VIC Metro walked away with the bragging rights and 2024 AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships title yesterday, having overcome powerhouse state South Australia. The Croweaters had won the past two trophies, but suffered their first loss since 2019, when Vic Metro go up by 21 points. In a highly-entertaining contest, both sides had some eye-catching players and we named a few of the them.

Vic Metro:

#6 Sierra Grieves (Yarraville Seddon Eagles / Western Jets)
Midfielder / Forward | 163cm | 18/05/2006

Stats: 28 disposals, 5 marks, 4 tackles, 8 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 5 rebound 50s, 1 goal

Another incredible performance from Grieves who was deserving of the Vic Metro MVP, racking up match-highs in disposals (28) and clearances (eight), as well as an incredible five rebound 50s, the equal-most on the ground. Her inside craft and vision by hand is so good, and she has continued to develop her impact on the outside to the point of where she is consistently influencing games with run and carry, and kicked a ripping finishing goal from 45m off a handball receive with that touch of class.

#7 Georgia Knight (Monbulk / Eastern Ranges)
Forward | 164cm | 11/10/2007

Stats: 7 disposals, 2 tackles, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s, 3 goals, 1 behind

Knight played to her strengths in the game which was maximising her moments inside 50. She only had the seven touches – six kicks – but had four scores from that, including three goals. Boasting a high-level goal sense, she kicked a couple off a step or two with another snap bouncing home. At times she can do a touch too much such as when trying to evade Bianca Portaro at half-forward and taking a bounce mid-sidestep to be dispossessed, but she kicked three of her side’s goals and was a critical finisher.

#8 Lou-Lou Field (Yarraville Seddon Eagles / Western Jets)
Defender | 167cm | 18/10/2006

Stats: 20 disposals, 8 marks, 4 tackles, 3 clearances, 4 rebound 50s

An absolutely phenomenal first term where Field racked up 11 disposals and five marks in a quarter. She clunked a fair bit that came her way and was the composed head alongside Tallariti that Metro needed when under siege from the South Australians. She can make the odd mistake by foot, but she also bites off the risks at times to open up the game for her team, and by the end of the match had a 67 per cent kicking efficiency and 75 per cent overall disposal efficiency. One of Metro’s best and clunked a game-high eight marks too.

#15 Sarah Poustie (Old Scotch / Oakleigh Chargers)
Wing / Midfielder | 170cm | 05/01/2006

Stats: 21 disposals, 1 mark, 11 tackles, 3 clearances, 2 inside 50s

Another rock solid performance from the reliable midfielder whose defensive pressure was elite throughout the game, laying a remarkable 11 tackles, the most on the ground. Poustie used the ball well as usual, won it both inside and outside, as well as off the deck and via hand, providing a crucial link between the arcs. Her run-down tackle in defence saved a potential goal, and she always goes at it like a bull at a gate, which bouncing up each time she is on the receiving end of a tackle. Enjoyed a really even championships.

#16 Scout Howden (Old Brighton Grammarians / Sandringham Dragons)
Defender | 174cm | 17/02/2006

Stats: 17 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles, 2 clearances, 1 inside 50, 5 rebound 50s

Caught the eye with her work from the defensive half and pushing up teh ground, taking a few grabs and being an options to provide run and carry down the ground. As a naturally defensive-running wing, she slotted into half-back with ease, and her size and aerial ability helped in one-on-one situations. Alongside more natural defenders, Howden showed off her versatility once again and used run and carry to clear the ball from defence, picking up an equal game-high five rebound 50s.

#18 Sienna Tallariti (Whitehorse / Oakleigh Chargers)
Defender | 168cm | 10/07/2006

Stats: 15 disposals, 3 marks, 2 tackles, 5 rebound 50s

One of the aforementioned more natural defenders, co-skipper Tallariti has not put a foot wrong all championships. The Oakleigh skipper and premiership player stepped up when the lights were brightest to lead the Metro defence with honour. She clunked two marks in the first term and consistently thwarted South Australian attacks. Her ball used was elite and her one-on-one contest was very good despite often playing against taller opponents in those one-on-ones.

#21 Grace Belloni (Olinda Ferny Creek / Eastern Ranges)
Forward / Midfieldeer | 174cm | 09/09/2006

Stats: 21 disposals, 1 mark, 1 tackle, 2 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 1 goal

Another player who has had a rock solid championships, particularly in games one and three. She rotated between playing forward where she started, and stints around the ball to finish with 21 touches, two clearances and five inside 50s. Her work rate and team ethic allows her to get up the ground, mop up or assist her teammates in forcing a turnover, before darting forward to be an option. Belloni kicked a classy goal on the run during the second term, and was very good in one instance out of the middle with a highlight centre clearance.

#27 Josephine Bamford (Ferntree Gully Eagles / Eastern Ranges)
Ruck | 181cm | 03/06/2007

Stats: 10 disposals, 2 marks, 6 tackles, 12 hitouts, 3 clearances, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50

Really liked what the bottom-age ruck has brought in the national championships. Though outsized in terms of strength against Tonkin and experience against Riggs, Bamford did what she does best, and competed. But while she finished the game with the 12 hitouts, it was her defensive work at ground level thar really impressed, including laying a great tackle on Martin with the game on the line in the second half to win a holding the ball free.

South Australia:

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

Stats: 20 disposals, 3 marks, 2 tackles, 2 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

After just two disposals to half-time largely laying in defence, Martin produced the biggest second half of any player on the ground to rack up 20 touches by full-time, second only to Ebert in the tri-colours. The ultimate utility, Martin started in defence, but found herself forward even leading out at times, then into the midfield where she had an influence around the stoppages. Her kicking and decision making stands out on the field, and finished with a 75 per cent kicking efficiency and provided some run between the arcs.

#2 Imogen Trengove (Bute / WWT Eagles)
Wing | 164cm | 25/04/2007

Stats: 14 disposals, 2 marks, 1 tackle, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50

From the eye test, the sole South Australian inclusion showed off some of her great traits, using some nice speed to breakaway from the contest to go forward, and competed well at ground level, sometimes against multiple opponents. At times she can rush her disposals here or there, but she had plays like one in the third term where she kicked to the top of 50, ran hard to get on the end of it again and unfortunately for the Eagles bottom-ager her quick snap was smothered. She thought she had kicked one moments earlier but it had stayed in play.

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

Stats: 18 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles, 3 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

The star was symbolic of her side’s performance in the way she was just very good, without being at her best. Rasheed had those moments that will always pop up, bursting from the back of a stoppage and wheeling onto the left foot, or taking a strong grab and hitting a pinpoint pass going forward. One centre clearance that went straight to the lead of Klaudia O’Neill – but bounced off her teammate’s hands – was sublime. Ran at 72.2 per cent disposal efficiency for the game as one would expect.

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

Stats: 12 disposals, 3 marks, 2 tackles, 6 inside 50s, 1 goal, 1 behind

Tried hard off a wing, and while she made the odd error, had some fantastic moments. Her pickpocketing of Evie Parker at half-forward in a one-on-one marking contest before taking a flying shot looked incredible, but it faded to the left and was rushed across for a behind. She nailed a brilliant pass to Eloise Mackereth inside 50 in the third term, and peppered the goals herself, missing a shot then finally slotting a clever goal on the run. All up tried hard and got involved.

#23 Laela Ebert (Modbury / North Adelaide)
Midfielder | 17/04/2006

Stats: 25 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles, 5 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

South Australia’s most consistent through the middle for the game, it was hard to fault Ebert’s work around the centre bounce to earn a team-high five clearances as well as her 25 disposals. Her three centre bounce clearances were the most on the field, and while best known for the run and disposal she can create, the North Adelaide talent got her hands dirty around the coalface. Ebert set up Georgia McKee‘s goal with a nice deep kick to the goalsquare in the third term.

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

Stats: 10 disposals, 3 marks, 4 tackles, 1 hitout, 3 rebound 50s

Schirmer started her day on Georgie Brisbane, and while rotating onto Emma McDonald when Charlotte Riggs went into the ruck and Boyd went to Belloni, largely went head-to-head with the Vic Metro co-skipper. In a fantastic defensive display, Schirmer was one of her state’s best, keeping Brisbane to just six touches and one mark, while picking up 10 disposals and three marks herself. Her one-on-one work, spoiling and one percenters really stood out, with her game-high five of the latter symbolic of the way she plays, which is with a team-first attitude.

#35 Lucy Boyd (Blackwood / West Adelaide)
Defender | 174cm | 12/10/2006

Stats: 11 disposals, 2 marks, 8 tackles, 1 clearance, 1 rebound 50

Similar to Schirmer, Boyd had a role on top 10 talent McDonald, while rotating onto Belloni at times too. While McDonald has the extra speed on the lead, Boyd’s competitiveness and work rate both at ground level and determination to spoil enabled the West Adelaide top-ager to only concede the one goal – which came off hands at a marking contest two minutes into the match – and the 10 touches and one mark. Held her own against a quality opponent and laid the second most tackles for her side.

#36 Chloe Tonkin (Goodwood Saints / West Adelaide)
Ruck | 183cm | 18/04/2007

Stats: 16 disposals, 3 marks, 1 tackle, 19 hitouts, 4 clearances, 1 inside 50, 4 rebound 50s

Boasting a slight height, and clear strength advantage over Bamford, Tonkin excelled at stoppages around the ground, using her strong frame to win plenty of hitouts and finish with a game-high 19. While that element of her game was not surprising, what was a really great aspect was Tonkin’s groundlevel work. Not as well known to impact at ground level compared to the air, the West Adelaide tall had a game-high seven hardball gets. Her effort did not stop at the stoppage and she got to ground level to impact as well.