The AFL have today announced that each Victorian club will be allocated funds to establish academies across the state to attract boys and girls currently not playing football or that are underrepresented at AFL level.

The Bulldogs have been granted a large area in Melbourne’s west to set up a ‘Next Generation’ AFL Academy, an area that encompasses Western Melbourne, the Wimmera, the Mallee, South West Victoria and Ballarat, areas aligned with the current TAC Cup talent regions of the North Ballarat Rebels and Western Jets.

AFL General Manager of Operations Mark Evans said that the academies will provide Clubs with an opportunity to nurture the talent in their specific regions in 2016 with the objective of expanding the program into 2017 and beyond.

“The academies will look to build strong links between local communities, grassroots football and the elite level, to ensure our game is representative, inclusive and embraces gender and cultural diversity,” Mr Evans said.

“For Australian Football to prosper in the future we must invest in new and emerging communities, and reinforce the pathways for indigenous Australians.

“The Academies will enable AFL clubs to be actively involved in introducing kids of all backgrounds to the game and provide aspirational pathways for coaches, umpires and administrators.”

Mr Evans said that the allocation of regions have been based on a range of factors, including aligning to existing U/18 talent regions, minimising player travel and access issues, aligning Clubs to current or historical relationships with particular regions and balanced access to 5-18 year olds from diverse backgrounds.

Each club's investment in the academies will sit outside the football department cap.