SOUTH Australian began its 2024 AFLW Under 18 Championships campaign off on the right note with an impressive 78-point victory over the Allies at Thebarton Oval. There were no shortage of standouts in the win, and as always we took a look at some of those players. All notes are the opinion of the individual author.

South Australia:

#1 Grace Martin (SMOSH West Lakes / WWT Eagles)
Defender | 164cm | 01/09/2006

Stats: 17 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackles, 1 clearance, 3 inside 50s, 5 rebound 50s

The versatile utility was placed off half-back where her skill and smarts could be used to advantage. She took the first kick out and then put her body on the line time and time again, also providing some run out of defence. Late in the third term, Martin provided repeat efforts across the wing and mopped up when in the defensive half, generally using it well by hand or foot.

#3 Violet Patterson (Plympton / Glenelg)
Midfielder | 167cm | 09/01/2006

Stats: 20 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 4 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

The South Australian skipper was consistently strong through the middle of the ground and not afraid to throw herself at the contested ball with reckless abandonment. Her kicking at times was a little iffy, but her second and third efforts certainly came to the fore. She had a brilliantly clever play in the first term to toepoke the ball to Baxter on the move which led to a goal, then had a chance to kick one herself on the final siren running in but just stubbed her toe on the way through and was intercepted in the goalsquare after a 15m kick.

#5 Georgia McKee (Golden Grove / Central District)
Forward | 157cm | 24/04/2006

Stats: 13 disposals, 6 marks, 2 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 3 goals, 1 behind

McKee produced her most prolific all-round performance of the year playing a higher forward role than at Centrals, and was able to be a distributor as well as a finisher. She clunked six marks, lead out well and then got deep to get it off hands, converting three goals across the course of the game. Her first was from a set shot in the second term, then finished off with two of her side’s five third quarter goals too. She had a couple more chances but had a big game and showed off all of her tricks.

#6 India Rasheed (Glenunga / Sturt)
Midfielder / Forward | 174cm | 29/11/2006

Stats: 28 disposals, 5 marks (1 contested), 7 tackles, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 3 goals, 2 behinds

A clear best on ground, the potential top five player had a day out predominantly pushing between midfield and forward. She spent a lot of time even deep forward at times and did damage on the scoreboard, though could have finished with five majors after a couple went askew. Still, her smarts around goal proved to be key as she kicked her trio of goals from in play. She also set up a number of scoring passes with a elite bullets inside 50. Her kicking for the most part was brilliant, and though she had the odd turnover, had a damaging game that was hard to fault.

#7 Sophie Eaton (Light / Central District)
Wing | 170cm | 23/04/2007

Stats: 15 disposals, 6 marks (2 contested), 2 tackles, 1 clearance, 3 inside 50s

Playing off a wing, Eaton provided some great run and carry down the wing, and a strong aerial presence where she competed regularly as well in space. At times she rushed a touch more than usual and did make the odd mistake, but her kicking in general is sublime and she is so clean off the deck. Eaton also often combined with fellow Dogs Evans and McKee in scoring chains down the field.

#8 Jasmine Evans (Salisbury / Central District)
Midfielder | 166cm | 05/02/2006

Stats: 22 disposals, 6 marks, 3 tackles, 3 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 goal, 1 behind

The AFLW Academy member stepped up and produced her best performance of the season when getting full-time midfield minutes. Playing predominantly forward for Central District in the SANFLW, Evans started the game strongly by setting up a goal to Rasheed inside 50 in the final two minutes, then out of the next centre clearance ran hard to win it off hands from O’Neill and slot her major on the run. Her kicking was ridiculously elite and she continued to win it throughout the four quarters doing a bit of everything. Arguably second best on ground behind Rasheed.

#9 Charlotte Riggs (Angle Vale / Central District)
Ruck / Forward | 181cm | 02/11/2006

Stats: 14 disposals, 1 mark (1 contested), 3 tackles, 10 hitouts, 5 clearances, 1 goal

Able to be deployed anywhere, Riggs rotated between ruck and forward, and though she did not clunk many of her customary marks, still got involved around the stoppages and presented well. She kicked a goal from a fantastic grab leading out in the third term, then took a juggling mark that was deemed a free later on in the term. She opted to pass that off to Rasheed who had a better angle, but she continued to compete in the air helping shepherded through a ball on the line. She won five clearances when going into the ruck too, the equal most of any player.

#10 Coby Morgan (Modbury / Norwood)
Forward | 175cm | 14/11/2006

Stats: 13 disposals, 2 marks, 1 tackle, 2 clearances, 4 inside 50s

Morgan does not need a lot of touches to impact a game and she certainly showed that on the weekend. Her explosive speed on a number of occasions caught the Allies on the hop, and she looked to breakdown the opposition zone. She set up a goal to McKee midway through the second term and generally did well with ball in hand, but when she made a mistake, her follow-up work was very good.

#11 Lily Baxter (Victor Harbor / South Adelaide)
Wing | 171cm | 04/01/2007

Stats: 14 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Played her role on the outside and found her fair share of the ball. With time and space Baxter hits target consistently, and though she did make mistakes by foot at times, her ability to cover ground and help out defensively shone. She roamed up from half-back when playing a defensive wing role, then could get forward to assist with the extra number.

#13 Monique Bessen (Hahndorf / Sturt)
Midfielder / Forward | 174cm | 05/02/2007

Stats: 12 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 5 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 behind

The bottom-ager made the most of her touches with five clearances from her 12 disposals in the match. She was so clean and precise on the inside, and when she got any sort of time on the outside, was effective by foot. She was able to get the hands clear and ball away on a number of occasions when under pressure, and produced a pinpoint pass to Mackereth midway through the final term to set up O’Neill for the final goal of the match.

#18 Asha Dufour (Mitcham / West Adelaide)
Midfielder | 170cm | 31/08/2006

Stats: 19 disposals, 5 marks, 1 tackle, 1 clearance, 4 inside 50s, 1 behind

Worked hard across the ground to be one of the more prominent ball-winners and play and attacking role through the middle. Her efficiency is still an area that needs improving, but she got into the right spots and cracked in to provide supply to her forwards. She had a chance on goal taking a terrific mark inside 50, but it just came off hands and into the post on the goalline. Her last kick of the day was a lovely inside 50 to Poppy Scholz, and her contest-to-contest work was also admirable.

#21 Eloise Mackereth (Plympton / Glenelg)
Forward | 174cm | 27/07/2007

Stats: 15 disposals, 8 marks (1 contested), 1 tackle, 4 inside 50s, 2 goals, 2 behinds

The incredibly gifted bottom-ager had an eye-catching AFLW Under 18s debut, showing off the traits that saw her kick four goals in a game at the Under 16s last year and play both as a forward and wing. She played forward on the weekend and was able to overcome a couple of misses early in the game to slot two key goals, while setting up multiple other chances to her teammates. Her field kicking is outstanding and she will always compete in a marking contest. If she can’t bring it down, Mackereth follows up well and has a nice burst to create separation on her opponent and put pressure on the opposition defence inside 50.

#26 Esther Schirmer (Christies Beach / South Adelaide)
Defender | 177cm | 08/06/2006

Stats: 11 disposals, 4 marks (1 contested), 2 tackles, 2 rebound 50s

It was not really the game for South Australian defenders to shine, but Schirmer was worth highlighting after a promising start and finishing as one of the more consistent players who still found the ball in the back 50. She clunked several important marks, saved the day on a few occasions and was neat by hand or foot, not doing too much wrong in the match.

#37 Klaudia O’Neill (Henley Sharks / WWT Eagles)
Forward | 177cm | 15/02/2006

Stats: 13 disposals, 8 marks (2 contested), 3 inside 50s, 3 goals

A dominant display inside 50 from the key position forward who was near-unbeatable once she got front position, then nailed her set shot chances. She had a close range one, but two from decent distance out, and none of which ever looked like missing. She was generally great with her disposal going inside 50, and while a couple late in the game across the ground did not quite go where she would like it, as a whole she was very good and showed she will cause quite a few headaches for both the Vic Metro and West Australian defences.

Allies:

#1 Mischa Barwin (Lauderdale / Tasmania Devils)
Forward | 164cm | 04/12/2006

Stats: 12 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 1 goal

While starved of opportunities at times, Barwin makes her own luck with her work as a high half-forward and trying to get involved in the play. A few times she looked liked getting off the chain, taking the first mark of the game, then won a free kick in the second term to convert her side’s second major from close range. Floated in and out of the game depending on her opportunities, Barwin has great strength when tackled, able to get her hands free, or draw the free kick, and is able to make things happen inside 50.

#2 Marika Carlton (Palmerston Magpies / Northern Territory)
Wing | 159cm | 03/08/2007

Stats: 13 disposals, 3 marks, 5 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 behind

Carlton’s impact-per-possession in the match far outweighed her total stats, racking up the ball well and looking dangerous between the arcs. Spending most of her time on the wing, she would pop up in bursts with a blistering run or mow down an opponent in a tackle. She had a set shot chance late in the first half that made the distance from 40m but went to the right. Her kicking at times could be more precise, but her run and carry is what stands out in her game.

#12 Amelie Prosser-Shaw (East Coast Eagles / GWS Giants Academy)
Wing / Midfielder | 175cm | 14/11/2006

Stats: 15 disposals, 3 marks, 7 tackles, 3 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Really seemed to break the game open at time and look to great run from defence to attack, working well around the ground. After losing teammates Sophie Strong and Lucy Thompson to injury, Prosser-Shaw got more opportunities on-ball, and was able to influence on the inside as she had on the outside, winning a few clearances. Her defensive pressure was most notable, and for a 175cm, had outstanding burst speed, projecting as a high-upside talent.

#16 Priya Bowering (Lauderdale / Tasmania Devils)
Midfielder / Forward | 167cm | 02/01/2007

Stats: 15 disposals, 1 mark, 3 clearances, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50

Would have finished the game sore and a little bruised with the way she went about it, trying desperately all game to win the ball for her team. She rotated between midfield and attack, and never took a backwards step. Though surprisingly not laying a tackle, Bowering won a lot of first-possession touches and the majority were in close as well. In fact 10 of her 15 possessions came off the deck – the most of any player on the ground – showing just how determined she was to win it. Her kicking was not as efficient due to her pressure, but her hands were clean and her timing was impeccable.

#22 Mackenzie Williams (North Hobart / Tasmania Devils)
Defender | 171cm | 26/06/2006

Stats: 14 disposals, 5 marks, 3 rebound 50s

The running Tasmanian defender played her role out of the back half and did create some dash even if she was a little down on her output compared to the other carnival matches. She played on a variety of players, took some strong marks as an option in the back pocket and at one stage through the middle of the second term had four efforts running down the ground which helped pad her stats further. Her impact when able to take grass is undeniable though and she was crucially able to be efficient with ball in hand.

#23 Emma Juneja (Sydney University / Swans Academy)
Wing | 170cm | 08/05/2006

Stats: 19 disposals, 1 mark, 2 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 4 rebound 50s

Another promising performance from the Swans Academy member who won the most touches of the Allies with 19, and kept fighting hard on the outside. She worked in from the wing to add an extra number at the stoppages at times, and critically was able to get back to help the defence as well. She got forward in the third term for a flying shot on goal, but could not compose herself fully and it ended up hitting the behind post. Her ability to sidestep was eye-catching and her delivery inside 50 to Ella Parker midway through the final term on the lead was fantastic.

#27 Ellie Veerhuis (Figtree / Sydney Swans Academy)
Midfielder / Defender | 173cm | 18/01/2006

Stats: 17 disposals, 1 mark, 9 tackles, 3 clearances, 3 inside 50s

A standout for the Allies in the match, and indicative of a side that never stopped trying. She cracked in on the inside laying plenty of tackles and extracting it out, but also had the run and carry to provide some dash in transition. Her run-down tackle of Emma Kilpatrick in the last five minutes showed she was switched on until the final siren, and though often up against it, could hold her head high in the loss. Won nine of her touches off the deck to be second most behind Bowering.

#28 Isla Wiencke (Belconnen / GWS Giants Academy)
Midfielder / Forward | 174cm | 30/03/2007

Stats: 17 disposals, 5 marks, 4 tackles, 4 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

The inside midfielder was another Allies player who never gave in and offered a variety of services around the ground. She threw herself at the contest, competed well in the air and often thumped the ball forward to try and gain her team greater field position. She did have a shot on goal that went wide late in the third term, but she played territory football and was always looking to be an option for her teammates.

#29 Ellie Hall (Murray Bushrangers / Giants Academy)
Defender | 174cm | 07/07/2006

Stats: 14 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles, 4 rebound 50s

Had a tough day under siege in defence but tried her heart out coming from the back 50. She either kicked out or was the first receiver from the kick out, and able to accumulate the ball in that fashion. She did have a fantastic run-down tackle on Ruby Ballard in the third term and continued to apply pressure, mopping up in defence and taking a mark in the goalsquare just before the final siren to save a goal.