SOUTH Australian young gun Shineah Goody has been crowned the 2022 AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships Most Valuable Player (MVP). The Woodville-West Torrens middle-age talent was a star at the carnival, averaging more disposals than any other player, with 26.3 per game and also kicking the equal most goals in the tournament with six. She was also named onball in a stacked 2022 AFLW U18 All-Australian team which featured 14 AFLW Academy representatives.

Goody was one of eight South Australians to make the team, with the entire half-back line hailing from the state. Keeley Kustermann and Sarah Goodwin flank Amelie Borg in that line, with equal leading goalkickers Georgia McKee and Hannah Ewings in forward pockets. Middle-age ruck Matilda Scholz and the versatile Sachi Syme also made the side. Scholz joined Vic Metro star Jasmine Fleming as the only two players to make the side off two of the three carnival games.

Naturally all the state MVPs made the All-Australian squad, with Western Jets talent Montana Ham in the centre and Queensland speedster Alana Gee on the wing. Up forward, reigning carnival MVP and West Australian back-to-back MVP Ella Roberts was named at centre half-forward, while Zarlie Goldsworthy (half-forward) flanks her. On the other side is NAB League Girls best and fairest, Dandenong Stingrays’ Amber Clarke, whilst 2006-born Havana Harris was named at full-forward.

Harris was one of three ruck options in the side, with Scholz and West Australian tall Lauren Wakfer all able to roll through the position. Completing the starting midfield was Sandringham Dragons’ Sofia Hurley, with the back trio all hailing from Victoria in Metro’s Laura Elliott, and Country duo Mackenzie Eardley and Keeley Skepper.

The interchange has six players, with Scholz and Syme joined by top-age talents Cynthia Hamilton (Allies), Rylie Wilcox and Charlotte Baskaran, and 2005-born Brooke Barwick. Successful South Australian coach Tim Weatherald earned the head coach spot in the All-Australian team, whilst Vic Metro’s Jacara Egan was named assistant coach.

AFL Talent Ambassador Kevin Sheehan said the team was stacked with talent and each individual was deserving of the highest honour.

“Selection in the 2022 NAB AFLW National Championships U18 Girls All-Australian Team is a significant honour and all players selected are thoroughly deserving of their position in the team,” Sheehan said.

“The players selected represent the best young footballers in the country and highlight the quality of talent coming through the national pathway programs.

“We look forward to watching the development of this extremely talented group, many of whom will make the progression into the NAB AFLW competition for the upcoming season.

“Five representatives in the team are bottom-aged players, including the NAB Player of the Championships Shineah Goody. Several of these players will be eligible for the 2023 NAB AFLW Draft and are certain to be players to watch out for again at next year’s Championships.”

2022 AFL WOMEN’S NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS ALL-AUSTRALIAN TEAM:

B: Laura Elliott (Vic Metro) – Mackenzie Eardley (Vic Country) – Keeley Skepper (Vic Country)
HB: Keeley Kustermann (South Australia) – Amelie Borg (South Australia) – Sarah Goodwin (South Australia)
C: Alana Gee (Queensland) – Montana Ham (Vic Metro) – Sofia Hurley (Vic Metro)
HF: Zarlie Goldsworthy (Allies) – Ella Roberts (Western Australia) – Amber Clarke (Vic Country)
F: Georgia McKee (South Australia) – Havana Harris (Queensland) – Hannah Ewings (South Australia)
R: Lauren Wakfer (Western Australia) – Shineah Goody (South Australia) – Jasmine Fleming (Vic Metro)
INT: Matilda Scholz (South Australia) – Brooke Barwick (Allies) – Cynthia Hamilton (Allies) – Rylie Wilcox (Vic Metro) – Sachi Syme (South Australia) – Charlotte Baskaran (Vic Metro)

2022 AFL WOMEN’S UNDER 18 CHAMPIONSHIPS MVP: Shineah Goody (South Australia)