VIC Country will head to Queensland for a huge clash against the Maroons as the last team to kick off their 2023 AFLW Under 18 Championships campaign. The Country side was announced last week with plenty of talent balanced between the top-age and bottom-age group.

>> 2023 VIC COUNTRY AFLW U18s SQUAD

Queensland pushed South Australia for large portions of the game at Adelaide Oval earlier in the month, and while the Maroons ultimately came away without the win, should be favoured at Brighton Homes Arena. The venue is that of last year’s AFL Women’s Grand Final and where the Brisbane Lions AFLW team trains.

KEY TOP-AGE PLAYERS

#11 Sienna McMullen (Gold Coast Suns Academy)
15/07/2005 | 164cm | Wing

The speedy winger is a key player with ball-in-hand as she has the capacity to move onto the inside and win the ball there. With explosive speed she can extract it from the coalface, and usually her decision making forward of centre sets up her teammates inside 50. Not a consistent high production player, but one who is a high impact-per-possession player.

#24 Josie McCabe (Gold Coast Suns Academy)
18/04/2005 | 173cm | Midfielder/Forward

Leading her state after leading her Academy, McCabe is a player who puts her body on the line and has high level defensive traits. She is strong and brings the tackling pressure, but as a point of difference can go forward and clunk a strong mark. Expect her to start in the midfield then go forward, and is able to hit the scoreboard or win a hardball and feet it out to a teammate.

#5 Sophie Peters (Brisbane Lions Academy)
12/03/2005 | 164cm | Wing

Another classy winger with plenty of upside, the AFLW Academy member was a standout against the Under 23 All-Stars. She is impressive with ball-in-hand, evasive and provides nice run in transition. While predominantly an outside player, she has a high work rate that allows her to constantly get into ball-winning positions and this helps her dictate play.

#23 Rania Crozier (Brisbane Lions Academy)
18/11/2005 | 178cm | Key Forward

An athletic talent with plenty of upside, Crozier missed a substantial amount of footy due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Now back in action, she has shown the traits that earned her a place in the AFLW Academy, with strong marking and impressive mobility at ground level. She will be one of a number of goal scoring options for the Queenslanders.

#1 Lila Keck (Bendigo Pioneers)
20/10/2005 | 162cm | Forward/Midfielder

Though ankle injuries have affected Keck’s year, the classy small forward is still very damaging around goals. She showed that for the AFLW Academy against the Under 23 All-Stars and even rolled up to the wing at times. Returning from injury to run out for Vic Country in this huge clash, she will be the X-factor inside 50 and be the one at the feet of the plethora of talls.

#5 Chloe Adams (Geelong Falcons)
13/12/2005 | 165cm | Midfielder

A natural leader who will not take a backwards step, Adams is a crucial cog in the midfield. Though she will often be found at the coalface, she has the footy smarts to get to the outside and win the ball in space, and can drop behind the play as well. Dual-sided, she is a neat user of the ball and can set up attacking forays through her decision making.

#6 Jessica Rentsch (GWV Rebels)
11/10/2005 | 172cm | Midfielder/Defender

An explosive runner with high upside, Rentsch has shown what she is capable of this season coming back from a broken leg. She can play off half-back but has built up her midfield minutes. One who is not afraid to take the game on, Rentsch loves a fend-off and will back herself in. Her versatility will allow her to fill any number of roles through the carnival.

#17 Mikayla Williamson (Dandenong Stingrays)
08/05/2005 | 173cm | Midfielder/Defender

Another top-ager with plenty of pace to burn, Williamson also loves to take the game on, and can play a similar midfield/defensive role to Rentsch. She has upped her defensive pressure and can get it done offensively as well. Her versatility could even see her role out to a wing, and Williamson is comfortable finding space and starting attacking thrusts from there.

OTHERS TO WATCH

Queensland has a strong under-age crop of players from bottom-age talents Havana Harris and Tara Harrington, to 2007-born duo Ava Usher and Alannah Welsh. They will all play key roles through the middle and can go forward and hit the scoreboard, while Kiara Bischa was impressive in her defensive role against South Australia.

For Vic Country, the bottom-age presence of Sara Howley and Ash Centra will help the visitors, while Talent League Girls leading goalkicker Chantal Mason fills a role in attack. Watch for Dandenong Stingrays’ athletic twin towers in Elli Symonds and Zoe Besanko to try and stretch the Queensland defence.

PREDICTION

Queensland showed how capable it was against South Australia in its first game, and back at home now with match fitness under its belt, should get the job done against Vic Country. In saying that. Country has an array of talented players, and if they can gel quickly, will test Queensland, so expect it to be a tight contest.