AS each AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships state completes its national carnival, we take a look at how the three-game carnival went, some of the impressive players, and those to keep an eye on next year.

Up next is Queensland, who faced deficits early in each of its three matches, able to come back in two games against Vic Country and Western Australia, but could just not click against the Allies in the middle.

RESULTS

Queensland 7.11 (53) defeated Vic Country 4.8 (32)
Queensland 5.6 (36) lost to Allies 8.3 (51)
Queensland 7.6 (48) defeated Western Australia 2.4 (16)

WHAT WENT RIGHT

• Georja Davies and Havana Harris

• Mia Salisbury’s development through full-time midfield minutes

• Defenders were fantastic throughout the champs

• Willingness to dig in when down against Vic Country and Western Australia

• Bouncing back from defeat to win on the road

WHAT WENT WRONG

• Performance against the Allies

• Losing key midfielders to injury pre-champs

KEY PLAYERS:

Georja Davies (Southport / Suns Academy)
Ruck / Midfielder | 183cm | 17/01/2007

Stats: 23.0 disposals, 5.3 marks, 16.0 hitouts, 4.0 clearances, 5.0 tackles, 3.3 inside 50s

The Queensland MVP had a huge carnival predominantly playing through the ruck, but also spent time in midfield. While her ruck craft and athleticism was obviously a massive plus against any opponent she faced, it was Davies’ ground level work and production across the field that made her standout compared to others. Her defensive pressure and ability to take the game on with a swift sidestep and then executing by hand or foot was sublime, with a lot of her touches involving her firing out handballs after winning a groundball.

Havana Harris (Bond University / Suns Academy)
Midfielder / Ruck | 181cm | 01/07/2006

Stats: 23.7 dispsoals, 2.3 marks, 4.7 hitouts, 5.3 clearances, 2.3 tackles, 6.3 inside 50s, 1.0 rebound 50s, 1 goal

Last year’s overall MVP put her hand up yet again to be in consideration with a fantastic performance largely through the midfield. Her clearance ability and inside 50 work was particularly dominant, fully maximising her thumping kick to impact the scoreboard through others. Her sole goal was a classy finish on the run from just inside 50, and the way she burst from congestion and fended off players with ease was outstanding. Just a brilliant all-round star whose athleticism has always been ridiculous, but her production somehow gets better each year.

Mia Salisbury (Bond University / Suns Academy)
Midfielder | 168cm | 27/06/2006

Stats: 20.0 disposals, 3.3 marks, 3.7 clearances, 4.3 tackles, 3.3 inside 50s

The big improver from the Queensland top-agers, taking the unfortunate injuries through the midfield to make the on-ball role her own. She might not have the height of Harris or Davies, but is still a tough nut who cracked in with defensive pressure and work rate. She covered the ground well, could win it on the inside or outside, with a near 50 per cent contested rate (47.7), while being ridiculously clean by hand (87 per cent efficiency). She slows time in congestion and showed she has plenty of promise for the future.

Annabelle Foat (Bond University / Suns Academy)
Midfielder | 163cm | 23/04/2007

Stats: 19.0 disposals, 1.7 marks, 2..0 clearances, 4.0 tackles, 2.3 inside 50s, 1.3 rebound 50s

A bottom-ager who like Salisbury got extra opportunities through the midfield due to injury, and Foat stepped up to the plate. She won a lot of her disposals on the move, looking for the handball receive and running hard to keep the ball in transition. A total of 44.1 per cent of her disposals came from handball receives, but that was the same number as her contested rate which showed she was also getting in close to receive and dish off. Held her own against older opponents.

Alannah Welsh (Southport / Suns Academy)
General Utility | 170cm | 23/11/2007

Stats: 11.3 disposals, 2.7 marks, 3.0 tackles, 1.0 inside 50s, 6 goals

Welsh played a mixture of forward, midfield and defence, but was mostly inside 50 where she averaged two goals per game. A lively type who loves any opportunity to snap on goal, Welsh showed her strength and forward nous through the carnival. When forward she often plays deep as a lead-up target, and when in defence, backs herself to run off and create drive from the back 50. She has that power and one-on-one ability to win marking contests, but is also athletic to change directions quickly.

Sunny Lappin (Southport / Suns Academy)
Forward | 169cm | 27/11/2007

Stats: 16.0 disposals, 4.0 marks, 1.3 tackles, 2.0 inside 50s, 4 goals

The potential Carlton and St Kilda father-daughter prospect had a promising championships, kicking four goals across the three games and particularly displayed great smarts inside 50. She knew where to lead and when, often finding pockets of space that had been left unguarded by the opposition defence. A classy talent with upside, Lappin is naturally good around goals, but she can set up teammates too with well-weighted passes. Seemed to have impact in bursts throughout each of the matches.

Dekota Baron (Southport / Suns Academy)
Forward / Ruck | 178cm | 03/01/2007

Stats: 12.3 disposals, 4.3 marks, 2.7 hitouts, 1.7 tackles, 1.7 inside 50s, 3 goals

Even if Baron is not hitting the scoreboard, she presents a massive problem for any opposition defence. Quick on the lead and strong in the air, Baron is a nightmare to try and contain, and she often lead higher up the field to get involved and used her penetrating kick to put the ball in far deeper. She might have only kicked the three goals for the championships, but showed all the traits that make her a top five talent next year, and she pinch-hit in the ruck too. Like Davies, hard to believe she has another year left before being draft-eligible.

Nyalli Milne (Bond University / Suns Academy)
Wing | 171cm | 26/05/2006

Stats: 14.3 disposals, 2.3 marks, 1.3 clearances, 2.7 tackles, 3.7 inside 50s, 1.0 rebound 50s

Having played as a forward in previous years, Milne got her chance on the wing and made the most of it, impressing with her explosive speed, competitiveness and aggression both in the air and at ground level. With ball in hand, Milne backed herself to run and take grass, often breaking up the opposition defensive zones with her speed. The defensive pressure she exhibited was top notch and a lot of the time she spoiled contests with body pressure and was able to reap the rewards at ground level.

Bronte Parker (Bond University / Suns Academy)
Midfielder | 169cm | 19/01/2007

Stats: 13.3 disposals, 1.7 marks, 1.7 clearances, 4.3 tackles, 1.3 inside 50s

Another player who will feature in the midfield at next year’s championships with Foat, Parker showed promising signs with the time she spent on-ball, and was one of the more prolific tacklers in the team. Not quite as high production wise, Parker kept bobbing up and was there to give and go by hand, often transitioning from the inside to outside. She had some inside minutes then rotated outside where she found space and impacted the game from there.

Siobhan Ross (Southport / Suns Academy)
General Defender | 171cm | 16/03/2006

Stats: 12.0 disposals, 0.7 marks, 3.3 tackles, 3.3 rebound 50s

A rock solid carnival from the defender who hardly put a foot wrong. Though she only took the two marks, her nullifying work and ability to mop up via intercept or at ground level really caught the eye. She did a job each week and was strong one-on-one, looking to spoil then either lock the ball up or clear the pill to safety. Had to win more than half of her possessions in a contest, and had high groundball numbers for a taller defender. Did her draft chances no harm with her efforts across the three games as one of the more reliable defenders in the competition.

OTHERS:

Outside all of the above who played three games, there were a host of two-game representatives that caught the eye. In particular Mia Geere and Kaiya Hides provided plenty of run and carry between midfield and attack, while Laura Roy was rock solid as an over-ager in both defence and midfield. Zimra Hussain had her moments throughout the tournament as well, while Lilu Hung and Farrandai Hopkins worked hard at either end of the ground.

SUMMARY

Queensland comes away from its national championships with some promising moments and plenty to look forward to in the future. The Allies’ loss essentially drained a chance at snapping South Australia’s reign, but with the exception of that game, the Maroons overcame early deficits against both Vic Country and Western Australia to finish the carnival at 2-1.