THIS year’s top AFL Women’s Draft prospects will get the opportunity to don the Coat of Arms when the AFLW Academy runs out at Marvel Stadium on Sunday. The 30-player Academy – minus injuries – will take on an Under 23 All-Stars side comprised of talent from Victoria, Northern Territory and Tasmania considered the next best available.

AFLW ACADEMY: (POTENTIAL LINEUP)

B: Marnie Robinson (NSW-ACT) – Bianca Lyne (Dandenong Stingrays) – Jess Rentsch (GWV Rebels)
HB: Mikayla Williamson (Vic Country) – Jaime Henry (Western Australia)** – Molly Brooksby (South Australia)
C: Sienna McMullen (Queensland) – Laura Stone (Vic Metro) – Kaitlyn Srhoj (Western Australia)
HF: Lila Keck (Vic Country) – Georgia Clark (Tasmania) – Elaine Grigg (South Australia)
F: Alyssia Pisano (Vic Metro) – Lauren Young (South Australia) – Rania Crozier (Queensland)
R: Georgie Cleaver (Western Australia) – Piper Window (South Australia) – Shineah Goody (South Australia)
INT: Kyanne Campbell (Northern Territory) – Tsharni Graham (Northern Territory) – Olivia Morris (NSW-ACT) – Sophie Peters (Queensland) – Mel Staunton (NSW-ACT) – Jess Vukic (Vic Metro)** – Kiera Whiley (Vic Metro)

Missing: Brooke Barwick (ACL), Amy Gaylor (ACL), Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner (wrist)

**Have missed recent games for Swan Districts and Eastern Ranges respectively

STRENGTHS

-> Star Power

It goes without saying that a team filled with Top 20 prospects has incredible top-end talent across the board. The midfield is elite, and the forwardline is dangerous. Having the likes of Lila Keck, Elaine Grigg and Alyssia Pisano around the feet of Lauren Young and Georgia Clark will be be delightful to watch.

-> Versatility

Not only is the squad incredibly talented, but also dynamic. The majority of players will roll through different positions and be able to rotate into the middle at times, while others can rest up forward or down back. Jaime Henry – if she is able to play – can stand up as a tall defender or inside midfielder, while Shineah Goody has proven herself as a back, forward, wing and inside midfielder.

QUESTION MARK

-> Key defenders

While the squad is incredibly deep and talented forward of centre, and has plenty of players who can play in multiple positions, the key defensive posts are a little thin on depth.

Dandenong Stingrays ruck turned midfielder turned defender Bianca Lyne is one of the few with height who can slot down there no worries, while the AFLW Academy might even consider rolling top prospect Young into defence as she can easily take an intercept mark there.

Other than those two, Henry is the most natural there, with the three other defenders – Molly Brooksby, Jess Rentsch and Marnie Robinson – all 172cm. Robinson is the only predominant defender, with the other two midfielders who have returned from injury and spent more time in defence this season.

U23 ALL-STARS: (POTENTIAL LINEUP)

B: Jemma Rigoni (Oakleigh Chargers) – Georgia Foran (Southern Saints) – Ava Campbell (Eastern Ranges)
HB: Lara Hausegger (Oakleigh Chargers) – Tunisha Kikoak (Tasmania Devils) – Candice Belbin (Tasmania Devils)
C: Bryde O’Rourke (Bendigo Pioneers) – Madeleine Di Cosmo (Carlton VFLW) – Dominique Carbone (Western Bulldogs VFLW)
HF: Sarah Grunden (Calder Cannons) – Nyakoat Dojiok (Collingwood VFLW) – Brooke Smith (Dandenong Stingrays)
F: Ava Jordan (Northern Knights) – Sophie Butterworth (Dandenong Stingrays) – Lily Jordan (GWV Rebels)
R: Krystal Russell (Western Jets) – Chloe Adams (Geelong Falcons) – Charlotte Simpson (Geelong VFLW)
INT: Kayley Kavanagh (Calder Cannons) – Kaylea Kobzan (Murray Bushrangers) – Ciaralii Parnell (Sandringham Dragons) – Meg Robinson (Dandenong Stingrays)

STRENGTHS

-> Defensive depth and height

In a very stark contrast to the AFLW Academy, the one positional strength the All-Stars have in depth is key defenders. The likes of Georgia Foran and Ava Campbell have almost exclusively played in defence as interceptors, while Jemma Rigoni and Tunisha Kikoak are primarily defenders, but have played forward and ruck in the past respectively.

Add in the likes of Kaylea Kobzan, former defender turned forward Nyakoat Dojiok and Dandenong utility Brooke Smith and the depth there is phenomenal. Late inclusion Kayley Kavanagh spent time off half-back for the Vic Metro trial game and could be utilised in that role, while Lara Hausegger and Candice Belbin will provide run when not further afield.

-> Experience and strength

Having VFL Women’s listed players – and even one ex-AFLW player in Dominique Carbone – means some of the Under 23 All-Stars should be able to match their opponents for strength. Dandenong Stingrays forward Sophie Butterworth could end up opposed to teammate Lyne, while in the midfield, Carlton VFLW’s Madeleine Di Cosmo and Geelong VFLW’s Charlotte Simpson will bring some strength to the on-ball brigade.

QUESTION MARK

-> Cohesion and top-end talent

Clearly the Under 23 All-Stars have talent, but at the end of the day, they are taking on the best of the best in terms of top-end talent. That will always make for a challenge, but also provide opportunities to test themselves against the best. Players who have performed strongly in this game last year such as Tahlia Fellows earned AFLW contracts from it and their season form.

Coming together from all different clubs and leagues makes it tricky, with many unaware of others’ strengths and deficiencies. While the same could be said of the AFLW Academy, that side has been training at different points over the last six months so will be familiar with each other more so than the All-Stars.

PREDICTION

The AFLW Academy or Australian Under 18s should win this match fairly well. At the end of the day, the Academy is designed to be the best talents from across the nation. However, strong performances from the Under 23s will only boost their draft chances, and they were largely competitive for the most past 12 months ago, so the benchmark is there.

The larger ground at Marvel Stadium will add extra challenges, so expect it to be a tough slog around the stoppages, but once the Academy can get on top and get the ball forward, it will have plenty of scoring options. The Under 23s will need to utilise their talls in order to stretch the Academy’s smaller defence.

FULL SQUADS