ON PAPER, Vic Country has some of the strongest top-end talent in the 2024 AFLW Under 18 Championships. Boasting a nation-wide high of six AFLW Academy members, there is no shortage of match-winners within the squad. The depth of Vic Country features a host of newer players or others returning from injury which leaves a lot of unknowns about the side.

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

AFLW ACADEMY MEMBERS

Ash Centra
Sale City / Gippsland Power
Midfielder / Forward | 174cm | 02/06/2006

The pick one contender is the definition of a match-winner. She can play on all three lines, though after spending the best part of her bottom-age Talent League campaign in defence, she starred as a forward for Vic Country last year. Expect her to rotate between midfield and forward and cause all sorts of headaches for the opposition, with her size as well as her skill and decision making making her a unique player and reigning Country MVP.

Lou Painter
White Hills / Bendigo Pioneers
Utility | 174cm | 23/02/2006

Vic Country’s Under 16s MVP from a couple of seasons ago – that had Centra as the next best in those championships – Painter is a star player in her own right. She missed the majority of last year due to a serious ankle injury and that included the national carnival. Returning in 2024, she will likely rotate between midfield and forward, with a penetrating kick and great power. She can play back as well though, with plenty of strings to her bow.

Sara Howley
Newton & Chilwell / Geelong Falcons
Midfielder | 173cm | 29/01/2006

The best pure midfielder from Country, Howley will most likely start inside but also roll to a wing when the side makes rotational chances, with her sheer speed and ball-winning ability in space a feature of her game. Often running hard forward to win the handball receive and explode down the field, expect her to rack up the ball with ease, and having the likes of Centra and Painter on the team means less attention for Howley which should allow her to flourish.

Zoe Besanko
Frankston Dolphins / Dandenong Stingrays
Key Position Utility | 178cm | 25/05/2006

The athletic tall has been deployed both as a forward and ruck over the last two Talent League seasons, though has also spent some time as an onballer. She is likely to play the forward and ruck for Country with a high volume of midfielders rolling around, and can provide an aerial target both inside 50 and around the ground. Mobile for a tall, Besanko can get involved in transitional play and has the potential to find plenty of the ball when pushing up the ground.

Elli Symonds
Frankston Dolphins / Dandenong Stingrays
Ruck / Forward | 178cm | 07/10/2006

Unfortunately injury on the edge of the 2024 Coates Talent League Girls season meant Symonds is yet to step out for Dandenong Stingrays, but no doubt if she can get some runs in the legs she will be a key inclusion for Country. An incredibly mobile ruck who can play as a marking forward too, Symonds has a booming kick and is a high accumulator of the ball for a tall. Likely she will play more forward given her lack of game time this season, but is going to be among the most intriguing talls in the draft class.

Millie Lang
Redan / GWV Rebels
Defender / Midfielder | 177cm | 06/11/2006

Lang is a natural intercept defender, and while she has spent time rolling through the middle for the Rebels, her home is in the back 50. She reads the ball so well in flight, has strong hands and a powerful left peg that can clear the danger. Lang will provide a vocal presence in the back 50 and given Country has a couple of players who can play more of a defensive role, she has the potential to intercept and rebound. Can play the shutdown one-on-one role too though.

OTHERS TO WATCH

Claire Mahony
Lake Wendouree / GWV Rebels
Key Forward | 181cm | 21/06/2006

One of the more unlucky ones to miss out on the AFLW Academy, Mahony has some outstanding draftable traits. She is a contested marking beast and an elite field kick when she gets up the ground. Supply has been the issue in 2024, but when she has ventured into other roles over the past month, she has started to get her hands on the ball more. As competitive as they come, and if she plays forward as expected, will thrive off the likes of Centra and Painter hitting her up.

Jemma Reynolds
Langwarrin / Dandenong Stingrays
Midfielder / Forward | 163cm | 29/04/2006

An underrated player of sorts who has had an ultra-consistent season and was somewhat of a surprise to not feature in the second All-Stars game for the Under 21 side. Her clean hands and evasion through traffic catches the eye, and though predominantly a second possession winner, Reynolds is another player who will benefit from the others around her. She will spend time forward too, and is strong one-on-one and smart enough to find pockets of space.

Jasmine Sowden
Sale City / Gippsland Power
Midfielder / Forward | 164cm | 17/12/2006

After an impressive first season last year as a bottom-ager, Sowden has done well playing alongside Centra at the Power and forging her own name in the side. Hailing from the same junior club, Sowden bears similar strengths such as her kicking and ability to play both midfield and forward. She is a tenacious tackler who loves the contested element of the game, and with the strength of the on-ball group, she is likely to spend more time forward and potentially get on the end of a few goals for Country.

Holly Egan
Shepparton Swans / Murray Bushrangers
Defender | 176cm | 01/07/2006

The sister of Richmond’s Grace, Egan is a very different player to her older sibling. Though capable of playing midfield and forward as she has in stints for the Bushrangers, her best work is where she can peel off and take some eye-catching marks. A capable rebounder who has terrific athleticism, she is a good size and has high potential to grow into any role that an AFLW club sees fit. While still improvement to come, Egan will likely have her chance to provide some rebound out of the back 50 for Country.

BOTTOM-AGE STARS

Ella Stoddart
Traralgon / Gippsland Power
Utility | 173cm | 30/01/2007

Last year’s Vic Country Under 16s MVP has filled out a number of roles for Gippsland Power this season, expanding her versatility to include roles not just through the middle, but also up forward. It enables the tall utility to fill holes in the Country lineup and give herself a better shot at selection considering top-agers will be given preference when it comes to minutes.

Stella Huxtable
Torquay / Geelong Falcons

The tall midfielder provides a strong body on the inside and has a powerful left-foot kick which she can use to advantage, but her point of difference is playing forward and being able to clunk some strong marks. It is that element of her game that will likely see Huxtable playing inside 50 for Country in her bottom-age campaign, having shown great form for the Falcons this season.

FIXTURES

Sunday, July 7 | vs. Queensland @ Brighton Homes Arena, 1:30pm AEST
Sunday, July 15 | vs. Vic Metro @ Marvel Stadium, 1:00pm AEST
Sunday, August 11 | vs. Western Australia @ RSEA Park, 12:45pm AEST

TEAM LIST

PREDICTION

Vic Country is a difficult team to predict. The top-end talent is undoubted with plenty of match-winners, but it will be the unknown depth that will determine how the state fares at this year’s carnival. Each game is a tough one, as they play Vic Metro and Western Australia who are in a similar boat to them, while Queensland looms as the toughest opponent. If Vic Country can upset Queensland then it is game on after that.