ONE OF the biggest rounds of SANFL Women’s in 2025 from a sheer State Academy standpoint, there was no shortage of prospective players for the upcoming AFLW Under 18 Championships selection. From a couple of debutants to some others returning to the fold, quite a few had big games.

All notes are the opinion of the individual author.

WEST ADELAIDE:

#3 Lucy Waye (Forward)

Stats: 16 disposals, 6 marks (2 contested), 7 tackles, 2 clearances, 1 inside 50, 2 rebound 50s, 1 goal, 1 behind

Waye continues to impact games in a multitude of way and has quickly moved her way up the South Australian pecking order. Highly regarded for her work rate and contest to contest running, Waye is highlight competitive, can win it in the air or at ground level, and will make life difficult for her opponents. Her clutch goal early in the fourth term from a set shot after copping contact from two Sturt defenders was all clash. Waye almost kicked another goal in the 15th minute as well but it just drifted for a behind.

#4 Emily Mableson (Defender/Midfielder)

Stats: 16 disposals, 1 mark, 7 tackles, 2 clearances, 1 inside 50, 2 rebound 50s

Was very strong defensively in the clash which is something you can always rely on from the 2024 South Australian Under 16s MVP. Though having less of an impact offensively, her pressure induced mistakes from the Double Blues, and she has the smarts to influence the contest in other ways. Still moved well and showed great technique by hand or foot.

#14 Chloe Tonkin (Ruck/Forward)

Stats: 16 disposals, 4 marks (4 contested), 1 tackle, 16 hitouts, 3 clearances, 6 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Tonkin has adapted to life as that starting ruck before going forward to provide a target when resting. She was decisive in her tap work, not afraid to lay some big tackles, even if she was reprimanded for one such tackle on Bessen during the second term. Her aerial ability has always been the main feature of her game – taking another four contested marks – but is consistently finding the ball around the ground in a few different ways.

STURT:

#4 Summer Ross (Wing)

Stats: 15 disposals, 3 marks, 4 tackles, 3 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 1 goal

The hard-running wing became a match-winner with a sensational finish off the trusty left, evading a defender with her pace to slot a go-ahead goal in the 12th minute of the final term. While that kick will be the one remembered from the match, Ross was very good all game, applying pressure and finding the ball in each third of the ground. A couple of times she had to take a little bit to gather under pressure, but backed herself and speed to get out of trouble.

#7 Lily Whiteman (Forward)

Stats: 13 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackles, 2 clearances, 1 inside 50, 2 rebound 50s

The Under 16s talent made her debut and played a similar role to the late out Georgia Swan would have played. Predominantly forward, but working right up the ground, Whiteman found space, got involved and was lively all game. Her execution was off trying to adapt to League level with a number of turnovers, but kept working hard throughout the four quarters.

#16 Monique Bessen (Midfielder/Forward)

Stats: 29 disposals, 5 marks, 5 tackles, 6 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 1 goal

The standout State Academy member for the weekend, Bessen was simply sensational and back to her damaging best. She rotated between attack and midfield and influenced everywhere, including with a classy finish inside 50 early on. For a full recap on her performance, check out our Player Focus.

>> Player Focus: Monique Bessen (Sturt)

#17 Sophie Thredgold (Midfielder)

Stats: 11 disposals, 2 marks (1 contested), 6 tackles, 4 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Not her biggest game, but still was there to contribute as the likes of Bessen, Isobel Kuiper and the two wings found the bulk of the ball. She got caught holding the ball trying to burst clear from the stoppage a couple of times but that is her gamestyle that can pay dividends. When she does have it, her hands through traffic are clean and she is a powerful runner.

#25 Edwina Thornquest (Forward)

Stats: 10 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 2 hitouts, 1 inside 50

Provided a target inside 50 and lead out at the ball. She is not a high accumulator normally, so getting involved up the ground was a promising sign. She had a chance on goal early that was rushed through and another chance or two she looked to give off. Competes, which is the main thing for her role.

#26 Lily Smart (Wing)

Stats: 19 disposals, 4 marks, 6 tackles, 2 clearances, 8 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

If it had not been for Bessen’s performance, Smart would have been the standout Academy player with the way she ran up and down the wing and used her speed to best advantage. She won as many disposals (19) as she did in her first three games combined, so it showed the super athlete was ready to make her mark at League level. Her running capacity and work rate has never been in question, just the positioning to win the ball, and she certainly did that in all manner of ways. A fantastic performance with plenty of metres gained.

CENTRAL DISTRICT:

#3 Miyu Endersby (Ruck/Defender)

Stats: 3 disposals, 1 mark, 7 tackles, 13 hitouts

It was always going to be a tough day out against Soriah Moon who most if not all, would regard as the benchmark ruck in the competition. While that meant Endersby was less likely to get her hands on it, she still applied the non-negotiables of defensive pressure at ground level and competed, trying to use her athleticism to win it down for her teammates which she did a solid job of all things considered.

#9 Charlotte Maurits (Forward)

Stats: 15 disposals, 3 marks, 4 tackles, 1 clearance, 5 inside 50s

Her highest production game of the season, Maurits worked up the ground out of attack and was clean at ground level and looked to pump the ball inside 50 at every cost. While her composure adapting to the level is still a work in progress, she is a classy player as she showed at 16s level so will only get better in that regard. A busy performance.

#12 Sophie Eaton (Forward/Midfielder)

Stats: 19 disposals, 4 marks (1 contested), 2 tackles, 1 clearance, 3 inside 50s, 1 behind

Started forward and had 101-gamer Jaslynne Smith for company in the match, taking a strong mark over her more experienced opponent at half-back. She looked to work over Smith up and down the ground with her sensational endurance base, and got into ball-winning positions. Rather than be purely inside, Eaton roamed around and was more utilised in a facilitator role to pinpoint targets in transition. She did that well and finished the game as one of the more productive players.

#31 Tara Lord (Midfielder/Forward)

Stats: 11 disposals, 4 tackles, 2 clearances, 2 inside 50s

Took Eaton’s role on the inside in order to provide a bigger body in there, and went opposed to Charlton to start with in order to use her strength on her in-form opponent. Eventually Dakota Williams would roll onto the Charlton matchup, as Lord rotated between midfield and going forward, using the ball well in transition. A lovely kick to set up Katelyn Rosenzweig for a goal early was a perfect start. Not a huge accumulator, but does some nice things.

#54 Mikaylah Antony (Defender)

Stats: 12 disposals, 5 marks, 2 tackles, 3 rebound 50s

Is building into the season since coming back from a hip injury that delayed her start to the year. The top-age rebounding defender intercepted time and time again both in the air and in mopping up, and held a high line at times to keep pressure on the opposition defence. Antony has some nice traits with her positioning, vision and execution all right up there with the best and she plays her role to a t.

SOUTH ADELAIDE:

#8 Hope Taylor (Forward/Wing)

Stats: 10 disposals, 2 marks, 1 tackle, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

A high impact-per-possession player, Taylor does not need a lot of the ball to have memorable moments. Usually clean and quite tough, she found the ball in the forward half of the ground between wing and half-forward, though ran back to assist the defence when required. Boasting quick hands and a smart thinker, Taylor has been a nice inclusion to the Panthers side and is deservedly holding her spot.

#19 Taya Maxwell (Utility)

Stats: 17 disposals, 3 marks (2 contested), 3 tackles, 13 hitouts, 7 clearances, 6 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Will be an intriguing prospect for next season as she can do just about anything. With the frame of a key position player, but the athleticism of a smaller prospect, Maxwell is a nightmare for most opposition coaches. While she benefited from more work going into Charlton, Maxwell is the hardest to matchup on from an opposition perspective, and she showed when in the ruck or acting as a midfielder she can find plenty of the ball in close and thump the ball forward to clear the danger zone. Can sometimes go for distance over precision, but has a powerful kick and her including spin out of a contest copping contact and putting it on the left to pump it inside 50 at one stage was incredible for a player of her size.

#20 Layla Vizgaudis (Midfielder/Forward)

Stats: 19 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 2 clearances, 3 inside 50s

Started on-ball and just goes about her business well. Her skills and decision making set her apart and she is one of those players that when she does turn the ball over, it is almost affronting such is its rarity. She can pull and weight kicks, find space and is not afraid to punch above her weight on the inside. A classy player with upside.

#25 Emma Charlton (Midfielder/Forward)

Stats: 22 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles, 8 clearances, 1 inside 50

Central District threw a few things at Charlton to quell her influence, and it did work for a time with less freedom to run into space and hit targets going forward. However you cannot keep a player of her ability down for long and the sister of Adelaide’s Teah worked into the game and as the defensive focus on her waned, she was far more influential around the coalface and finished with the second most touches on the ground.

#56 Lily Baxter (Forward)

Stats: 13 disposals, 3 marks, 1 tackle, 2 inside 50s, 1 goal

Speaking of skills, Baxter is certainly one that can hit targets and do a lot of damage forward of centre. She used the ball well and showed great follow-up ability throughout the match. Her scoreboard impact came in the 14th minute of the third term where, against the flow, she received a handball from Lauren Clifton on the run and she delivered truly. Ran hard as that high half-forward to even get behind the ball and win a few touches and get it moving too.

#60 Marley Tape (Defender)

Stats: 9 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 1 clearance, 2 rebound 50s

An unassuming player who has some nice traits but is largely focused on nullifying her opponent. She went head-to-head with her Under 16s teammate Maurits at times and produced a good spoil on the fellow teenager late in the first half. While not winning a heap of it, Tape just plays her role and does what she needs to.

NORTH ADELAIDE:

#3 Bailey Murray (Defender/Midfielder)

Stats: 11 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles, 2 clearances, 1 rebound 50

Murray’s defensive pressure and intent is what stood out in this match with her tackling superb, especially her elite run-down tackle on Sarah Branford to save a goal late in the second term. She is a neat user who is getting some midfield minutes, with the top-ager a clean and clever player out of the back half of the ground.

#5 Polly Turner (Forward)

Stats: 12 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 1 hitout, 1 clearance, 3 inside 50s

The potential Adelaide and Carlton father-daughter is still a work in progress from the finished product with plenty of exciting signs as it stands. When she wins the ball she is very quick at disposing of it, or when tackled getting her hands free to dish off. While not kicking a goal herself, she set up a couple of teammates and kept presenting up the ground. Further developing her positioning and getting into more beneficial spots inside 50 will be a way for her to make herself more damaging.

#35 Caitlin Hardin (Midfielder)

Stats: 12 disposals, 4 marks, 5 tackles, 3 clearances, 1 inside 50

Has not missed a beat since coming into the Roosters League side and once again was busy across the ground. She is a lovely kick of the ball, has natural smarts and is clean in close. Still a double bottom-ager coming off her Under 16s campaign, Hardin is a well-rounded player who can win it on the inside, outside, and as a first or second-possession winner.

NORWOOD:

#14 Kate Alexander (Ruck)

Stats: 5 disposals, 1 mark, 4 tackles, 18 hitouts, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Competed well in the ruck and had a few nice touches early including a clean handball off the deck and quick kick inside 50 just outside the stoppage play. While not getting a lot of it across the course of the match, she took a strong intercept mark early in the fourth and used her body well both in the ruck and other contests. Still developing areas of impacting more around the ground but can be a handful in the ruck.

#18 Charlee Brooksby (Defender)

Stats: 8 disposals, 3 marks, 5 tackles, 1 inside 50

After a really productive game against Glenelg, Brooksby was a bit quieter though defended really well. Usually a silky user, she uncharacteristically made a few mistakes by foot or just went okay. That aside, she took a couple of great marks and when the ball hit the deck was on the scene to apply pressure, and with her defensive traits her areas to improve on, it was great to see that part of her game shine.

#39 Charli Hazelhurst (Utility)

Stats: 9 disposals, 6 tackles, 1 clearance

It was a tough day at the office for the talented Hazelhurst who got run-down caught holding the ball twice and then from the second one gave away a 25m encroachment. However her bursting runs are what make her so valuable, so getting caught but trying to create speed on the ball is encouraged more often than not. Also other than that her defensive pressure was very strong and used her booming kick to clear the danger zone on more than a few occasions.

#54 Lottie Almond (Defender)

Stats: 14 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 2 clearances, 4 rebound 50s

A sensational second game from the top-ager who was often under pressure in the back half. The highlight play for her came in the 14th minute of the final term. Despite the game being locked away and against two opponents inside defensive 50, Almond never gave up, locking the ball in there for a stoppage. Showed some nice pressure throughout the match and while opponent Aprille Crooks sometimes got clear of her, Almond held a strong defensive line and worked hard to be one of the best Redlegs.

GLENELG:

#6 Georgie Fielder (Midfielder)

Stats: 15 disposals, 2 marks (1 contested) 7 tackles, 4 clearances, 1 inside 50

Always provides effort and is one who does far better on the inside than the outside as she is a natural see-ball, get-ball player. Capable of winning it via first and second possessions, Fielder held her own and supported Jess Bates through the midfield well in a game where the Bays were strong early before fading. Generally smart and with great vision, Fielder can hold her head high from the game.

#9 Eloise Mackereth (Forward)

Stats: 8 disposals, 3 marks, 2 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 1 goal, 2 behinds

A pressure valve was released after Mackereth finally delivered her first goal for the season which came from a great mark out in front at the top of the goalsquare and subsequent set shot. Her work rate is the main focus of improvement going forward, with Mackereth very good in the air, but still developing her impact on the ground and working up to influence outside attacking 50. However there were some great signs including going back with the flight in a marking contest and being able to take it cleanly at ground level and take a couple of shots on goal that would have been majors had it not been for some terribly unlucky bounces.

#19 Matilda Wilmore (Forward/Midfielder)

Stats: 6 disposals, 4 tackles, 1 inside 50

Got a chance on-ball at one stage against Moore in what was a typical high-pressure performance from Wilmore. Not a high accumulator, Wilmore will always bring repeat efforts and competitiveness and she did that once again.

#33 Tessa Davis (Defender)

Stats: 18 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackles, 8 rebound 50s

Had her work cut out of her in defence particularly with Klaudia O’Neill going on a rampage, but Davis once again found her fair share of the ball and looked to drive it from defence down the ground. She took some kickouts and intercepted, as well as just cleared the danger with important offensive drive. Saved a goal or two with crucial plays deep in defence too.

#48 Charlotte O’Sullivan (Forward)

Stats: 4 disposals, 2 marks, 3 inside 50s

Another debutant for Round 7, the Under 16s prospect was far more impactful than her statline might suggest with her kicking an absolute treat. It was a shame she did not win more of it, because the way she pinpointed targets – and in dangerous positions rather than just playing it safe – was superb. Will be a player of the future.

WOODVILLE-WEST TORRENS:

#4 Julia Faulkner (Forward/Midfielder)

Stats: 11 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 1 goal

Showed some clean hands inside 50 and added both offensively and defensively, with some big tackles and then finishing off with a hard-running goal from the goalsquare. She set up the record-equalling sixth major to O’Neill with a nice kick, and her other highlights included two fend-offs and a clean handball to Trengove for a shot, as well as a great tackle on Ash Dyer-Pietsch to win the ball and dish off quickly.

#7 Maia Freemantle (Wing/Midfielder)

Stats: 17 disposals, 9 tackles, 6 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Balanced her time between the inside and outside where she was fierce with her tackling pressure, then extracted it and also became an option in space. She can rack up possessions unassumingly when playing on-ball, though her best work is done when she can win it on the outside and deliver well going forward. She set up a few forward forays and as a whole had a well-balanced game for the Eagles.

#15 Lucy Moore (Midfielder)

Stats: 17 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 5 clearances, 6 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Another player who continues to put out consistent effort since walking into the strong Eagles midfield. She has some nice toe and though she does not always get to use that speed, is clean in close and able to extract the ball consistently well. She gets forward and attacks, but still has that defensive mindset which is important.

#22 Imogen Trengove (Forward)

Stats: 19 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles, 1 clearance, 6 inside 50s, 3 goals, 1 behind

One of the best across the weekend, Trengove filled her boots through the match with three goals including two in the third term as the Eagles built a big lead on the Bays. She often gets them on the move which is where she does her best work, kicking a couple of absolute ripping goals as well as a clever finish to have a day out up forward. Her contest to contest work and sheer endurance and speed combination is a nightmare for opponents, so Trengove will always present in ball-winning situations, it just comes down to if she is utilised.