VIC COUNTRY will begin its 2025 AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships campaign on Sunday up first against the Allies, having named a 29-strong squad yesterday. As we have with the other states thus far, we profile each of the top-age talents in line to run out for the ‘Big V’.

>> FULL SQUAD: Victorian squads announced for 2025 U18 National Championships

NATIONAL ACADEMY MEMBERS:

Mizuki Brothwell (Dandenong Stingrays)
Defender/Midfielder | 175cm | 22/10/2007

A rapidly developing prospect with high upside, Brothwell has transitioned between half-back and the midfield in 2025, with the National Academy member further strengthening an array of draftable traits. Reading the ball so well in defence, Brothwell often chops off forward forays and then drives it forward with a lovely long kick. Though still developing her contested marking, is a player who will not shy away from a big job each week.

Ella Stoddart (Gippsland Power)
Defender | 174cm | 30/01/2007

Vic Country’s MVP from the Under 16s carnival a couple of years back, Stoddart has been a feature for the Power over the last few seasons. Settled into defence, the powerful left-footer has also spent time through the middle and up forward, with her hands and strength key traits alongside her penetrating left peg. Likely to find plenty of the ball down back and be a distributor turning defence into offence.

TOP-AGE/OVER-AGE TALENTS:

Matilda Argus (Dandenong Stingrays)
Defender/Midfielder | 166cm | 06/01/2007

The explosive half-back who has also transitioned into the midfield at the Stingrays this season has the capacity to play both roles for Vic Country. Her speed on the outside as well as her penetrating left boot allow her to break lines and impact the game down the ground. She has shown the capacity to play inside or outside and should provide nice transition from high half-back.

Ava Bibby (Bendigo Pioneers)
Key Position Utility | 186cm | 09/05/2007

Bibby is a taller version of Lexi Gregor, with the fellow Pioneers star having played across all three lines. Her added athleticism and height enables her to not only compete in the air, but breakaway from smaller players. In 2025 she had started to really build up some big games after being a pure sharpshooter last season. Can take the ball at the highest point and fill in where is required with enormous upside.

Nalu Brothwell (Dandenong Stingrays)
Tall Forward | 174cm | 22/10/2007

After a bottom-age debut season that just kept getting better and better, Brothwell started the Coates Talent League year like a house on fire with some massive performances. She is an athletic tall forward who competes in the air, but is equally capable at ground level. Her vision and execution stands out for a taller player and often sets up more goals than she kicks. Was an inclusion to the National Academy side.

Nikki Clover (GWV Rebels)
Ruck | 179cm | 16/12/2007

One of the surprise packets for the Rebels in season 2025, Clover earned her place in the Vic Country side off the back of rock solid form at Coates Talent League Girls level. She is averaging 17.4 hitouts per game from her eight matches, and while still raw, has shown the potential for upside as a late year born player. Will play a role in the ruck rotation.

Evelyn Connolly (Dandenong Stingrays)
Forward | 169cm | 26/05/2007

One of the leading goalkickers in the Coates Talent League Girls competition, Connolly is a supreme finisher who had a massive preseason to work on her endurance and have a greater impact up the ground. That enabled the Stingrays forward to get involved around the stoppages at times, with her footy IQ and forward craft a couple of her standout qualities. Will be a handful to matchup on inside 50.

Elsie Conroy (GWV Rebels)
Defender | 172cm | 19/08/2007

The rebounding defender can play on a variety of opponents with a balance of offensive and defensive traits. One of the most prolific rebounders in the Coates Talent League Girls competition, Conroy earned her spot in the squad off the back of consistent performances in the back 50 for the Rebels. At 172cm she competes in the air but scraps at ground level too. Will be key as a specialist defender.

Maya Crestani (Gippsland Power)
Ruck | 184cm | 02/08/2007

Highly rated internally at the Power for her wealth of development over the past 18 months, Crestani will likely get first ruck duties and then rest forward. She competes first and foremost with a nice leap and a good reach, but will apply pressure around the ball too. Expect her to be a target for the defenders down the ground and the carnival is a way for her to further improve.

Rain Dodd (Murray Bushrangers)
Utility | 165cm | 13/01/2007

Arguably the most versatile player in the squad, Dodd has made a name out of filling in any role required of her on-field. Over the years she has spent time in defence, up forward, through the middle or on a wing with traits that allow her to assimilate into a position on any given day. With nice evasion and footy smarts, Dodd might start in defence given the depth in other positions, but will likely switch around.

Rebecca Fitzpatrick (Gippsland Power)
Midfielder/Forward | 172cm | 31/01/2007

The Gippsland Power skipper brings a wealth of leadership and consistency throughout the Coates Talent League Girls competition. Like Dodd, she has shown an ability to play in multiple roles, though has settled into the mid/forward life in 2025. Strong overhead around over the ball, Fitzpatrick will provide 100 per cent effort and competitiveness each and every time she runs out on the field.

Charlotte Gilmore (Dandenong Stingrays)
Wing/Midfielder | 172cm | 21/12/2007

Unfortunately Gilmore has not played since Round 5, but produced a handful of consistent performances for Dandenong both inside and outside of midfield. She has quietly gone about her business over three seasons for the Stingrays and now earns reward for effort, being an inclusion to the Vic Country squad after missing out on the hub. Another versatile player who has the capacity to fill out multiple roles.

Abby Hobson (Gippsland Power)
Tall Forward | 174cm | 11/09/2007

Hobson has gone from strength to strength this season, with only an unfortunate collision keeping her out the last couple of weeks for the Power. She is a contested marking beast who is hard to quell, and though perhaps a few centimetres shorter than true key forwards, has the smarts and strength to overcome that. Watch for her to be one of the main targets inside 50.

Stella Huxtable (Geelong Falcons)
Midfielder/Forward | 172cm | 22/12/2007

The tall midfielder has the capacity to accumulate the ball with ease and was one of the few Vic Country players to represent the state as a bottom-ager. Strong overhead or at ground level, Huxtable is difficult to beat one-on-one and she is smart when in transition to push hard forward and get into space to win the ball. A highly contested player, Huxtable also has a booming kick.

Ella Jeffrey (Bendigo Pioneers)
Midfielder/Defender | 167cm | 09/08/2007

One of the stables of the Pioneers squad this season when others have been out due to injury. Jeffrey is a natural inside midfielder but has spent time as a rebounding defender too, often taking kickouts or being the first target from a kickout. Jeffrey knows how to use the ball and is a well-rounded player who will likely spend more time behind the ball where she can compete hard and set up her team’s offence.

Maggie Johnstone (GWV Rebels)
Midfielder/Forward | 171cm | 06/06/2007

A blistering start to the year saw the GWV Rebels’ top-ager earn a call-up to the All Stars for the second match against the National Academy. Bearing similar traits to Zoe Hargreaves last season, Johnstone has a powerful burst, a booming kick and get play on any line. She does her best work streaming out of the middle, and then when forward can hit the scoreboard with multiple majors. The X-factor in the team.

Meg Lappin (Geelong Falcons)
Tall Utility | 180cm | 21/09/2007

Eligible to Brisbane as a father-daughter prospect thanks to dad Nigel (279 games), Lappin is an ultra-athletic tall who played largely as a forward who pinch-hit in the ruck last season. In 2025, Lappin has gone behind the ball too, showing off her versatility in a defensive role with her experience growing in leaps and bounds. A long-term prospect with upside.

Baia Pugh (Gippsland Power)
Forward/Midfielder | 169cm | 28/03/2007

One of the surprise packets of the season, Pugh has been fantastic for the Power in the way she has transformed into not only a forward who can hit the scoreboard, but getting up around the ball and winning clearances too. Took each opportunity as it came and her last few games for the Power have really stood out. Has a number of exciting traits so will be fascinating to see her at the next level.

Jovie Skewes-Clinton (GWV Rebels)
Tall Utility | 176cm | 15/11/2007

Few players can adapt to an in-game role change like Skewes-Clinton who plays at both ends just for fun. A sizzling and penetrating kick of the ball, she is coming off her highest production game of the season with 27 disposals. Skewes-Clinton does not need that many to hurt opposition teams, playing as a rebounding defender, then going forward and kicking bags for fun. Booted four goals in a term in 2025.

Lillian Snow (Dandenong Stingrays)
Midfielder/Forward | 169cm | 10/07/2007

Snow seems like the perfect swap for Huxtable when one is on-ball, the other is forward. She is so strong overhead for her size and competes like crazy at ground level. Snow gives 100 per cent effort each time she is out on the field, and much like Huxtable, is a left-footer. She has been a key player for a stacked Stingrays outfit this season and is the kind of player who is good for 20 touches and a goal per game.

Nikhita Spiteri (Murray Bushrangers)
Midfielder/Forward | 171cm | 20/07/2007

Given the midfield depth at Country, Spiteri will likely play as a pressure forward who then rotates on-ball to add some extra tenacity in there. One of the most prolific tacklers, Spiteri has worked hard for the spot and is crucial to locking the ball inside the attacking half. Player almost exclusively forward in readiness for the champs on the weekend and has the smarts to find gaps inside 50.

Chelsea Sutton (Gippsland Power)
Forward/Midfielder | 169cm | 16/11/2007

Has hardly put a foot wrong for the Power over the last couple of years and is yet another player who can go forward or through the middle with a strong frame to win groundballs and contested possessions. Knows where the goals are and often converts, with Sutton getting into nice marking positions. There’s a few of them, but Sutton is another strong mark for her size.

Georgia Tyrrell (Geelong Falcons)
Midfielder | 168cm | 04/08/2007

Geelong Falcons’ skipper had a purple patch for a fortnight a couple of weeks back with two games either side of 40 disposals. She is an inside ball-winning star who is as courageous as they come. Expect double-digit tackles and great on-field leadership. Tyrrell makes good decisions with ball in hand and is capable of rolling to half-back and fill out a position there too when not on-ball.

BOTTOM-AGE TALENTS:

Vic Country has half a dozen bottom-agers in the squad with a few of them looming as top talents for next season. Dandenong Stingrays’ dominance in the region looks set to continue with running defender Ruby Geurts and midfielder/forward Alice Cunnington obvious inclusions, while developing ruck Sophie White was also rewarded for her form.

Murray Bushrangers ball-winning machine Sophia Green is most likely to be behind the ball when rotated into the team and has the freedom with her ability to use it well in transition. Gippsland Power’s Grace Dillow would be primed for the other end of the ground – though can roll through the middle too – with that touch of class, while Falcons key forward Greea McKeegan is a high-upside marking forward.

FIXTURES

Round 1: vs. Allies | Sun June 22 @ Trevor Barker Beach Oval
Round 2: vs. Queensland | Sat June 28 @ Brighton Homes Arena
Round 3: vs. Vic Metro | Sun July 20 @ RSEA Park
Round 4: vs. South Australia | Sun August 10 @ TBC (South Australia)