QUEENSLAND has released its 2024 AFL Women’s Under 18s Championships squad for the upcoming national carnival, with 30 players named from either the Brisbane Lions or Gold Coast Suns Academies. The two Academies went 4-0 and 3-1 in their Coates Talent League Girls stints, indicating the strength of the Sunshine State.

Last year the Maroons were beaten first-up by South Australia, before posting wins over Vic Country and the Allies. Queensland will again face the latter two sides in 2024, but will head to Perth to take on the Sandgropers instead of the Croweaters this year.

Queensland’s national carnival features two home games spaced a week apart against Vic Country and the Allies, both at Brighton Homes Arena in Springfield on July 7 and July 13. The final match against Western Australia will take place at Revo Fitness Stadium in Claremont on August 3.

Of the 30 players in the 2024 squad, 16 hail from the Suns Academy, while 14 come from the Lions Academy. Included in the side this year are the likes of over-agers Lilu Hung and Chloe Gaunt who both missed last year due to injury, while Laura Roy returns following a rich vein of form for the Lions Academy. This year the squad will be minus star bottom-ager Ava Usher, who will instead assist with coaching duties while she recovers from a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

Looking at the top-age AFLW Draft prospects, potential pick one Havana Harris headlines the squad, and is the reigning AFLW Under 18s MVP. She will be well supported by fellow AFLW Academy members Lilly Baker and Tara Harrington, while the likes of Heidi Talbot, Nyalli Milne and Mia Salisbury all played key roles last year for the Sunshine State.

One top-ager who has had a great year to-date is Isabella McDonough, with the Lions Academy co-skipper capable of playing both inside or outside midfield. Farrandai Hopkins and Kaia Hides are other defenders added to the squad, while Zimra Hussain has been playing in a new forward role this year after being a defender in the past.

From a bottom-age perspective, the Suns Academy are loaded for next year, with Georja Davies, Alannah Welsh, Dekota Baron and Sunny Lappin joining Usher as top-end talents. Lappin is of course also eligible for both Carlton and St Kilda as a father-daughter selection (Matthew).

The Lions are just as strong at Under 16s level, with a trio of All-Australians making the squad. Molly Ferguson, Mia Geere and Harlee McIlwain have the opportunity to compete against opponents two years their senior at the national carnival after dominating the Under 16s carnival. Raffi Baviello is yet another 2008-born player to make the 30-strong squad.