FOUR teams are already two games into the 2024 AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships, while South Australia and Western Australia prepare to kick off their campaigns over the next few weeks. The Croweaters start theirs on Thursday while their opponents the Allies close the curtain on their national carnival, while the Sandgropers will host Queensland on August 3.

LADDER AFTER ROUND 2

REMAINING FIXTURES

Thursday, January 18 | South Australia vs. Allies @ Thebarton Oval, 11am ACST
Saturday, August 3 | Western Australia vs. Queensland @ Revo Fitness Stadium, 11:30am AWST
Sunday, August 11 | Vic Metro vs. South Australia @ RSEA Park, 10:30am AEST
Sunday, August 11 | Vic Country vs. Western Australia @ RSEA Park, 12:45pm AEST
Saturday, August 24 | South Australia vs. Western Australia @ Thebarton Oval, 11am ACST

HOW THE TITLE RACE STANDS

Right now four sides can win the AFLW Under 18 Championships with Vic Metro the team to have secured the early advantage with back-to-back wins over the Allies and Vic Country. Thanks to their massive 94-point win over the former, they now boast a percentage that essentially makes it really difficult for Queensland to catch up.

The Maroons’ loss to the Allies on the weekend put their carnival at 1-1, and mathematically they could still win if South Australia lose to either the Allies or Western Australia, and there is roughly a 20-goal turnaround with Queensland winning against Western Australia and Vic Metro losing to South Australia in order to go on top.

Of course if Western Australia beats Queensland and then Vic Country, with South Australia winning its two games, the last game of the carnival on August 24 becomes the essential grand final. If Vic Metro takes out South Australia, then its percentage means the Sandgropers would need to win by plenty across their three games in order to get the title on percentage.

Unfortunately for Vic Country and Allies, because they lost to Vic Metro, they are out of the title race. While it goes by wins, then head-to-head then percentage, the best those sides can do is equal on two wins, with the head-to-head losses forcing them below Metro.

MVP CANDIDATES SO FAR

Reigning AFLW Under 18 Championships MVP Havana Harris has made a strong start in her first two games, averaging 22.0 disposals, 2.5 marks, 6.5 hitouts, 6.5 clearances, 5.5 inside 50s and kicked a goal. Her partner-in-crime Georja Davies (23.0 disposals, 7.0 marks, 4.5 tackles, 13.5 hitouts, 4.0 clearances and 4.0 inside 50s) has also been a star across the two games.

For Vic Metro, from the two games thus far, Sierra Grieves (29.0 disposals 2.5 marks, 3.5 tackles, 6.5 clearances, 4.5 inside 50s and a goal) and Sophie McKay (25.5 disposals, 4.0 marks, 2.5 tackles, 5.0 clearances, 6.0 inside 50s and a goal) are both great shouts, with Georgie Brisbane (13.5 disposals, 5.5 marks and seven goals) the best forward to-date.

Over to Country and the leading candidate would be Geelong Falcons’ Sara Howley (26.5 disposals, 2.0 marks, 3.0 tackles, 9.0 clearances, 2.0 inside 50s, 4.0 rebound 50s and a goal). Reigning Country MVP Ash Centra stepped up in game two yesterday with 29 touches three marks, three clearances, three inside 50s and two goals as well after 14 touches, four tackles and two rebound 50s in her first game against Queensland but being the most efficient player on the ground at 85 per cent.

The Allies have had different players step up in the respective games, with Priya Bowering and Isla Wiencke the best on respectively across games one and two, while the most consistent have been defenders in Mackenzie Williams and Ellie Hall who have done well to provide an intercepting force.