A REMATCH of last year’s effective decider takes place in the opening round with reigning champions Vic Metro playing host to the previous back-to-back title-winners South Australia. We preview the match between the two sides that again will be among the top states in this year’s carnival

NEED TO KNOW

Date: Sunday, June 22
Venue: RSEA Park
Time: 1:50pm
Live stream: AFL.com.au or the AFL app

PREDICTED LINEUPS:

Vic Metro:

B: Isabelle Creaton – Zara Neuwirth – Chloe Thorn
HB: Brylee Anderson – Alex McBride-Loane – Jordyn Allen
C: Asher Fearn-Wannan – Olivia Gorman – Scarlett Johnson
HF: Zoe Wilkinson – Sienna Sharp – Olivia Jesser
F: Phoebe Hargreaves – Bailee Martin – Kiara Boyd
R: Josephine Bamford – Chloe Bown – Tayla McMillan
INT: Isobella Hishongwa-Gibb – Teagan Murtic – Amy Smith – Zoe Vozzo – Macy Watkins

Top-agers missing: Chloe Baker-West, Jade McLay, Marlo Graham, Storm Johnson, Bree Horne

South Australia:

B: Tessa Davis – Miyu Endersby – Emily Mableson
HB: Sophie Thredgold – Charli Hazelhurst – Sophie Eaton
C: Monique Bessen – Lucy Moore – Charlee Brooksby
HF: Imogen Trengove – Polly Turner – Layla Vizgaudis
F: Julia Faulkner – Chloe Tonkin – Eloise Mackereth
R: Taya Maxwell – Emma Charlton – Georgie Fielder
INT: Tara Lord – Summer Ross – Lucy Waye – Lily Baxter – Lily Smart

Top-agers missing: Mikaylah Antony, Lottie Almond

ONES TO WATCH

Chloe Bown (Oakleigh Chargers)
Midfielder | 173cm | 20/12/2007

The tall midfielder is able to impact the game through her ability to exit stoppages on either side of her body, and also go forward and hit the scoreboard when required. Bown is a natural ball-winner who can extract from the coalface then get into space and begin scoring chains, and could be the key to getting on top in a deep midfield given the senior experience of the Croweaters.

Jordyn Allen (Eastern Ranges)
Defender/Wing | 167cm | 12/11/2007

South Australia is very good at locking the ball in its front half, so a player with Allen’s composure, decision making and skills will be very important coming out of defence. The Eastern Ranges jet explodes from half-back and can play up the ground, but most importantly hits targets by hand or foot. A player who will no doubt be utilised by her teammates to exit the back 50.

Scarlett Johnson (Northern Knights)
Wing/Defender | 175cm | 26/11/2007

As versatile as they come, the former forward has been a revelation since moving onto a wing and rotating between there and half-back. At 175cm, Johnson competes incredibly well overhead and has a lovely kick to-boo. Will be a tough matchup with the way she covers the ground and runs both ways. Will be damaging if she can link up effectively with Allen.

Sophie Eaton (Central District)
Midfielder/Forward | 170cm | 23/04/2007

Set to play off half-back, the supreme ball user will be tasked with her side’s defensive 50 exits. Eaton is a natural outside prospect who has spent time across all three lines. A premiership player at 16 for Central District and having represented the Croweaters since then as well – captaining and winning her side’s MVP a couple of years back – Eaton is no stranger to impressing at representative level.

Eloise Mackereth (Glenelg)
Tall Forward | 173cm | 17/07/2007

Mackereth tends to go to another level in representative games and it is where she has played her best football. Having had her struggles at times through the SANFLW season, she showed her class for the National Academy in game one with three goals and will be another prime target here. Kicked goals for fun last year and is so naturally talented when able to get on a lead or leap at the ball.

Charli Hazelhurst (Norwood)
Tall Utility | 176cm | 02/07/2007

Another incredibly versatile player at SANFLW for Norwood, Hazelhurst should slot into a centre half-back position where she has played most of her footy. She reads the ball well in flight, has a great leap and safe hands, while also an explosive first few steps. Hazelhurst will have to take one of Vic Metro’s athletic marking forwards.

WHERE IT’S WON

Like most games, the match should be decided in the middle. Both sides have incredible talent through there with the South Australian side of course battle hardened against senior opposition each week. The bottom-age crop that did not play at the Under 18s carnival steps up and there’s so much quality in that group. Emma Charlton (sister of Adelaide’s Teah), Georgie Fielder and Lucy Moore are all bottom-agers named in the starting midfield, is as the uniquely athletic Taya Maxwell.

Maxwell will have the strength over pretty much any ruck in the competition, so can do well at hte stoppages around the ground and ridiculously uses both sides of her body effectively. There is no doubt the class of Tayla McMillan and Chloe Bown should standout with Olivia Gorman likely to be that first-possession winner. If they can get it forward, then Bailee Martin is a nightmare match, having averaged five goals at Coates Talent League Girls level.

Naturally the smarts and ball use of Eaton, Charlee Brooksby (sister of Molly) and Monique Bessen on the outside delivering inside 50 will make life difficult for the Vic Metro defenders. Eligible father-daughter to Adelaide and Carlton Polly Turner along with Chloe Tonkin are two of the best contested marks for their age, and should free up Mackereth to take a third tall.

PREDICTION

South Australia always has a strong lead-up to the carnival and though Vic Metro is a genuine title contender at this tournament, the Croweaters’ depth looks too much to overcome. Across all six sides, South Australia has the best ‘bottom six’ with some quality players still missing out. The scary aspect for opposing sides is most of the team will be there again next year. South Australia by 16 points.