SOUTH Australia’s best young mature-age talent took home the win against the reigning back-to-back AFLW Under 18s side yesterday in a nail-biting two-point win. The Under 23s side made up of the most draftable players aged under 23 and led by Eagles coach Narelle Smith, fought back from a deficit midway through the final term to run over the top of their younger counterparts, 6.7 (43) to 6.5 (41).

Last year the Under 18s won the corresponding fixture by a massive 51 points which saw now-Fremantle wing Holly Ifould really put her name in contention with an MVP performance in that victory. On Sunday, the Under 18s – missing a handful of stars – had a great tune up ahead of their next AFLW Under 18s Championships match, with the contest going down to the wire.

In a frantic final term, the Under 18s got out to as much as a 10-point lead at the 12-minute mark thanks to a goal from MVP Georgia McKee, before back-to-back majors to Kayla Robran and Under 23s MVP Kiana Lee got the older side’s nose in front to take the victory.

SA U18s 1.1 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 6.5 (41)
SA U23s 1.1 | 2.4 | 3.6 | 6.7 (43)

GOALS:
SA U18s: G. McKee, M. Bessen A. Dufour, R. Ballard, C. Tonkin, K. O’Neill
SA U23s: E. Brockhurst 2, K. Robran 2, C. Harding, K. Lee

BEST:
SA U18s: G. McKee, A. Dufour, M. Bessen, C. Tonkin, R. Ballard, S. Thredgold
SA U23s: K. Lee, G. Swan, M. Fiegert, M. Anderson, C. Harding, L. Whitcombe

In today’s scouting notes, we take a look at a range of Under 18s who caught the eye during the performance, as well as five Under 23 players who could be good mature-age draft pickups. All notes are the opinion of the individual author.

SCOUTING NOTES:

UNDER 18s:

#2 Imogen Trengove
Wing | 164cm | 25/04/2007

After missing game one of the national championships, Trengove came in and had a busy start to the match on the wing, and finished with a productive overall game. She understands the game really well and once she has it, backs herself to take on the opposition, drive the legs and put the ball into dangerous positions. One instant that could have been improved was in a marking contest in the third term where she opted not to go with an opponent coming fast from behind. However her ground level work such as clean hands and being able to draw an opponent really stood out.

#5 Georgia McKee
Midfielder | 160cm | 24/04/2006

Seeing McKee play full-time midfield minutes was a throwback to her Under 16s year where she spent her fair share of time rotating through there for both Central District and South Australia. So clean at ground level, an elite user on both sides of her body and has fantastic vision to-boot, she showed why she is a top AFLW Draft prospect this year. In the fourth term McKee had a moment where she was pinged holding the ball by Bulldogs teammate Dakota Williams, only to return the favour with a great run-down tackle on Williams at the very next play. McKee capped off her MVP-winning performance with a classy finish on the run from 40m.

#6 India Rasheed
Midfielder / Forward | 174cm | 29/11/2006

Spent significant time forward after starting in the midfield to give plenty of her teammates time through the middle. She still had an impact, and though it was not as dominant as her best on ground performance against the Allies, always looked dangerous when she went near it. Had a shot on goal that was marked on the goalline, then set up Klaudia O’Neill midway through the last quarter with a lovely kick inside 50.

#7 Sophie Eaton
Wing | 170cm | 23/04/2007

Had a good battle against the likes of Georgia Swan on the outside and showed her class with her delivery in transition. An outstanding kick of the footy, Eaton can hit passes over multiple distances and is not afraid to go back into the corridor to find an option. Her work off the wing throughout the game was very impressive and she set up a goal to Bessen as well with her placement inside 50. Class with a capital ‘C’.

#13 Monique Bessen
Forward / Midfielder | 174cm | 05/02/2007

Really rose to the occasion and was arguably next best afield after McKee for her work through the middle. She covered the ground well, worked back into defence, was clean at ground level and got forward to finish with a clever snap early in the game. Her range of kicking is very good, and her impact-per-possession is ultra high. She did come off hurt in the match which was a shame as she was blitzing it to that point. One with enormous talent for next year.

#14 Ruby Ballard
Midfielder / Forward | 155cm | 07/11/2006

Another player who grabbed the midfield opportunity with both hands and really caught the eye. She started on-ball and looked strong around the clearances, and though Ballard is one of the shortest going around, she has terrific core strength and can give as good as she gets. Nailed a set shot goal cleverly and looked to impact around the stoppages, extracting it consistently from the coalface to the outside.

#18 Asha Dufour
Forward | 170cm | 31/08/2006

Utilised in a different role for the game, Dufour played up forward and the move did pay dividends with a nice finish after getting on the end of a chain of handballs in the forward pocket that she started. Gets into ball-winning positions, has a high work rate and is very versatile. Her defensive pressure and willingness to find pockets of space was very good.

#21 Eloise Mackereth
Forward | 174cm | 27/07/2007

Another high impact-per-possession player, Mackereth was incredibly eye-catching with her work up the ground, producing another strong aerial performance, while hitting targets with consummate ease. She knows when and where to lead, gets high and then pushes hard back, knowing her own capabilities and limitations to make good decisions with ball-in-hand. Took a crucial intercept mark in the dying moments to hit up McKee with a short pass which came just after a set shot a minute later that drifted to the left from a tight angle.

#23 Laela Ebert
Defender / Midfielder | 167cm | 17/04/2006

Playing a really consistent game off half-back and pushing up into the midfield, Ebert was the source of a number of transitions from the back half to the front half, showing clean hands and nice skills off both sides of her body. Though sometimes she might make the odd error, she is usually able to find the right target and try to maximise the run turning defence into offence. Good in the air and impacted across four quarters.

#27 Edwina Thornquest
Defender | 173cm | 22/06/2007

Another player who got the call-up for the clash after missing South Australia’s big win over the Allies, Thornquest was strong in the back 50 and competed hard in the air and at ground level. Her aerial ability and strength really stands out, and while she can play at both ends, will likely suit up as that key defender.

#36 Chloe Tonkin
Forward / Ruck | 183cm | 18/04/2007

The bottom-age tall provided a strong target around the ground but more so than that, got her hands dirty at ground level and was able to use her frame to win one-on-one contests. Tonkin did often look to handball to a runner which could become predictable at times, but has a thumping kick on her that she can use to break down the opposition defensive zone. Her aerial presence and contested marking ability is second to none.

UNDER 23s:

#6 Melissa Anderson
Forward / Midfielder | 173cm | 17/08/2005

Anderson is a strong forward with natural draftable traits that catch the eye, but has the running capacity to work up the ground as well. She is a terrific all-round athlete, potent when close to goal and can hit targets over multiple distances. In the game she had a flying shot that just missed, but hit up Lee inside 50 perfectly in the same third term. She can win the ball inside and out, and only turns 19 next month.

#12 Kiana Lee
Utility | 171cm | 31/07/2001

One of the biggest stories of the 2024 SANFLW season, Lee had an enormous year, but was one of the most valuable players in the competition entering finals. She kicked match-winning goals, was able to snag majors from anywhere, could drift into defence can clunk contested marks, and work up on a wing to win the ball in transition. Just like at Norwood, there was an example where Lee kicked the winning goal with five minutes to go, then was thrown behind the ball, clunking a couple of strong intercept marks and clearing the danger. One of the top mature-age prospects.

#13 Emily Brockhurst
Forward | 175cm | 13/04/2001

Sharing the SANFLW leading goalkicker award with Katelyn Rosenzweig, Brockhurst was again one of only two multiple goalkickers popping up when required. Her first goal came from a set shot which never looked like missing, with her second being a brilliant snap that broke the tough deadlock early in the last quarter. Had another chance that marginally fell short, but presented well and constantly looked dangerous.

#16 Julia Clark
Defender | 163cm | 03/05/2002

A composed and clever player in the back half of the ground, Clark overcame a near fatal turnover in defensive 50 when switching during the second term to finish the game as one of the better players for the winners. She is a quick decision maker, incredibly clean by hand or foot and just consistently sums up situations and executes them to the best of her ability. Produced a terrific run-down tackle on Tonkin late in the match and was a standout in the second half in particular.

#19 Kayla Robran
Forward | 182cm | 06/10/2004

The unlucky 19-year-old has had some tough years with injury, but showed she can step up with some quality players company. The daughter of dual premiership Crow Matthew and eligible as a father-daughter selection to both Adelaide (130 games) and Hawthorn (seven) and has shown she can play at both ends. In the win over the Under 18s, Robran used her clean hands to be a marking force in the air, slotting two goals in the win, including a critical major from a tight angle 20m out in the fourth term. Looked a genuine key position target inside 50.