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 Vic Metro, who snapped South Australia’s back-to-back title run to win their first trophy since pre-Covid after going undefeated in 2024.

RESULTS

Vic Metro 17.11 (113) defeated Allies 2.7 (19)
Vic Metro 15.6 (96) defeated Vic Country 9.9 (63)
Vic Metro 9.4 (58) defeated South Australia 5.7 (37)

WHAT WENT RIGHT

• Speed and precision across the ground

• Even contribution across the board

• Squad depth in all three positions

• Emergence of bottom-age rucks

• Trio of tall marking forwards

WHAT WENT WRONG

• Losing a couple of players to injury at different points, Grace Baba and Maggie Mahony

• Not much

KEY PLAYERS:

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

Stats: 28.3 disposals, 3.3 marks, 6.7 clearances, 4.0 tackles, 4.3 inside 50s, 2.0 rebound 50s, 2 goals

A wonderfully consistent carnival from Vic Metro’s MVP who was as prolific of a midfielder as there was throughout the three games. Alongside the likes of Sara Howley and Havana Harris – who will likely form the midfield trio in the All-Australian team – Grieves found the perfect balance between offensive and defensive work, and lead by example.

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

Stats: 19.7 disposals, 3.0 marks, 2.3 clearances, 6.0 tackles, 2.3 inside 50s, 1.3 rebound 50s, 1 goal

Though flying under the radar considering the AFLW Academy members around her, Poustie showed off her versatility to play inside or outside, and run all day with her elite tank. Consistent as always, she laid some bone-crunching tackles, and also hit targets all across the ground. Such a well-balanced player who is solid across all areas of the game.

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

Stats: 18.3 disposals, 4.7 marks, 2.0 tackles, 4.0 inside 50s, 7 goals

Really made her mark in game one with four goals from over 20 touches playing as a forward-midfielder, and she largely did that throughout. Strong hands overhead, Belloni provided a real foil alongside the key position targets, and kicked some nice goals along the way to be the equal second most goalkicker in the competition thus far.

Sophie McKay (Prahran / Sandringham Dragons)
Midfielder / Forward | 168cm | 27/04/2006

Stats: 23.7 disposals, 2.7 marks, 4.3 clearances 2.0 tackles, 5.3 inside 50s, 2 goals

McKay did her thing throughout the carnival, and was particularly prolific in games one and two before a corkie limited her influence later on in game three. She battled hard around the clearances, showed some burst speed and was able to get the ball inside 50 consistently, while kicking a goal in two of the three matches.

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

Stats: 12.0 disposals, 2.7 marks, 1.7 tackles, 3.3 inside 50s, 9 goals

Barring a ridiculous effort from either Georgia McKee (four goals), India Rasheed (three), Klaudia O’Neill (three) or Alicia Blizard (three) in the final game of the championships, Knight will lead the goalkicking at the championships. A well deserved effort from the goalsneak who finds the big sticks consistently and is one of the better finishers going around.

Georgie Brisbane (Blackburn / Eastern Ranges)
Forward | 175cm | 13/12/2006

Stats: 11.0 disposals, 4.0 marks, 3.0 tackles, 1.0 inside 50s, 7 goals

Brisbane’s first game was incredible as the Eastern Ranges skipper and Vic Metro co-captain booted four goals in a half and finished with five for the game. She kicked another couple at Marvel Stadium late in the match before being well held on the weekend. Though her groundlevel work to compliment her elite aerial prowess make her such a threat inside 50.

Zoe Hargreaves (Fitzroy / Northern Knights)
Utility | 172cm | 03/06/2006

Stats: 16.0 disposals, 2.3 marks, 2.7 clearances, 4.7 tackles, 2.3 inside 50s, 1.3 rebound 50s

Hargreaves had the one full-time midfield game for Metro under the Marvel Stadium roof and dominated, with the talent also playing off flanks at either end. Not much to do against the Allies in defence, she found more of it against South Australia, but overall finished the carnival with a really solid output for a player who was thrown around regularly.

Holly Ridewood (Heidelberg / Northern Knights)
Wing | 174cm | 27/12/2006

Stats: 14.9 disposals, 2.7 marks, 1.3 clearances, 3.7 tackles, 3.0 inside 50s

Really stepping up after being included in the Vic Metro squad off the back of fantastic Coates Talent League Girls form, the Northern Knights skipper has slotted into the wing role perfectly. Only five days off being a bottom-ager, Ridewood holds her space well, runs all day and is a distributor going forward. Though an outside player, she also hits hard with her tackles.

Abbey Vicino (Ashburton / Oakleigh Chargers)
Forward | 157cm | 13/02/2006

Stats: 13.3 disposals, 2.3 marks, 2.7 tackles, 3.3 inside 50s, 4 goals

The strength of the Metro midfield meant Vicino had to find a more specialised role, and she did that aplomb up forward. There, she brought her customary pressure, but also hit the scoreboard at better than a goal a game, while using her clean hands and smarts to impact. Has been one really developing this year in the role for Metro and Oakleigh.

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

Stats: 13.7 disposals, 3.3 marks, 1.0 clearances, 2.3 tackles 2.7 rebound 50s

After an injury-interrupted start to 2024, Field went from strength-to-strength at the national championships, culminating in a massive final game against South Australia. Pulling in five marks from 11 touches in the first quarter, she thwarted plenty of attacks and showed the talent she has had over the last few seasons with the Jets.

Emma McDonald (Ashburton / Eastern Ranges)
Forward | 179cm | 18/04/2006

Stats: 8.7 disposals, 3.3 marks, 1.3 hitouts, 2.0 tackles, 5 goals

A contested marking forward who was better held in her last two games after four majors against the Allies, McDonald still posed a few headaches inside 50 with her leading patterns and groundlevel pressure. She crashes packs, provides a target and brings other teammates into the game, often being unselfish with passes across the forward 50.

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

Stats: 11.3 disposals, 1.7 marks, 16.3 hitouts, 1.7 clearances, 4.0 tackles, 2.0 inside 50s

The bottom-age ruck was a revelation at the carnival for the champions, really holding her own and being an eye-catching talent with not just her stoppage work, but ground level tackling pressure too. She looms as one to watch for next year, with a stack of bottom-age talls really making their mark for next year’s draft crop.

OTHERS:

Vic Metro had some many contributors across the board that caught the eye with Eastern Ranges duo Stasia Stevenson and Evie Parker impressing, as did Sandringham Dragons co-captain Scout Howden and Calder Cannons utility Kyla Forbes who played in defence. Though she only played the two games, Maggie Mahony made her mark through the middle, and bottom-ager Chloe Bown was outstanding against the Allies.

SUMMARY

Vic Metro had the dream carnival. Starting off with a thrashing win of the Allies, they were too good for Vic Country under the Marvel Stadium roof to run away with the contest in a shootout, then showed their class against a quality South Australian outfit to remain undefeated and take out the 2024 AFLW Under 18 Championships title.