SOUTH Australia was able to fend off a serious challenge from Western Australia and remain undefeated at the Under 16s carnival since it began in its extended format two years ago. The Sandgropers made it five straight wins at the tournament, racing out to a 17-point lead through the first term and 23 midway through the second before Western Australia stormed home to get within striking distance.

Ultimately the Sandgropers would fall short despite drawing within five points early in the third term and being within a kick throughout the majority of the quarter. South Australian forward Charlotte O’Sullivan would seal the game in the last two minutes after a great mark and subsequent set shot goal. It was an even performance from the Croweaters, while Western Australia had some clear standouts in the contest.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA 2.1 | 3.2 | 5.4 | 6.4 (40)
SOUTH AUSTRALIA 4.0 | 6.1 | 7.2 | 8.5 (53)

GOALS:
Western Australia: C. Boss 2, T. Smoker, T. Head, M. Cannon, V. Matera
South Australia: C. Maurits 2, L. Gribben, S. Blethyn, L. Thomas, I. Newman, I. Beaumont, C. O’Sullivan

RMC BEST:
Western Australia: T. Collard, C. Fletcher, B. Nelson, H. Seaborn, I. Slocombe
South Australia: L. Cocks, L. Gribben, L. Thomas, C. Maurits, L. Whiteman

WESTERN AUSTRALIA:

#1 Indi Slocombe
Claremont | 165cm | 03/09/2010

Loved the fact that the sister of Ella (North Melbourne) took her chances by foot and was a high-risk, high-reward prospect. She did sometimes bite off a bit too much, but the vision to go into the corridor and risk turning it over in getting the ball to the open side or keeping it fast in transition was very good. Has some top-end traits with her technique and athleticism and finished with 11 touches and four inside 50s for her troubles.

#16 Tiama Collard
Peel Thunder | 163cm | 08/04/2009

Was very good on debut for Peel Thunder last week and brought that back to her own age group. She is so clean at ground level and attacks the contest hard, spending most of her time through the midfield but also playing at half-forward where she could link between the two areas. Racked up a game-high 27 disposals and was often seen in multiple disposal chains, while also picking up four clearances and laying seven tackles. Ticks so many boxes and has a nice balance of offensive and defensive attributes.

#17 Charlie Fletcher
Peel Thunder | 167cm | 02/04/2009

Another Peel debutant from Round 1 and unlike her stint on the wing for the Thunder, got more of a shot inside and then at half-back. She accumulated the four clearances and laid a game-high 10 tackles, really signalling her intent from the start. Her simply elite athletic traits where she can turn on the explosiveness then go to another level mid burst leaves any opponent in her wake. She is raw, but naturally talented and once she gets going she impacts the game with high metres gained and a frantic defensive element too.

#31 Bella Nelson
West Perth | 172cm | 10/03/2010

Played the Under 16s last year as a double bottom-ager and is still a bottom-ager in 2025, Nelson just always looks that class above with her combination of power, strength and skill. She has great vision, takes risks and though a right-footer, does not avoid putting it on her left if she needs which is a great trait to have. Playing off half-back and taking the kickouts most of the time, Nelson finished with 23 disposals, four marks and seven rebound 50s, often directing traffic from the back half and starting scoring chains.

#32 Hannah Seaborn
Claremont | 177cm 16/04/2009

Her athletic traits are off the charts for a player of her size, and the way she is able to scrap at ground level makes her damaging in a number of ways. A big-bodied midfielder who competes well in the air or on the deck, Seaborn reads the play well and is able to get involved in transition. She can work back to help out behind the ball or present a target in the front half. Still developing some fundamental areas, she has some great upside given that size-athleticism scope.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA:

#2 Lillian Thomas
Norwood | 163cm | 07/09/2009

Really caught the eye with her work up both ends even though she was primarily a pressure forward. Thomas soccered home a goal from point-blank range seven minutes into the match and should have had another in the last term but her quick snap – which she roved off hands – was marked on the goalline. Thomas’ footy IQ and pressure stood out on the day, and while she did not rack it up, seemed to just keep being involved and her work rate was enormous.

#4 Charlotte Maurits
Central District | 166cm | 19/03/2009

The Central District midfielder predominantly played forward and has that class which indicates she is destined for bigger things in the future. Kicked a goal in the opening 30 seconds after a fantastic holding the ball free from a tackle, then finished off a play running into goal from a 45-degree angle. A left-footer with class, Maurits not only kicked two goals, but set up Thomas for her major as well. Had 10 touches, three clearances, three inside 50s and two goals, running at 75 per cent by foot.

#7 Lani Cocks
Norwood | 161cm | 15/09/2009

Cocks ended the match with the most disposals of any Croweater with 21, while also taking four marks, and having four inside 50s and three rebound 50s. The Redlegs junior won most of her ball behind the play and looked to. take the game on, but covered the ground well and found it at half-forward too. She has some great speed off the mark, and while there could have been a touch more composure at times, did set up a goal to Gribben early and got into the right spots.

#8 Maia Freemantle
Woodville-West Torrens | 168cm | 13/04/2009

Has become a regular in Woodville-West Torrens lineup and though it was not her most effective game in terms of disposal – she has been very impressive in that regard at SANFLW level – she still got involved, often fishing off handballs to release teammates around the contest. Freemantle looks comfortable under pressure in traffic and was one of a number of South Australian midfielders who shared the load, managing 20 touches, three clearances and four inside 50s.

#11 Lily Whiteman
Sturt | 163cm | 14/05/2009

Highly regarded at Unley and it is easy to see why with the talented left-footer possession some neat traits. She has serious wheels that can burst from congestion, and a left-foot kick that has some impact forward of centre. Her best moment came in the third term where she sold some candy at half-forward to get back onto her left and kick inside 50 to a contest. Whiteman has areas to develop in her game, but had some nice moments.

#31 Lara Gribben
Norwood | 184cm | 02/07/2010

Was quite a handful mixing between the ruck and forward where she recorded 19 disposals, three tackles, nine hitouts three clearances and five inside 50s. Her reward for effort came early with a towering take off hands, snapping around her body to kick truly. That athleticism for a stronger tall was impressive, and she used her bigger frame at gorund level as well as in one-on-one contest. Still a bottom-ager at the carnival so will have time to further develop her other traits.