FOLLOWING a successful AFLW Under 16s Championships and Coates Talent League stint where both the Gold Coast SUNS and Brisbane Lions Academies remained undefeated throughout a combined 10 matches, Queensland confirmed its squad for the upcoming 2023 AFLW Under 18s Championships.

The 29-player squad features an even spread of SUNS Academy (15) and Lions Academy (14) players. Among those players are AFLW Academy members, Sienna McMullen, Sophie Peters and Rania Crozier as well as respective Academy captains, Josie McCabe (SUNS) and Laura Roy (Lions).

From an age perspective, Queensland has named four over-age players in the squad including forwards, Brooke Sheridan – who missed last year with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury – and Ella Calleja, while Charlotte Adamson and Holly O’Flaherty have been in great form in the Coates Talent League.

At the other end of the scale, there are five 2007-born talents, all of whom are from the SUNS Academy. Headlined by Ava Usher, she is joined in the squad by talls Georja Davies and Dekota Baron, as well as impressive double bottom-agers, Sunny Lappin and Alannah Welsh. Lappin is a player for Carlton and St Kilda fans to keep an eye on as the daughter of goalsneak Matthew.

Among the bottom-agers to watch are ruck/forward Havana Harris and skilful midfielder Tara Harrington, while speedster Nyalli Milne is set to create a few highlights at the national championships. From the Lions, small defender Zimra Hussain and ruck Lilly Baker have both been in great form.

The full 2023 Queensland squad for the AFLW Under 18s Championships is below.

2023 Queensland State Under 18s Girls Squad: