A TRIPLE Header kicks off the 2023 AFL Women’s Under 16 Championships tomorrow with the traditional Division 2 sides facing off at Bond University in Queensland. Gold Coast Suns Academy is the home side, with the other three Northern club-aligned Academies – Brisbane Lions Academy, GWS GIANTS Academy, Sydney Swans Academy – taking part with the Northern Territory and Tasmania.

In this preview we will take a look at each of the six sides and see how they might fare.

BRISBANE LIONS ACADEMY

The Brisbane Lions Academy has a few names to keep an eye on, starting with Rania Shelford. The 176cm defender turned 16 last month and impressed at the Under 16s carnival last year against the Gold Coast Suns. She should provide plenty of run, as well as defensive pressure back there. Mia Geere has a nice leap and can play just about anywhere with the 169cm midfielder remarkably turning 15 two days ago. The Lions take on the GIANTS Academy in the second game of the triple header before facing the Northern Territory on Friday.

GOLD COAST SUNS ACADEMY

Gold Coast Suns’ impressive development over the last few years is set to continue with a host of impressive rising talents on the list. Ava Usher is a name who will be talked about plenty over the next few years, drawing comparisons to Suns star Charlie Rowbottom. The inside midfielder/forward has the likes of key position tall Georja Davies as a target inside 50, while Sienna Burnham and Sunny Lappin are among the other top-end talents to keep an eye out for. Both players are incredibly dangerous with ball-in-hand. The Suns take on the Swans Academy tomorrow before facing Northern Territory on Friday.

GWS GIANTS ACADEMY

The GWS GIANTS Academy have a few more unknowns compared to the above with less 2007-born players taking part in the Under 16 Championships last year. Jerrah Caruso – a 157cm talent who is an attacking player with good defensive traits – is one who has potential, while Belconnen’s Katie Taylor also played in last year’s championships. Her Belconnen teammate Isla Wiencke also gained valuable experience in the carnival. The trio are among a large 42-player list for the championships with the GIANTS taking on the Lions Academy in the second game tomorrow, before a clash with the Swans Academy on Friday.

NORTHERN TERRITORY

Northern Territory has a range of players aged between 14 and 16, with the youngest player being St Mary’s Jessica Hardwick who does not turn 15 until June. Shakaila Gardiner-Dunn is a name to remember, holding her own in last year’s Under 16s All-Stars match en route to 19 disposals, five tackles, two clearances and three rebound 50s. Bonnie Brown (ruck) and Danica McDonald (midfield) also took part in the match. All the talk has been around a 2007-born Palmerston young gun in Marika Carlton, who won the league best and fairests and grand final best on ground medals in the Under 16s and Under 18s grand finals last month. Northern Territory takes on Tasmania tomorrow before a battle with Brisbane on Friday.

SYDNEY SWANS ACADEMY

Sydney Swans Academy also has a large list like the GIANTS Academy, naming 43 players to take to the Under 16 Championships. A familiar name for Swans fans will be Tallulah Kirk, a 2006-born talent who is father-daughter eligible to the Swans. Caydelan Mitchell-Bruce is a 169cm talent who worked hard in defence in last year’s Under 16s match, while ruck Lucy Finn is a 182cm tall out of the Maroubra Saints. Also like the GIANTS, the Swans did not unveil a great deal of 2007-born players in last year’s Under 16s showcase, with plenty more to be known about the talents throughout this tournament. The Swans take on the Suns Academy tomorrow at 10am, before a clash with the rivals GIANTS Academy on Friday.

TASMANIA

The standout player from the Apple Isle is gun midfielder Priya Bowering who was playing Under 18s football in the Coates Talent League last year as a 15-year-old. The midfielder should be close to the best in the tournament and will lead by example for the Tasmanian side. Other names who impressed in last year’s Under 16s showcase include Jorja Haberle who starred with 27 disposals in that match, while tackling machine Harriet Bingley and versatile utility Josie Rose – who played defence then went forward and kicked three goals in said match – also among those named for the Map. Tasmania faces Northern Territory tomorrow, then heads off to play the Suns Academy on Friday.