SOUTH Australia and Western Australia put on a show for the final AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships match of the 2024 carnival. The Croweaters got up by 21 points, but both sides had impressive individual performances. We took note of some of those performances, with all scouting notes the opinion of the individual author.

South Australia:

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

Stats: 16 disposals, 2 marks, 1 tackle, 3 clearances, 1 behind

The talented utility continued her great form across the national carnival with one of her most consistent four-quarter games yet. She was able to start on-ball and got amongst it early, then set up McKee with a clever handball as she was under pressure at the top of the goalsquare rather than blaze away. Got to have a shot herself from long range that missed to the right, with her clearance work and ability to take the game on a highlight. Did get run-down by Fish at one stage bursting inside 50, but overall did well to breakdown the opposition defence in transition.

#3 Violet Patterson (Plympton / Glenelg)
Midfielder | 167cm | 09/01/2006

Stats: 19 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles, 1 clearance, 4 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

The skipper was heroic throughout the match, coming off sore after a knock late in the second term. At that point she had 11 disposals and was one of the busiest on the ground, and though a little quieter in the second half, still made her impact felt, bouncing back from that knock. She laid a huge run-down tackle on Russo inside defensive 50 that unfortunately was a little high, but overall really lead by example and brought the heat, while also having eye-catching plays such as her bursting centre clearance.

#4 Mikaylah Antony (Willaston / Central District)
Defender | 169cm | 06/07/2007

Stats: 14 disposals, 9 marks, 1 tackle, 1 inside 50

Has held her own through the first two games, but really stepped up in game three to be among the better Bulldogs going around. Her intercept marking was superb, taking a game-high nine marks in a match where there were some outstanding grabs by taller players on both sides. Generally a good user of the ball, Antony has a neat, short, sharp pass, finishing with an elite 90 per cent kicking efficiency. Patrolled the air well and was a thorn in Western Australia’s side all match.

#5 Georgia McKee (Golden Grove / Central District)
Forward | 157cm | 24/04/2006

Stats: 6 disposals, 1 mark, 1 tackle, 1 inside 50, 3 goals

As soon as the ball hit the deck inside 50, McKee lifted the heart rate of her opposition defenders quite significantly. She finished with the three first half goals, two of which came from classy snaps off both sides of her body. Her third was a good clunk at the top of the goalsquare, and though quelled more in the second half as the scoring dried up, looked every bit the top 10 prospect when up and about, and has so many weapons with which to punish the opposition.

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

Stats: 21 disposals,4 marks, 2 tackles, 5 clearances, 6 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Though the Sturt star was not at her best throughout the game, she worked into the game well to still have an impact and do what she could to help get her team over the line. She ran hard around the ground, picked up an equal game-high five clearances, as well as pumping the ball inside 50 six times. She spent considerable time through the middle and then worked forward, utilised as the distributor going inside 50.

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

Stats: 19 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 5 rebound 50s, 1 behind

Ran all day long across the wing and was rewarded with a superb performance to close out her bottom-age national carnival. Eaton was a big game player captaining the Under 16s last year, and was able to provide dare and dash in the wing. She had a team-high nine handball receives, and though an outside-leaning player, it is easy to see why with elite skills and decision making that will hurt the opposition as she facilitates passes inside 50. Her pinpoint pass inside 50 lowering the eyes to hit up Mackereth late in the first term to set up a goal was sublime.

#9 Charlotte Riggs (Angle Vale / Central District)
Ruck | 181cm | 02/11/2006

Stats: 15 disposals, 5 marks, 9 hitouts, 3 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Though not an award in the carnival, Riggs provided a couple of mark of the year contenders, leaping high to clunk a couple of huge grabs. She predominantly played through the ruck and though giving up some centimetres, showed off her athletic prowess, particularly in the vertical jump. She even kicked off the non-preferred boot going inside 50 at one stage, and though that was turned over, did well both in the air – with three contested marks – and at ground level, with one third of her touches coming from groundballs.

#18 Asha Dufour (Mitcham / West Adelaide)
Forward/Midfielder | 170cm | 31/08/2006

Stats: 19 disposals, 7 marks, 3 tackles, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

Rarely takes a step back and will continue to battle on throughout the four quarters, and that is exactly what the West Adelaide midfielder did. Though primarily an inside midfielder at SANFLW level this season, Dufour’s previous role on the outside helped her be a hard-running forward and taking seven marks around the ground, winning the bulk of her touches in an uncontested manner having worked over her opponent. Was another South Australian who had some nice moments throughout the match.

#21 Eloise Mackereth (Plympton / Glenelg)
Forward | 174cm | 27/07/2007

Stats: 12 disposals, 7 marks, 1 tackle, 1 inside 50, 4 goals

The star of the show gave a glimpse into the future as she provided a consistent marking target inside 50. Whether she was bursting into space or had defenders for company, more often than not Mackereth clunked the ball and went back to deliver. She kicked a goal in each of the quarters, all coming from set shots, including one in the third term with a long-range conversion. Almost had a fifth in the first quarter but just fell short, though it lead to a McKee goal anyway. Was outstanding both in the air and with her leading patterns and footy IQ.

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

Stats: 22 disposals, 6 marks, 1 tackle, 2 clearances, 2 inside 50s

Another hard-running midfielder in the same vein as Martin, Ebert finished the day having a game-high 22 disposals, and working from the inside to the outside to find the ball. She was not as efficient as she can often be by foot, but ran at 50 per cent contested rate and won nine groundballs, the second most behind Martin. Provided an aerial presence too through hard work and getting to space, dropping back to help the defence as well.

#37 Klaudia O’Neill (Henley Sharks / WWT Eagles)
Forward | 177cm | 15/02/2006

Stats: 11 disposals, 3 marks, 1 tackle, 8 hitouts, 3 clearances, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50, 3 goals, 1 behind

For the second time in three games, the opposition defence had no answers for the powerful O’Neill who not only took a few strong marks, but kicked two of her three goals out of the ruck contests, and another in a one-on-one mismatch with the much smaller Sabella Banks. Chopped out through the ruck inside 50 and finished the carnival with six goals, and shoed how good her hands and bodywork are one-on-one.

Western Australia:

#3 Molly O’Hehir (South Fremantle)
Midfielder/Defender | 179cm | 24/05/2006

Stats: 14 disposals, 3 marks, 5 tackles, 7 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

After a quieter game two, O’Hehir got to work to have more impact in game three, with some eye-catching highlights playing through the middle. Finally getting her shot to start there rather than work her way in from her preferred half-back role, O’Hehir had a brilliant burst out of the middle to set up a goal at one stage, and showcased her trademark burst on more than a few occasions. She did have one moment she’d love to have back on the wing where taking a bounce the ball went astray, and as she went to kick it, missed her boot for a fresh-airey, but aside from those couple of errors – that no doubt she would laugh about later – O’Hehir was a critical part of the Sandgropers’ lineup and worked well right until the final siren.

#4 Zippy Fish (East Fremantle)
Midfielder | 160cm | 04/06/2006

Stats: 16 disposals, 3 marks, 4 tackles, 2 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

Though she had less touches than her first two games, Fish was able to get her hands on the ball early, laid some great tackles and always looked dangerous. Attempted to take a huge grab that did not quite work out, but overall found the ball all over the ground. Her tackle on Martin inside defensive 50 to save a likely goal was superb, and though her efficiency by foot was down on her usual lofty standards, she was slick by hands through traffic.

#6 Mia Russo (West Perth)
Forward/Midfielder | 164cm | 06/08/2007

Stats: 10 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles, 4 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Coming in for her first game of the national carnival post-injury, Russo started the game a little rusty playing forward and only having the four disposals to half-time. She was still very clean off the deck at half-forward to keep the ball alive and set up a goal, before moving into the middle midway through the third term. She began to have more of the pill, particularly in the third term to have 10 touches and four second half clearances, the most on the ground in that time period.

#7 Lucy Greenwood (East Perth)
Forward | 162cm | 23/03/2007

Stats: 7 disposals, 1 mark, 1 tackle, 3 goals, 2 behinds

After a quiet first three quarters yielded just three disposals – albeit from limited chances with the talls doing all the damage – Greenwood decided to put on a show in the last quarter, kicking three goals from four disposals and finish as her side’s highest goalkicker on the day. Twice she ran hard forward and received the handball running into an open goal from close range, before getting on the end of a chain to finish off well for her third. Has the class and traits if she can put it all together consistently.

#16 Evie Cowcher (Peel Thunder)
Defender | 174cm | 03/08/2007

Stats: 14 disposals, 3 marks, 4 tackles, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

The only active back-to-back state MVP was everywhere behind the ball for the Sandgropers, being a real thorn for the South Australian side. Taking a number of good marks or gathering well off hands, Cowcher positioned herself well in the defensive half and thumped the ball long to safety time and time again. She had a nice burst out of the stoppage in the third term when getting up around the ball, but her defensive work and intercepting ability far outweighs her midfield craft even though she is more than capable in there.

#25 Taya Chambers (East Fremantle)
Defender/Wing | 174cm | 16/07/2006

Stats: 14 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 1 inside 50, 3 rebound 50s, 1 behind

Provided her guaranteed reliability in the defensive half, then found herself pushing forward and even having a shot on goal from 45m in the third term. Chambers copped an unlucky bounce, but the aggressive-running defender was thrown on a wing for the fourth term which was a throwback to a role she has played previously as an Under 16s talent. A great mover with good size, she has potential to really go anywhere, but her aerial ability and athleticism helps her get it done both in the air and at ground level.

#26 Tiani Teakle (East Fremantle)
Defender | 176cm | 16/07/2006

Stats: 12 disposals, 7 marks, 2 tackles, 4 rebound 50s

Really showed a clean pair of hands when under siege deep in defence throughout the first term, finishing the quarter with six disposals and three marks. She only had the six touches – and four marks – for the rest of the game, but played her role well and did her best with positioning. Very good one-on-one and is safe with her marking ability, playing a crucial role in the back 50 allowing others to create speed on transition.

#27 Lily Paterson (Swan Districts)
Midfielder | 172cm | 02/05/2006

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

Had an equal game-high five clearances and just keeps accumulating the ball around the ground often unassumingly. She did well on the inside, extracting the ball out to teammates, then worked hard to keep pushing forward and put pressure on the opposition defence. Won 12 of her 17 possessions in a contest, and had a nice balance between winning it herself at ground level and running past for the handball receive. Another busy performance from the draft bolter.

#32 Olivia Wolmarans (Subiaco)
Key Forward | 181cm | 02/09/2007

Stats: 18 disposals, 7 marks, 3 tackles, 3 hitouts, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s, 2 goals

Made it back-to-back strong performances up forward, converting a couple of goals and looking lively from the first bounce to the final siren. She kicked the first after getting on the end of a chain, before marking in the final term and converting another set shot goal. Her work rate and running for a tall is outstanding, and the best part was when she made mistakes – such as an errant kick or running through the mark to give away 50m, she always won the ball back for her side shortly after.