THE REIGNING champions against the biggest threat to the throne, South Australia and Vic Metro go head-to-head on Sunday in what promises to be a must-watch AFL Women’s Under 18s showdown. The Croweaters easily dispatched the Allies in game one back home, as did Metro in the opening game of the championships. Now given Western Australia’s loss against Queensland, if Metro wins, they will be declared champions.

DETAILS

Sunday, August 11 @ 10:30am AEST
RSEA Park
Live streamed via afl.com.au

STATE OF PLAY

Put simply, the championships are on the line in the match. If Vic Metro win, then Metro is the only side to go through the national carnival undefeated and will cap off a wonderful three-game series on home soil. However a loss essentially hands the title to South Australia for the third consecutive year, with the Croweaters notching up a win thus far, and their next opponents Western Australia already losing. While a Sandgropers victory in the final round – providing WA can roll Vic Country – would send the cup out west, South Australia would be favoured in that contest at home.

CHANGES

Vic Metro has rolled out the changes to bring in a couple of strong players likely to have big roles in defence at the expense of some smaller running defenders. Zara Neuwirth will lockdown on one of South Australia’s talls, with bottom-age utility Jade McLay also likely to play in defence.

AFLW Academy Grace Baba is capable of a shutdown role, but will provide an aerial presence in the back half, and in her first game for Metro this year after returning from injury, will show what she’s got. Her Ranges teammate Stasia Stevenson also comes in to provide a spark in the forward half.

Oakleigh midfielder Maggie Mahony and Northern bottom-ager Marlo Graham go out, alongside Molly Paterson and bottom-age ruck Isobella Hishongwa-Gibb.

South Australia has been successful over the last couple of years with playing a horses for courses approach to its team selection, and the Croweaters have just made the one change. AFLW Academy member Poppy Scholz is an unfortunate and critical loss in defence, but South Australia have brought in some speed and class to replace her in Eagles’ bottom-ager Imogen Trengove.

ONES TO WATCH

Where do you begin with these two sides? Both have stars across all three lines that have the potential to become match-winners. Looking at the midfield battles, Metro has a reliable starting group that includes AFLW Academy members Sierra Grieves and Sophie McKay who are the two consistent inside midfielders throughout the carnival, while Sarah Poustie and Zoe Hargreaves have also been strong in there, and Eastern midfielder-forward Grace Belloni is an ace up the sleeve that coach Tyrone Vickery can use.

South Australia has its own stacked midfield, with Sturt top five prospect India Rasheed and fellow Central District stars Georgia McKee and Jasmine Evans both have elite kicking skills. Could we see a Carlton-Collingwood rivalry with father-daughter prospects in skipper Violet Patterson and McKay going head-to-head?

Both Rasheed and McKee can impact up forward, though Eagles tall Klaudia O’Neill and Eloise Mackereth are just as dangerous in the air. O’Neill might also be thrown down back if Metro’s three-headed tall forward setup of Belloni, Emma McDonald and Georgie Brisbane get on top.

Down in defence for the Vics, the inclusions will have a baptism of fire, though skipper Sienna Tallariti will be a reliable constant back there. For the Croweaters up the other end, the likes of Charlotte Riggs, Lucy Boyd and Esther Schirmer will have their hands full trying to contain their respective opponents.

PREDICTION

The match genuinely shapes as an absolute thriller. The champion up against the challenger, with stars galore and future AFL Women’s players across the board. South Australia has the runs on the board and showed a couple of years ago it can also grind through a tight win over Metro, though Victoria also look incredible this year. As a whole we’ll stick with the Croweaters, but by 10 points or less in what is anticipated to be the best championships match for some time.