THE 2022 AFL Women’s Under 16 National Championships are set to hit Victoria on Friday afternoon, as Country takes on Metro in the Big V at Avalon Airport Oval (Werribee). While the squads are yet to be formally announced, this year’s NAB League Girls season has provided an insight into just who may play key parts in this clash. We highlight a few players to watch from either side.

THE MARQUEES

VIC COUNTRY:

Gippsland Power, Vic Country GirlsTall Utility

Ash Centra

Height: 174cm

Weight: -

DOB: 02-06-2006

Strengths:

Aerial ability

Athleticism

Clean hands

Footy IQ

Scoreboard impact

One of the most dynamic players in the NAB League, Centra has star factor in spades. She has already become the centrepiece of Gippsland’s side, establishing herself as a key avenue to goal with outstanding athleticism, overhead marking prowess, and a general aura to behold. She can play a variety of roles, whether it be as a tall marking forward, high-leaping ruck, or utility around the ground. At this level, she may well take up that key forward post and will be one that Country turns to for inspiration inside attacking 50. If she can finish, she will almost inevitably hit the scoreboard.

Bendigo PioneersMidfielder

Lucia Painter

Height: 174cm

Weight: -

DOB: 23-02-2006

Strengths:

Clean hands

Competitiveness

Kicking penetration

Power

Versatility

A powerful and versatile athlete, Painter earned her spot as the sole 2006-born player in the recent NAB League Girls Team of the Year. She was a mainstay in the Bendigo Pioneers’ lineup, starting out as a point of difference in the midfield-forward rotation, before taking on a different role in defence towards the back-end of her campaign. With plenty of youth at Bendigo’s disposal, Painter is clearly the standout and will undoubtedly be a key player at representative level. Possessing a booming kick, clean hands and an eye-catching turn of speed, she plays with the presence of a talent beyond her years.

VIC METRO:

Vic Metro Girls, Western JetsDefender

Lou-Lou Field

Height: 167cm

Weight: -

DOB: 18-10-2006

Strengths:

Aerial ability

Aggression

Clean hands

Defensive pressure

Reading the play

Already a NAB League Girls premiership player, Field was courted as one to watch by Western staff heading into 2022, and she has delivered in full. The Jets claim she was ready for Under 18 footy as early as last year, and she proved up to the task in a region which got the best out of itself on each line. Field cemented her place in the side across half-back, displaying sound reading of the play to intercept with a mix of class and aggression. She is the type of player who backs herself to venture further afield, and a role in the engine room may well away for the talented 15-year-old.

Vic Metro Girls, Western JetsMidfielder

Sierra Grieves

Height: 164cm

Weight: -

DOB: 18-05-2006

Strengths:

Finishing

Forward craft

Goal sense

Ground balls

Scoreboard impact

As has been the case in the top-age cohort, it’s a Western one-two punch among the marquee slots for Vic Metro. While Field has settled into the backline, Grieves has made a name for herself at the other end of the ground. The 15-year-old booted nine goals in Western’s premiership campaign, finding the big sticks in six of her 10 outings and doing so at key moments. With a real eye for goal and competitive spirit when a play is there to be made, Grieves is the type of player who can win games off her own boot. Like Field, she could have eyes on a midfield role at this level, but has clear strengths as a forward.

KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR…

There are quite a few prospects of note in the Country crop, especially with many of the regions blooding their youth from an early stage. Despite having a tough time of it results wise in 2022, Gippsland has unearthed some gems to go with Centra. Patrolling the half-back line, 2007 birth Ella Stoddart may be in contention as a bottom-ager, along with Power teammate Jemma Birss.

Geelong is another region with a strong amount of young guns to have played key roles at this early stage. Sara Howley is a speedy outside runner who earned valuable midfield minutes this year, and Mekah Morrissy is another 2006-born talent who plied her trade on the wing with eye-catching passages of play.

On the Metro side, there are a number of solid options around the regions. The likes of Suwindi Buckley (Northern), Maggie Mahony (Oakleigh), and Molly Paterson (Eastern) have all experienced the rigours of their respective sides’ engine rooms. Georgia Knight is a natural forward, also from the Ranges, while Kyla Forbes and Chloe Baker-West showed nice signs for Calder in the back-end of the year.

The 2022 AFLW Under 16s clash between Vic Country and Vic Metro is due to bounce down at 12:00pm in Werribee. Stay tuned to Rookie Me Central for a full match report and scouting notes from the match, as well as coverage from future Under 16 carnival fixtures around the nation.