SOUTH Australia today announced its 2023 Under 18 Girls Academy with plenty of exciting talent on display over the next few years. Though the 47-player squad will be minus two bottom-age Under 18 representatives in Georgia McKee and Shae Archbold who are both recovering from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgeries, the Croweaters do regain potential number one pick Lauren Young.

Young, and Woodville-West Eagles star midfielder and 2022 South Australian Most Valuable Player (MVP) Shineah Goody are arguably the two best players in the 2023 AFLW Draft crop. They are far from alone though, with Glenelg ruck Matilda Scholz and inside midfielder/forward Piper Window, and Norwood balanced midfielder Molly Brooksby form a stacked group.

Around the ground, speedy forward-winger Elaine Grigg has made the move from North Adelaide to Central District, with the border changes resulting in the potential Top 20 player adding blue to her red and white jumper. Sturt defender Lily Whitcombe and North tall utility Timeka Cox also return to the side as draft-eligible players.

From a bottom-age perspective, Bulldogs key position talent Charlotte Riggs, Sturt athletic forward India Rasheed, West Adelaide utility Lucy Boyd, Eagles midfielder Jemma Charity and Glenelg winger Violet Patterson are among the names to keep an eye out for.

Newcomers to the Academy who impressed in the Under 16s matches earlier this year include North Adelaide duo Sienna Yarwood and Maggie Clark, South Adelaide’s Esther Schirmer, West Adelaide duo Emma Kilpatrick and Asha Dufour, and Eagles rising talent Grace Martin. North Adelaide young gun Laela Ebert will be another to keep an eye on in 2023, having torn her ACL 12 months ago.

2023 South Australia Under 18 Girls Academy