HOSTING the first game of the 2024 AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships at Blacktown tomorrow, the Allies will look to start off on the right foot against Vic Metro.

They have the toughest draw of any side, having to play not just Metro, but also South Australia and Queensland too, who could arguably be the top three sides in the national carnival.

In today’s article, we take a look at some of the names to watch and all you need to know about the Allies’ national championships campaign.

AFLW ACADEMY MEMBERS

Mackenzie Williams
North Hobart Demons / Tasmania Devils
Tall Utility | 171cm | 26/06/2006

Williams is a powerful athlete who can play on all three lines. Though predominantly a defender coming through the ranks, Williams is into her third national championships having been identified quite young as one to watch. A readymade talent from 16 years of age, Williams has further improved her first few steps, and has even tasted midfield minutes. Expect her to be utilised in an intercepting role and rotating through midfield for the Allies.

Ash Patton
Tuggeranong Valley / GWS Giants Academy
Forward/Midfielder | 170cm | 26/09/2006

The dangerous Patton has one of the highest upsides in the team. She has that touch of class, and a great balance of speed and strong hands. Once she gets on the lead inside 50 she is hard to stop, and also has the capability of flying high. Not a massive production player compared to others, she rarely wastes a touch, and is used to playing at an elite junior level, coming from baseball.

Tatyana Perry
Palmerston Magpies / Northern Territory
Defender / Midfielder | 171cm | 28/02/2006

A smooth-moving defender out of the Northern Territory, Perry is one of the Territory’s most exciting prospects in some time. She is ultra-clean at ground level, and though not explosive, has that time and space that she creates often referred to as “Scott Pendlebury-like”. Perry reads the play well and has great leadership, already a co-captain at Palmerston Magpies despite only turning 18 in February. A player the Allies will look to get the ball in the hands of coming out of defence.

Emma Juneja
Sydney University / Sydney Swans Academy
Wing / Defender | 172cm | 08/05/2006

Juneja is Sydney Swans Academy’s top prospect for 2024, and she has some traits that provide a point of difference. A natural wing with speed who can also play off half-back as she did for the AFLW Academy, Juneja takes the game on and finds space as well as anyone. However it is not just finding the space, but it is her ability to consistently take marks – both contested and uncontested – and is pound-for-pound is one of the best markers going around.

OTHERS TO WATCH

Ellie Hall
Narrandera Eagles / Murray Bushrangers / GWS Giants Academy
Midfielder / Defender | 174cm | 07/07/2006

Returning from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury last year, Hall has made every post a winner this season, dominating the yo-yo test at the Giants Academy Preseason Testing Day, and then racking up the ball for both the Academy and Murray Bushrangers at Coates Talent League Girls level. A lovely user of the ball, Hall is strong overhead, reads the game well and can play on both talls and smalls. With a full season, she could end up pushing to be the first Allies player taken in the draft.

Amelie Prosser-Shaw
East Coast Eagles / GWS Giants Academy
Midfielder / Defender | 175cm | 14/11/2006

One of the biggest improvers from a bottom-age to top-age campaign, Prosser-Shaw is a player who will only get better over the journey. She has made the transformation from tall intercepting defender, into a bonafide midfielder for the Giants Academy. She even played off a wing in the VFLW and kicked a nice goal that day, showing she could match it with senior opposition. Has some great midfield craft, the question will be how much she plays in there given her talent down back.

Sophie Strong
North Hobart Demons / Tasmania Devils
Midfield / Forward | 166cm | 17/10/2006

Strong has not had much of a chance to impress this season being on the sidelines, but she comes from the same junior club as Mackenzie Williams on the Apple Isle. The North Hobart prospect has an explosive first few steps, and loves to cover ground on the outside, and can play a high half-forward role too to impact the scoreboard with her distribution inside 50. Made plenty of inroads last season, was a late inclusion to the Under 17 Futures match and if she can get some consistent footy in, watch out.

Emma Stark
St Mary’s / Northern Territory Academy / Oakleigh Chargers
Wing / Forward | 164cm | 01/02/2006

Rose to public knowledge as the youngest field umpire in an elite level match, officiating the Essendon-Hawthorn season opener at Marvel Stadium a couple of years back. A handy footballer in her own right, Stark relocated to Melbourne to test herself with the Oakleigh Chargers. She is a hard-running wing there with elite endurance, but when forward she is crafty and can kick quite a few through the big sticks as she has for St Mary’s in the NTFL Women’ competition.

BOTTOM-AGE STARS

Mischa Barwin
Lauderdale / Tasmania Devils
Forward / Midfielder | 164cm | 03/12/2007

Barwin has been an eye-catching player for the Devils this season playing as a high half-forward who spent time through the midfield. She will likely play in the former role as a bottom-ager at the national championships, and show her class and smarts. Barwin’s vision when scanning inside 50 makes her the perfect distributor and is one to watch for 2025.

Priya Bowering
Lauderdale / Tasmania Devils
Midfielder | 167cm | 02/01/2007

Similar to Williams but a year younger, Bowering has long been identified as a future prospect to watch. Readymade for contested football, expect her to get plenty of midfield minutes as clearance work and defensive pressure are her strengths. A strong framer and capable of going one-on-one with opponents, she will not take a backwards step and has every chance of being one of the highest accumulators for the Allies.

FIXTURES

Saturday, June 29 | vs. Vic Metro @ Blacktown, 11am AEST
Saturday, July 13 | vs. Queensland @ Brighton Homes Arena, 10:30am AEST
Thursday, July 18 | vs. South Australia @ Thebarton Oval, 11:30am AEST

TEAM LIST

PREDICTION

It is always tough to bring together a series of two states and two territories to try and compete with established states who have had far more time together. That coupled with the toughest draw of any team, and the Allies head into the national carnival as underdogs. If they can be competitive, then it will bring them great confidence given the opposition is the best of the best.