REIGNING back-to-back AFLW Under 18 Championship title winners South Australia will field another incredibly strong and deep squad next year, with the 2014 Under 18 Girls Academy announced today. A total of 44 players have been named in the squad, including 15 who were involved through at least one of the triumphs.

Two key inclusions for the 2024 Academy are Georgia McKee and Shae Archbold, with the former looming as a first round talent. The duo both missed 2023 due to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, but will return for the preseason.

Collingwood will keep close tabs on potential father-daughter selection Violet Patterson – daughter of Stephen – with the Glenelg utility one to watch for the upcoming season. Her Bays’ teammate Poppy Scholz has ties to the AFLW through sister Matilda (Port Adelaide). while reigning MVP winners India Rasheed (Under 18s) and Sophie Eaton (Under 16s) are also in the squad.

AFLW Academy members Rasheed, McKee, Scholz, Charlotte Riggs and Jasmine Evans highlight the strength of the squad, but All-Australian Jemma Charity – who moved from Eagles to North Adelaide over the off-season – and West Adelaide tall Lucy Boyd are also among the top draftable talents in next year’s crop.

The 2024 South Australian Under 18 Girls Academy will begin with a three-day camp at Thebarton from Monday, December 18 to Wednesday, December 20, with weekly trainings starting in April. The squad will be cut down to form a team for the AFLW Under 18 Championships where they will play three matches, as well as an exhibition match against the Under 23 All-Stars SANFLW side.

Former Norwood SANFLW coach Brad Snell will take the head coach reigns, with Emma Sampson named as senior assistant. From a SANFLW team perspective, North Adelaide tops the competition with seven representatives, while South Adelaide, West Adelaide and Norwood each have six. Central District, Glenelg and Woodville-West Torrens have five apiece, while Sturt has four.

2024 SA U18 Girls Academy