FINALLY prevailing after two tough losses, Western Australia came away with the all-important win against Vic Metro at Shark Park, handing the visitors their first loss of the 2025 AFLW Under 18 Championships in the process. We took note of some of the players who caught the eye in the game with all notes the opinion of the individual author.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA:

#2 Mel Grage (Perth)
Forward | 165cm | 28/03/2008

Stats: 9 disposals, 3 marks, 5 tackles, 3 inside 50s

Might not have been a huge production game, but liked what Grage offered in the front half. Not just a crumbing type, Grage has really strong hands above her head and looked the most threatening at times particularly around the half-forward mark. She applied pressure and worked to space well, playing her role effectively.

#5 Ella Gilbey (Claremont)
Forward/Wing | 169cm | 12/02/2007

Stats: 10 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles, 1 clearance, 3 inside 50s

Another forward out of Western Australia – spending time on a wing – who did well in spreading across the ground and finding space. After a relatively quiet first half, her second half was sensational, laying a run-down tackle on Bown to win the free kick, and taking a couple of marks in space. She did spill a chest mark in the dying moments but fortunately did not cost her, with that being a rare blemish. Otherwise she was clean at ground level and fantastic defensively.

#7 Mia Russo (West Perth)
Midfielder | 165cm | 06/08/2007

Stats: 17 disposals, 1 mark, 6 tackles, 5 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 2 goals

Best-on for sheer impact particularly through the middle quarters where she played on-ball and pushed hard forward to kick two goals. She converted her state’s first major right before half-time by marking in space, then ran in and slotted her second off some clever team play which featured a one-two and some candy selling. WAs strong in the middle and not only won clearances, but laid some strong tackles and did pretty much everything you could hope for playing on-ball.

#8 Charli Bassett (East Perth)
Forward | 156cm | 19/11/2008

Stats: 13 disposals, 2 tackles, 3 inside 50s

Worked well in tandem with Grage to just keep popping up at different points. The East Perth bottom-ager is small in stature but loves to throw herself at the contest and uses the ball well going forward. She went for distance at times in the conditions trying to shovel it forward, and put it into effective positions on multiple occasions. Has some lightning hands as well.

#10 Juliet Kelly (Claremont)
Midfielder | 171cm | 28/07/2007

Stats: 16 disposals, 14 tackles, 2 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

Crashed and bashed her way around the stoppages to lay another ridiculous 14 tackles. She was often locking up opponents or feeding the ball out to teammates, though got the occasional time and space to kick forward which was great to see. She does not panic under pressure on the inside, able to pick the right option by hand even when pausing and then making the decision through traffic well. On of the better Sandgropers again and having a consistent carnival.

#12 Mia Carlshausen (Perth)
Defender | 171cm | 10/04/2008

Stats: 13 disposals, 1 mark, 1 tackle, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

Was particularly busy early with Vic Metro attacking hard and constantly provided solid run and carry out of the back half. She looked to surge forward every chance she got, but additionally showed an intent for second and third efforts. Can take risks by foot at times, but generally can be really damaging with her disposal, hitting targets further afield and clearing the danger.

#15 Renee Morgan (South Fremantle)
Midfielder | 168cm | 04/05/2007

Stats: 15 disposals, 1 mark, 8 tackles, 6 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

Won a lot of her touches in close and did not have a lot of room to move, feeding the ball out to teammates. She won a great holding the ball free on Bown with a big tackle and while her usual effective kicking was a tough more hit-and-miss than usual, the conditions made life tricky. Was great defensively, and won her fair share of clearances getting first hands to it the most of any WA player,

#17 Alicia Blizard (East Fremantle)
Tall Forward | 174cm | 15/11/2007

Stats: 13 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 4 inside 50s

Played her best game of the national championships thus far as that lead-up half-forward where she did a lot of great work at ground level. She was ultra-clean in wet conditions and her defensive pressure – which she prides herself on – was top notch again. She set up Russo’s first goal with nice vision and a short kick inboard and generally used the ball well going forward. Still working on that overhead marking, but looked to safely take it on the chest several times and the load up to kick forward.

#20 Carys D’Addario (Swan Districts)
Midfielder | 168cm | 01/03/2007

Stats: 17 disposals, 9 tackles, 4 clearances, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50

Did not do a lot wrong throughout the course of the match, playing her typical inside role and applying the pressure she has become known for over the journey. Strong and clean hands both off the tap and at ground level, she mostly won the ball around the coalface and extracted it from there. D’Addario set up an Olivia Wolmarans shot for goal with a nice kick inside 50 during the second term and played her part in the team’s win.

#29 Heidi Ireland (Peel Thunder)
Defender | 171cm | 14/08/2008

Stats: 14 disposals, 8 tackles, 2 clearances, 1 inside 50, 3 rebound 50s

A lot of her work stood out live compared to watching on a replay because she always did the team things and just laid some strong tackles locking the ball up. While her efficiency could have been improved, she almost always was under immense pressure out of the back 50 and had to dispose of it desperately to clear the immediate danger. Laid a great holding the ball tackle in the middle during the fourth term and played her role well shutting down her opponents.

#31 Cara Dziegielewski (West Perth)
Ruck | 181cm | 19/04/2008

Stats: 12 disposals, 2 marks, 8 tackles, 22 hitouts, 1 clearance, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal, 1 behind

Another really effective game from the West Perth ruck who is enjoying a promising bottom-age carnival. Going up against a couple of quality athletes, Dziegielewski held her own at the ruck contest, then did well to follow up with some tackles once the ball hit the deck. She won a holding the ball free on Allen, and always brought the heat. Her starring moment was an incredible goal under immense pressure in the forward pocket where she created something out of nothing to sail home.

VIC METRO:

#3 Tayla McMillan (Eastern Ranges)
Midfielder | 162cm | 25/05/2007

Stats: 20 disposals, 3 marks, 9 tackles, 5 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 4 rebound 50s

A standout for Vic Metro, McMillan was the creative facilitator for her team, driving the ball forward on multiple occasions and transitioning from the inside to the outside. She not only impacted with ball in hand, but also laid fierce tackles, locking it up and buying time for her team too. Her third quarter centre clearance to set up Bamford for a goal was brilliant and even late in the game she did all she could to win it at half-forward and place the ball into goal-scoring areas.

#7 Marlo Graham (Northern Knights)
Forward/Midfielder | 165cm | 15/11/2007

Stats: 23 disposals, 1 mark, 10 tackles, 3 clearances, 1 inside 50, 3 rebound 50s

Came into the side and impacted like she had missed barely any footy, picking up where she left off for the Knights. Graham laid a massive 10 tackles and was constantly getting into the right spots rotating between half-forward and on-ball. She had a couple of early chances that could not quite go through the big sticks or in one case just bounced off Bailee Martin‘s chest close to the line, but looked like scoring at that point. She showed clean and quick hands under pressure and made good decisions as well.

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

Stats: 16 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 2 clearances, 2 inside 50s

Ran hard from the back half and pushed up to the stoppages at times, working into space well and being clean in the wet. Allen had a big first term when the rain was at its heaviest, then finished strong as well with some desperate plays trying to drag her side over the line. Became an option in transition, showed clean hands and while she lacked time and space to have her usual impact by foot, still added value by spreading the field.

#13 Chloe Thorn (Oakleigh Chargers)
Defender | 167cm | 07/09/2007

Stats: 16 disposals, 1 mark, 4 tackles, 2 clearances, 1 inside 50, 6 rebound 50s

Played an important role behind the ball to mop up and apply pressure before clearing time and time again. Really stood out in the second term with her second efforts and thwarting the odd forward foray from the Sandgropers. Her contested mark in the opening term was brilliant and she ran the game out well by being that rebounding defender who also pushed up the ground to be an option.

#14 Olivia Gorman (Northern Knights)
Midfielder | 168cm | 25/10/2007

Stats: 16 disposals, 3 tackles, 5 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Played an important role through the middle and became even more important with Chloe Baker-West going down. She won her fair share of clearances and always put her head over the ball. She was forced to throw it on the boot at times with her ball-winning often at the coalface, but she also applied just as much pressure on the opposition, winning an important holding the ball free kick on D’Addario in the fourth term.

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

Stats: 19 disposals, 2 inside 50s

Usually a lovely kick of the ball, Johnson was not able to have the same impact offensively and even put it out on the full a couple of times. However her impact transcended sheer stats because she worked into space and when she did win it, was put under serious pressure. She worked a lot through unrewarded running and looked to transition the ball consistently. A lot of players were down on their usual efficiency due to the conditions, but Johnson still popped up to play her role through the non-negotiables.

#23 Alex McBride-Loane (Western Jets)
Tall Defender | 174cm | 03/04/2007

Stats: 13 disposals, 1 mark, 4 tackles, 4 rebound 50s

McBride-Loane was an important pillar in defence, saving at least a couple of potential West Australian goals by dropping into hole and intercepting, or reading the ball better than her opponent. While only credited with one mark, the Jets tall won a fair bit of the ball ether off the deck, by handball receive or through defensive pressure where she won a couple of holding the ball free kicks. Defended bravely when under siege at times.

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

Stats: 23 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 8 clearances, 1 rebound 50

Another star who though her kicking efficiency might have been down with a few uncharacteristic misses, she was still very good for Vic Metro. She racked up the ball as always and was often in and under with 13 groundballs the most of any player on the field. Her hands were exceptional in close and she often fed the ball to teammates on the outside or kept the ball moving quickly. Did get pinged holding the ball three times, but one or two of those were dreadfully unlucky. Her willingness to take the game on brings those risks as a double-edged sword, but when it pays off Bown is able to bomb the ball long off either side of her body which is a massive benefit for her team.

#29 Josephine Bamford (Eastern Ranges)
Ruck | 182cm | 03/06/2007

Stats: 12 disposals, 4 tackles, 11 hitouts, 1 clearance, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 1 goal

Started forward and rotated into the ruck at times to have some nice plays. Her third term goal from a quick snap about 35m out was fantastic and she showed great second efforts the rest of the match. Not a massive ball-winner compared to some of her games, but she was clean on the inside and fired off handballs well in order for teammates to run, and did get down to win the ball below her knees as well.