, leading into pre-season
- A take-home training program to keep players engaged and improving during the holiday break
Dates & Times:
Block 1:- Sunday 15 November - Sunday 13 December (5 weeks)
Block 2:- Sunday 7 February - Sunday 14 March (5 weeks)
Session 1 - 8:30am - 10:30am
Backed by AFL Legends
The Academy is powered by AFL Max, created by former Geelong and Adelaide star James Podsiadly and supported by his former teammate and Crows champion Rory Sloane.
AFL Max has pioneered education programs such as Coles Healthy Kicks, which are now rolled out in schools right across Australia. Now, they’re bringing their expertise to Blackburn to create a tailor-made program that helps our players become the best versions of themselves – as footballers and as people.
The Academy is restricted to registered Blackburn Junior Players ONLY.
Costs:Â $490 for BJFC Players for all 10 sessions OR
$270 for each of Block 1 and Block 2 if booked separately.
Questions - Please direct any questions to David Fakhry (Football Director) or Liam McGrath (Vice President).
TO REGISTER FOR THE ACADEMY CLICK THE LINK BELOW: