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.