GOLD Coast Suns Academy has announced its Under 18s Female squad for the 2023 season, with the announcement of a 37-player list to compete in both the Coates Talent League and other Northern Academy matches. The squad ranges in age from 2005-born talents to 2007-born players, giving fans a chance to catch some of the most talented Queenslanders for the next three years.

AFLW ACADEMY:

Darcie Davies (Southport Sharks)
14/06/2005 | 184cm | Ruck/Forward

The younger sister of AFL Women’s listed talents, Giselle and Fleur Davies who both came through the Suns Academy, Davies is another athletic tall with enormous upside. Earning a game last season for Queensland in the AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships, Davies really stood out in the Under 17s Futures match presenting as a forward and rotating into the ruck. One to watch as a top-end talent.

Sienna McMullen (Burleigh Bombers)
15/07/2005 | 164cm | Midfielder

The top Queensland talent for 2023, McMullen is an explosive onballer who can play on both sides of midfield and use her clean skills to full advantage. Though not a massive production player at the Under 18 Championships, McMullen took control in the Under 17 Futures match and was one of the best afield. She knows where to get and has a piercing, short and sharp kick, as well as being clean at ground level. A real all-round talent, McMullen is another young star playing at Bond University.

OTHERS TO WATCH:

Ella Calleja (Yeppoon Swans)
20/11/2004 | 171cm | Forward/Midfielder

After missing out on being selected as a top-ager, Calleja enters 2023 with another chance to impress at Under 18s level. She has the traits to step up to the top level, with her high-flying ability and eye-catching moves among her top traits. Standing at 171cm, Calleja can play both as a half-forward – even centre half-forward given her leap – or move into the midfield to provide a more experienced body in there. With the Overage Draft this year, there will be plenty of eyes on over-age talents.

Tara Harrington (Broadbeach Cats)
24/03/2006 | 168cm | Midfielder/Defender

An outstanding prospect for 2024, Harrington oozes natural talent and has a balance between her footy smarts and elite skills. She can hit targets over multiple distances, and has the weaponary to nail that 45-degree kick into the corridor, while also providing run and carry. She started as a defender as a 15-year-old, then last year moved into the midfield. She does not need a lot of the ball to do plenty of damage, and with another year of development in her, Harrington has the potential to explode.

Havana Harris (Burleigh Bombers)
01/07/2006 | 182cm | Ruck/Key Forward

It is actually scary to think Harris has another two full seasons before being eligible to be drafted into the AFL Women’s. Her impact on games far surpasses her age, and at 182cm she can pull down massive contested marks, then destroy opponents at ground level with her mobility. She is good below her knees and play both through the ruck and up forward, already earning one All-Australian jumper in last year’s AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships, where she averaged 11.7 disposals and kicked a goal a game from 8.7 disposals in her three matches.

Josie McCabe (Bond University)
18/04/2005 | 173cm | Utility

McCabe is a player who would have been talked about a lot more in 2023 had injury not curtailed her AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships. Unfortunately going down in the Maroons’ first match at Metricon Stadium, she did not get to show the talent she possessed at the AFL Women’s Under 17 Championships for the Suns a year earlier. Boasting a good balance of offensive and defensive traits, McCabe is a player who can not only hit the scoreboard and roll between forward and midfielder with her bigger frame, but also lay plenty of fierce tackles.

Nyalli Milne (Burleigh Bombers)
26/05/2006 | 169cm | Winger/Forward

Picture the fastest player you have seen, and just know that Milne could leave them in her dust. When the bottom-ager takes grass, there is next to no chance of catching her as her explosive speed is plain ridiculous over the first five to 10 metres. A light-bodied player who is still building her composure and consistency, once she gets that, then watch out as she already has the goal sense and footy smarts to get into dangerous positions and hurt opposition sides on the scoreboard. Impossible to miss once she goes for a run.

Ava Usher (Burleigh Bombers)
11/08/2007 | 165m | Inside Midfielder/Forward

Every year there are those talented sportspeople who are just good at everything they do, and Usher is one of those, having played a myriad of sports including basketball and surf lifesaving alongside her football. Donning the number eight for the Suns last year at the AFLW Under 16 Championships, Usher was a carbon copy of Charlie Rowbottom, boasting that explosive speed from a stoppage, incredible strength and fantastic aerial ability when forward. Still a mind-boggling three seasons to go, Usher is good enough this year to come into consideration, but will be a name that is talked about a lot more in the coming seasons.

GOLD COAST SUNS ACADEMY 2023 UNDER 18 FEMALE SQUAD:

Charlie Adamson (Rookie)
Kialla Skye-Bailey (Southport Sharks)
Dekota Baron (Yeronga South Brisbane)
Kiara Bischa (Bond University)
Millar Brosnan-Hall (Burleigh Bombers)
Sienna Burnham (Broadbeach Cats)
Ella Calleja (Yeppoon Swans)
Darcie Davies (Southport Sharks)
Georja Davies (Southport Sharks)
Grace Ella (Tweed Coast Tigers)
Annabelle Foat (Broadbeach Cats)
Ella Furlong (Broadbeach Cats)
Kayla Giles (Tweed Coolangatta)
Tara Harrington (Broadbeach Cats)
Havana Harris (Burleigh Bombers)
Andi Heard (Cairns Saints)
Sunny Hewett (Tweed Coolangatta)
Sunny Lappin (Carrara Saints)
Josie McCabe (Bond University)
Sienna McMullen (Bond University)
Caitlin Miller (Southport Sharks)
Nyalli Milne (Burleigh Bombers)
Mikayla Nurse (PAC Pines Power)
Keeley Parker (Broadbeach Cats)
Bronte Parker (Burleigh Bombers)
Piper Phelan (Bond University)
Evy Reeves (Burleigh Bombers)
Siobhan Ross (Thuringowa Bulldogs)
Neive Ryan (Thuringowa Bulldogs)
Mia Salisbury (Tweed Coolangatta)
Jas Single (Burleigh Bombers)
Alexis Smyth (Burleigh Bombers)
Heidi Talbot (North Cairns Tigers)
Aliera Usher (Burleigh Bombers)
Ava Usher (Burleigh Bombers)
Alannah Welsh (Burleigh Bombers)
Skye White (Burleigh Bombers)