SOUTH Australia had a big win to open its 2022 AFLW Under 18 Championships campaign, defeating Western Australia by 84 points at Thebarton Oval. The Croweaters booted 13 goals to one after quarter time, and there were plenty of outstanding individual performers. We took note of some of the individual players from the match.

Note: All Scouting Notes are the opinion of the author.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA:

#3 Georgia McKee

The Central District livewire was one of the best players running around, and certainly looking damaging each time she went near it. Slotting three goals, including a clever dribble effort, McKee was calm and composed with ball-in-hand and unassumingly kept racking it up. She was clean overhead and able to not only look dangerous inside 50, but use her ambidexterity to advantage when looking from options both on the wing into the corridor, and going inside 50. She had the equal most inside 50s on her side with five, as well as numerous scoring chances, and being involved in scoring chains, picking up 20 disposals and five marks. The standout Under 16s talent in the match, and one who should keep her place as one of the three in the side for the Vic Country clash.

#4 Lana Schwerdt

Applying the traits she has showcased in the SANFL Women’s to the AFLW Under 18s clash, Schwerdt was consistent across the board, both from a ball-winning and defensive standpoint. She was a fierce tackler, cracking in and looking to win the hard ball or the clearance, as well as offering herself up as a player who could move the ball in transition. She kicked a great goal to open the second half early, taking a strong one-on-one mark after a well-placed kick inside 50. As someone who can hit the scoreboard, Schwerdt was valuable in game one for the Croweaters, finishing with 23 disposals, seven tackles, three clearances and a goal.

#6 Sachi Syme

Having a really fast start to kick the opening goal of the game with a clever snap, Syme still finished as one of the most prolific players, particularly given she spent more time forward than on-ball like her normal Redlegs role allows her. She still rotated through the midfield and won her fair share of the pill, but her greatest impact came around goals, with not only the early snap to get on the board, but another great running passage of play in the final term. The Norwood talent took a couple of bounces and ran inside 50, cleanly finishing off with great composure for her second goal. She managed 17 disposals, three clearances, four inside 50s, two rebound 50s and two goals, working hard between the two roles.

#8 Piper Window

Another midfielder forward who caught the eye for her work forward of centre, the tough and strong contested ball-winner had the most eye-catching moment in the final term. She pulled down a contested mark over the top of her opponent, then had the smarts to quickly turnaround, play on, run 10m and launch from 35m to sail home for a goal. Prior to that, window showcased her trademark attack on the ball, winning a truckload of contested possessions, and laying plenty of tackles. Though scratchy with her field kicking at times and is an area that can further develop, her sheer ball-winning ability and versatility makes her a damaging prospect. The Glenelg premiership player finished with 17 disposals, four marks, six tackles, four inside 50s and a goal.

#16 Shineah Goody

An absolute star throughout the contest, the Woodville-West Torrens Eagles bottom-ager dominated from start to finish, covering the ground with ease on her way to a massive 34 disposals – 11 more than any other player. She amassed 10 marks, nine tackles, four clearances, two inside 50s and kicked a clever goal on the run in the third term under pressure. For her full game analysis, check out her Player Focus.

>> SHINEAH GOODY AFLW U18S PLAYER FOCUS

#17 Keeley Kustermann

The AFLW Academy talent was solid across the game, utilised as an option in transition, and a player to search for in the midfield and place it well down the ground, Playing off half-back, Kustermann was very familiar in that role, and reads the ball so well behind the play, rarely wasting a touch when given time and space, Possessing good balance and handy decision making, she can pinpoint passes through the midfield and is a player capable of hitting that 45-degree kick if required. A kick-first player, Kustermann managed the 19 disposals – 14 kick – two marks, four tackles, two clearances and two inside 50s in the win.

#31 Hannah Ewings

In her first state game since she was 14 in and Under 16s clash back in 2018, Ewings not only lived up to expectations as a high pick, she surpassed them. Kicking multiple goals from a range of opportunities, the North Adelaide prospect also set up a number of scoring chains. Her best goal came off a couple of steps from just inside 50 in the second term, but she was influential throughout the contest. Given Ewings spent a lot of her time at full-forward when not in the midfield, she had an impact both close to goal and in the middle of the ground, and was fierce at the ball-carrier and with ball-in-hand. A penetrating kick of the pill, she set up a number of goals outside her own, including one to Window in the final term winning it off a step at the back of the centre square. The AFLW Academy member amassed 21 disposals – 18 kicks – five marks, four tackles, four clearances, five inside 50s, two rebound 50s and a handful of goals.

#40 Ella Little

Brought into the State Academy as one of two over-agers, Little certainly wasted no time making her mark. She played at full-forward then rotated into the midfield to use her bigger body to advantage, sharing the load around the clearances. Quite strong overhead, and able to find gaps in play well, she was able to apply pressure to the opposition, win the ball and bomb it inside 50s, as well as get on the end of one five minutes into the second term, converting a major from in front. Little ended the game with 17 disposals, two marks, four tackles, four clearances, three inside 50s and a goal.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA:

#18 Jaime Henry

The Swan Districts defender spent the game playing through the midfield and really gave it a red-hot crack. Though not often the first possession winner, Henry applied plenty of pressure onto opposition ball-winners on her way to double-digit tackles in the contest. She burrowed in, got her hands dirty and usually look to wrestle the ball free to get it to a teammate. Though the midfield was comprehensively beaten, the bottom-ager and vice-captain could hold her head high from he performance, with and team-high 16 disposals, as well as a game-high 11 tackles.

#19 Bella Mann

The West Australian captain played the most consistent four-quarter game across the board, and really tried to stand up everywhere she went. She put her body on the line, got to the right positions with a kick ehind the play, and looked to bring others into the game. Her execution did not always go as cleanly as she would have liked, though she won a lot of her touches under pressure, and was able to stand up in tackles. Seemed to have more of the ball than her 12 touches might suggest.

#26 Ella Roberts

Last year’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the AFLW Under 18 Championships was best afield for her side, but still struggled given it was both her second competitive match back from a long-term injury, and the fact she played almost exclusively forward in a side that for the most part struggled to get it inside 50, particularly in the second half. In saying that, Roberts was a clear standout when she went near it, with her elite burst speed, clean hands and touch of class, always looking to create something with ball-in-hand. She willed herself and her team to try and stand up against the South Australian resistance, and whilst that ultimately did not happen, she still got her team on the board with the opening goal of the game off a couple of steps from 50m. She had 16 disposals, and a game-high seven inside 50s.

#36 Georgie Cleaver

The bottom-age AFLW Academy ruck-forward played a solid game across the board, providing a target when the ball did get moved in transition, and rotating well with Wakfer through the middle. She took a fantastic grab in the second term and converted the goal and was able to win a couple of free kicks for opposition infringements as well. She moved well around the ground, and though this will ultimately be her only AFLW Under 18s Championship game due to netball commitments, she showed enough to suggest she will be one to watch in 2023.

#37 Lauren Wakfer

The top-age AFLW Academy ruck had her work cut out for her against a taller, and yet still athletic opponent in Matilda Scholz. The pair broke even in the hitouts with 15 apiece, but Wakfer had more influence around the ground, picking up 15 disposals, having a couple of clearances, three inside 50s and two rebound 50s. She used her experience to get into the right spots, help out the defence then when forward be a presence. Though the West Australian forward line was hard to move in given the strong set up from the South Australian defence. A key player for the next two games.

#38 Anjelique Raison

Tasked with the kickouts throughout the match, Raison provided plenty of rebound and was the most prolific West Australian defender. Having plenty of opportunities to win the ball with the pill coming inside 50 43 times, Raison provided good run and carry, and was at her best when she was able to take grass and kick long. At times she was up against it given she had stronger or quicker opponents and the passes coming in favoured the forwards, but from a defensive standpoint she did what she could and definitely impacted the scoreboard by saving a goal or two on her way to 12 touches and seven rebound 50s.