Allies announce squad for AFLW U18s

AHEAD of their first match on July 2, the Allies have announced the 30-player squad for the AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships. Boasting a combination of players from the five Northern Academies as well as Tasmania, the Allies squad will take part in a training camp in Sydney this weekend before facing Vic Metro at Brighton Homes Arena the following weekend.

The Allies have six AFL Women’s Academy representatives including MVP from the match against the Under 23 All-Stars, Mel Staunton. Sydney Swans Academy duo Olivia Morris and Marnie Robinson, Northern Territory talents T’Sharni Graham and Kyanne Campbell, and Tasmanian forward Georgia Clark are also in the squad. Fellow AFLW Academy midfielder Brooke Barwick is currently recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or would have also made the team.

Clark will have a familiar face at the helm with Devils coach Jodie Clifford taking the reigns as head coach, while Monique Clift (GWS GIANTS Academy), Bronwyn Gulden (Sydney Swans Academy) and Matt Campbell (Northern Territory Academy) will all serve as assistant coaches.

The largely top-age squad includes a host of club-tied players, but not just through Academies. Campbell is the daughter of 12-game AFL player Fred and eligible as a Sydney and St Kilda prospect, while Maria Rioli is the daughter of the late Maurice Snr – and sister to Maurice Jnr – and therefore eligible to the Tigers. Both players are eligible in this year’s draft crop.

Though not eligible under the same pathway there are some other links to the top level, with Tatyana Perry – one of the top 2006-born prospects – the niece of brothers Aaron and Alwyn Davey Snr, and cousin of Alwyn Davey Jr. Emma Suckling – a member of the GIANTS Academy and has played for the Murray Bushrangers – is also the cousin of Hawthorn premiership player and Bulldogs super boot, Matt.

From a top-age draft perspective, outside the AFLW Academy members, GIANTS Academy defender Cleo Buttifant is an impressive key defender to keep an eye on, while over-age midfielder Asha Turner Funk was among the Draft Combine invites last year. Swans Academy tall Kendra Blattman and Tasmanian ruck/defender Tunisha Kikoak are other likely types in the squad.

Northern Territory utility Grace Whittaker also made the team after a season with Norwood in the SANFL Women’s, while fellow territory prospect Sophie Berry is among the players who gained vital experience at the national carnival last year.

Following the clash against Vic Metro on July 2, the Allies take on Queensland on August 6 and Western Australia on August 13.

#NAMESURNAMEHTSTATESTATE LEAGUE CLUBCOMMUNITY CLUB
6SophieBerry163NTNorthern Territory AcademySouthern Districts
7HollyCooper164NSW/ACTSydney Swans AcademyManly Warringah Wolves
8Sophiade Castella164NSW/ACTGWS Giants AcademyAinslie
9MackenzieFord163TASTasmania DevilsKingborough
10TsharniGraham173NTNorthern Territory AcademyPalmerston Magpies
11EmmaJuneja170NSW/ACTSydney Swans AcademyEast Sydney
12OliviaMorris165NSW/ACTSydney Swans AcademyPennant Hills
13TatyanaPerry170NTNorthern Territory AcademyPalmerston
14EmmaSuckling164NSW/ACTGWS Giants Academy / Murray BushrangersBelconnen / Lavington
15JasmynThompson164TASTasmania DevilsUlverstone
16AliceVoss173NSW/ACTMurray BushrangersLavington
18CandiceBelbin163TASTasmania DevilsUlverstone
19CleoButtifant174NSW/ACTGWS Giants AcademyAinslie / Turvey Park
20GeorgiaClark173TASTasmania DevilsGlenorchy
21GabrielleEaton178NSW/ACTSydney Swans AcademySouthern Power
22MeganMifsud164NSW/ACTGWS Giants AcademyMacquarie University
23AshleyPatton171NSW/ACTGWS Giants AcademyTuggeranong
24MariaRioli171NTNorthern Territory AcademyTiwi Bombers
25TamikaRourke175NSW/ACTGWS Giants Academy / Murray BushrangersNarrandera Eagles
26MelanieStaunton169NSW/ACTGWS Giants AcademyEast Coast Eagles / Ulladulla
27AshaTurner Funk176NSW/ACTSydney Swans AcademyManly Warringah Wolves
28GraceWhite170TASTasmania DevilsNorth Hobart
29MackenzieWilliams171TASTasmania DevilsNorth Hobart
30GraceWhittaker174NTNorthern TerritorySouthern Districts
31SerinaBaukes171NSW/ACTSydney Swans AcademyUTS Bats
32KendraBlattman177NSW/ACTSydney Swans AcademySydney University
33KyanneCampbell163NTNorthern Territory AcademyPioneer
34RhaniaHewitt174NTNorthern Territory AcademySouthern Districts
35TunishaKikoak180TASTasmania DevilsOld Scotch Collegians
36MarnieRobinson172NSW/ACTSydney Swans Academy

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