The 14-year-old was selected after impressing in games across the region.

Chatfield said he was not expecting to be selected.

“Getting picked came as a bit of a shock,” he said.

"They pick talented footballers from around the region and I was lucky enough to get picked in the academy,” he said.

"It offers opportunities to footballers early in their career to develop their skills both on and off the field.”

Chatfield has played his junior football at the Swifts and will play in the under-17 team this season.

He said this experience will help him to continue to grow as a footballer.

"I will meet lots of other footballers from the region and it should put pressure on me to improve my skills,” he said.

"I want to improve my leadership a bit more and become more confident with my public speaking.”

The selection comes after Chatfield attending a three-day camp as part of the AFL’s kickstart program earlier this month.

It involved playing, analysing the game, training as well as some cultural activities in Halls Gap.

Chatfield said these experiences were great to be involved in.

"The camp was really good,” he said.

“I made lots of new friends and got to know some other footballers from around this area and from other parts of the state.

“So building those friendships was good.”

Chatfield was selected after the camp to be in the Victorian team that will travel to Sydney to play against other state representative teams next month.

He said he was excited to be selected and to continue his development at the carnival.

"I just want to continue to improve,” he said.

“I think I will play in the forward line and move into the midfield at times during the games.”