WESTERN Australia becomes the first team to wrap up its AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships tomorrow as the Sandgropers hope to move to an even keel of 2-2. Losses to Queensland and South Australia were followed by a nice win over Vic Metro, while the Allies fell short against the latter in a gallant effort after being blown away by Vic Country in game one.

NEED TO KNOW

Date: Sunday, July 19
Venue: Blacktown International Sportspark
Time: 12:00pm AEST
Live stream: AFL.com.au or the AFL app

PREDICTED LINEUPS

Allies:

B: Ava Read – Danika McDonald – Rose Bell
HB: Ella Randall – Morgan Stevens – Charlotte Tidemann
C: Frances Walsh – Priya Bowering – Mischa Barwin
HF: Kiera Yerbury – Alex Neyland – Harriet Bingley
F: Shakaila Gardiner-Dunn – Grace Parsons – Majella Day
R: Madeleine Quinn – Mia Anderson – Isla Wiencke
INT: Zoe Curry – Jessica Owen – Taelah Smith – Molly Thomas – Lucinda Watson

Western Australia:

B: Marie Polimeno – Ava Stewart – Sienna Timmermans
HB: Maya Louvel-Finn – Olivia Crane – Mia Carlshausen
C: Lexi Strachan – Renee Morgan – Sunni-Quay Peters
HF: Layla Quinn-Schofield – Olivia Wolmarans – Lucy Greenwood
F: Alicia Blizard – Mel Grage – Alira Fotu
R: Cara Dziegielewski – Carys D’Addario – Juliet Kelly
INT: Addison Opalinski – Avuya Nomlatyu – Mia Russo – Eva Flynn – Ella Gilbey

CHANGES

Allies:

IN: Ava Read
OUT: Matilda Elbourne

Western Australia:
IN: Addison Opalinski, Eva Flynn,
OUT: Charli Bassett, Heidi Ireland

ANALYSIS

The Allies showed much improvement against Vic Metro compared to Vic Country, having gelled a lot more since game one and almost stole the points in a last quarter comeback. They perhaps would want to start a little better to avoid chasing down a big lead, but the work of Majella Day (three goals) in particular will pose a problem for the West Australian defence.

The inclusion of Tasmanian Ava Read is well deserved, having impressed down back for the Devils this season after representing the Allies as a forward last year. A question will be whether or not her being down back releases Swans Academy talent Alex Neyland or Murray Bushrangers’ Rose Bell to go up forward. Potentially it is just a like-for-like swap with Matilda Elbourne, but all three players can perform up either end.

Western Australia gives two top-age prospects a chance to don the state colours by bringing in the explosive forward Eva Flynn and tall rebounding defender Addison Opalinski. Both prospects can play up on a wing as well, with the Sandgropers also making like-for-like changes with Charli Bassett and Heidi Ireland – both bottom-agers – going out.

The midfield battle will be a fascinating one with both sides boasting readymade onballers. Tasmanian National Academy members Priya Bowering and Mischa Barwin can roll through there and up forward, with Isla Wiencke (Giants Academy), Zoe Curry (Giants and Oakleigh Chargers) and Mia Anderson (Tasmania) all strong inside ball-winners. They face off against the likes of Carys D’Addario, Renee Morgan, Juliet Kelly and the explosive Mia Russo who was able to kick two goals in the Sandgropers’ win over Metro a fortnight ago.

It could be time to shine for tall forward pairing Olivia Wolmarans and Alicia Blizard who will test the Allies’ defence, while Alira Fotu and Lucy Greenwood are others looking for big games in Blacktown. Grace Parsons is one up the other end who can do damage on her day, while Madeleine Quinn has been a target when not in the ruck. The combination of both Quinn and Jessica Owen will outsize Cara Dziegielewski, but the West Perth bottom-ager has been in ripping form for the state team.

PREDICTION

There is genuine belief that the Allies can win it and get on the board in front of home fans. They still have one more match – up against the unbeaten Queensland next week – while Western Australia caps off its carnival. The Sandgropers will rue not quite being able to challenge for a title, but have missed Evie Cowcher in defence. Western Australia by 14 points.