AS THE Coates Talent League Girls competition returns for Round 3 over the long weekend, the league welcomes four of the five Northern Academies for their first taste of action in the southern competition. Both Queensland Academies (Gold Coast Suns and Brisbane Lions) and New South Wales Academies (GWS Giants and Sydney Swans) begin their campaigns this weekend as part of a four-round block over the next month.

We preview each of the Academies and some of the names to look out for over the course of the competition.

BRISBANE LIONS ACADEMY:

Fixtures:

R3: vs. Geelong Falcons @ Brighton Homes Arena, Ipswich
R4: vs. Tasmania Devils @ University of Tasmania Stadium, Launceston
R5: vs. Eastern Ranges @ Sandgate AFC, Brisbane
R6: vs. Oakleigh Chargers @ Windy Hill, Essendon

AFLW Academy members: Nil.
All Stars representatives: Monique Corrigan
2024 Queensland representatives: Monique Corrigan, Molly Ferguson, Mia Geere, Kaiya Hides, Isabella McDonough, Harlee McIlwain

The Lions Academy will be boosted by a strong bottom-age and double bottom-age group that will hold the Brisbane side in good stead for the coming years. From a top-age perspective, ruck Monique Corrigan is the top AFLW Draft option, having had some injury interruptions over last season. She played in the All Stars match against the Academy on the weekend and is fit and firing for the upcoming block of games.

According to coach Emma Zielke, Jemma Foley is one name to keep safe for the season, with the top-ager impressing over the off-season. She and clever small Sophie Schulze have some nice potential before a tidal wave of talent sweeps through Brisbane town in the next two drafts. Headlining the Lions’ 2008-born crop are duo Mia Geere and Molly Ferguson, a pair of classy midfielders who can also play forward. Key forward Harlee McIlwain slotted 10 goals in a match 12 months ago for the AFLW Under 16 Championships.

In terms of over-age players hoping to make the most of a second chance, the likes of skipper Isabella McDonough – who had an injury-interrupted championships campaign last year – and speedy outside prospect Kaiya Hides are names to remember.

GOLD COAST SUNS ACADEMY:

Fixtures:

R3: vs. Dandenong Stingrays @ Austworld Centre Oval, Gold Coast
R4: vs. Eastern Ranges @ Box Hill City Oval, Box Hill
R5: vs. Oakleigh Chargers @ People First Stadium, Gold Coast
R6: vs. Northern Knights @ Genis Steel Oval, Preston

AFLW Academy members: Dekota Baron, Georja Davies, Ava Usher, Alannah Welsh
All Stars representatives: Annabelle Foat, Bronte Parker
2024 Queensland representatives: Dekota Baron, Georja Davies, Amelia Ella, Annabelle Foat, Sunny Lappin, Bronte Parker, Siobhan Ross, Neive Ryan, Aleah Stringer, Ava Usher, Alannah Welsh

Boasting the strongest crop of any Northern Academy group in AFLW Draft history, Gold Coast Suns Academy have up to seven Top 30 players, three of which could go inside the top five. Pick one favourite Ava Usher is around the mark to return from her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, while Dekota Baron is nursing a serious finger injury which also kept her out of the National Academy match.

However athletic utility Georja Davies and dynamic prospect Alannah Welsh ran out for the Australian side and barring any setbacks this week will lineup for the Suns against the Stingrays. They will be joined by natural inside midfielders Annabelle Foat and Bronte Parker and eligible Carlton and St Kilda father-daughter prospect Sunny Lappin in the team.

From the other prospects, Aleah Stringer and Mikayla Nurse are two other clubs might keep close tabs on given the amount of juggling the Suns AFLW recruiters will need to do to try and fit in the high volume of talent.

Next year, Maddie Campbell is one bottom-ager to make note of, while from the over-age category, rebounding defender Siobhan Ross is a prospect who earned a State Draft Combine invite but just missed out on being drafted.

GWS GIANTS ACADEMY:

Fixtures:

R3: vs. Murray Bushrangers @ Lavington Sports Ground, Lavington
R4: vs. Sandringham Dragons @ Trevor Barker Oval, Sandringham
R5: vs. Tasmania Devils @ Twin Oval Kingston, Hobart
R6: vs. Western Jets @ Windy Hill, Essendon

AFLW Academy members: Isla Wiencke
All Stars representatives: Amelie Prosser-Shaw
2024 Allies representatives: Amelie Prosser-Shaw, Isla Wiencke

The Giants Academy won the AFLW Under 16s Development Championships last year, which indicates a strong bottom-age crop coming through. Looking at those eligible in 2025, powerful midfielder/forward Isla Wiencke is the clear standout, as a member of the National Academy and one who starred on the weekend for the Australian side. She went head-to-head with over-ager Amelie Prosser-Shaw who has returned to the orange team having unluckily missed out last season but has some serious draftable qualities.

To name a potential top-age prospect from the Giants to keep tabs on, Sophia Gaukrodger impressed at the recent Under 22 Summer Series and has a nice size and can compete in the air and at ground level. Other draft-eligible players who have spent time at senior level through AFL Sydney include Aoife Berry and Bridget Corcoran.

From a bottom-age perspective, that is where the Giants begin to really stack up against the other Academies, with Darcie Prosser-Shaw and Canberra star Mia Cooper are two top-end prospects who will likely take up posts in defence and midfield respectively. They are not the only ones, with Morgan Stevens progressing nicely as a potential defensive option.

SYDNEY SWANS ACADEMY:

Fixtures:

R3: vs. Tasmania Devils @ Blacktown International Sportspark, Blacktown
R4: vs. GWV Rebels @ Highgate Recreation Reserve, Craigieburn
R5: vs. Eastern Ranges @ Box Hill City Oval, Box Hill
R6: vs. Oakleigh Chargers @ Warrawee Park, Bundoora

AFLW Academy members: Madeleine Quinn
All Stars representatives: Emma Juneja, Ellie Veerhuis
2024 Allies representatives: Lauren Bull, Emma Juneja, Ella Parker, Madeleine Quinn, Taylor Smith, Ellie Veerhuis, Taya White

It will be an exciting few years from the Swans Academy who have a balance of over-age, top-age and bottom-age prospects likely to produce some big things over the four-game campaign. Focusing on the draft-eligible players first, top-age ruck Madeleine Quinn is a terrific around the ground tall who can impact not just in the air but at ground level and has explosive speed for her size to take the game on.

The Swans have welcome back a host of over-age prospects with Emma Juneja and Ellie Veerhuis both among the best from the All Stars on the weekend and really should have landed on AFLW lists last season. Ella Parker kicked goals for fun in the Summer Series, while Taya White is a defensive option and forward duo Lauren Bull and Taylor Smith return again too.

However despite the volume of over-agers, there are still some exciting draftable Swans prospects in 2025. Alex Neyland is ready to explode as a tall forward who can clunk big grabs and kick long-range goals with ease. She is a little raw still, but along with Grace Parsons will provide headaches for any opposition defence. Midfield options Kiera Yerbury and Molly Thomas are a couple of other names looking to press their draft case this season.

The major watch will be on bottom-age speedster Charlotte Tidemann who presents as one of the top prospects from her draft crop with that explosiveness underpinning her game. For those who like the sentimental elements of football, eligible Swan and Pie under the father-daughter rule Jordan Davis (Nick) will also get her chances, and like her dad is a goalsneak.