QUEENSLAND finished off its 2025 AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships with an impressive hard-fought victory over South Australia at Prospect Oval on Sunday. As always we took note of a few of the standouts across both sides.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA:

#4 Hope Taylor (South Adelaide)
Forward | 162cm | 26/07/2008

Stats: 10 disposals, 2 marks, 1 tackle, 2 inside 50s, 2 goals, 1 behind

The bottom-age forward kicked a goal in the SANFLW Grand Final and continued her upward trajectory this year with a handy performance for the Croweaters. Finishing with two goals – one from a soccer and another following a 50m penalty, Taylor also set up Eloise Mackereth for a first quarter major too. Nice skills and smarts, the South Adelaide prospect is one with upside for next year.

#6 Lucy Waye (West Adelaide)
Forward | 170cm | 07/06/2007

Stats: 23 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles, 4 clearances, 2 rebound 50s, 1 behind

Waye’s hard-running enables her to play forward but often be found behind the ball or as an extra number at the stoppage, and she has proven she can win the inside or outside ball. Generally using it well, Waye does a little of everything and pops up to be a key link in transition. Had a shot late in the third term that went across the face, but did her best work between the arcs.

#8 Emily Mableson (West Adelaide)
Defender | 171cm | 05/05/2008

Stats: 20 disposals, 1 mark, 4 tackles, 1 clearance, 4 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

After a quieter game two, Mableson reproduced her game one efforts with another big performance. The West Adelaide bottom-ager and Under 16s MVP from last year was often tasked with the kickouts and providing important composure in the back half. Boasting clean hands and a determination to run hard down the field, she could play more aggressive while also working back defensively to apply pressure and remain accountable.

#9 Emma Charlton (South Adelaide)
Midfielder | 160cm | 19/06/2008

Stats: 25 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles, 7 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

A starring role in the loss, Charlton was busy throughout the match accumulating the ball consistently just like she had in her best on ground performance for South Adelaide in the SANFLW Grand Final. She laid a stack of tackles, extracted the ball to teammates and ran hard across the ground to keep the tempo high. Made a few errors by foot, but generally had a big impact wherever she went.

#10 Imogen Trengove (Woodville-West Torrens)
Midfielder/Forward | 164cm | 25/04/2007

Stats: 22 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 4 clearances, 2 rebound 50s, 1 behind

Unfortunately Trengove’s day ended early with injury in the fourth term, but prior to hat had been busy looking to link up between the arcs and get the ball forward at all costs. Her efficiency at times is still an area she is developing, but her running capacity and contest-to-contest work is unrivalled. Has enjoyed a really big carnival and once again rotated between midfield and attack.

#16 Lily Baxter (South Adelaide)
Forward/Wing | 173cm | 04/01/2007

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

One of the most damaging users by foot in the South Australian side, Baxter used the ball well and worked back to assist the defence time and time again. She doesn’t necessarily put up huge numbers, but has a high impact-per-possession and just lowers the eyes well. Set up Mackereth’s second goal with a great kick and does not panic by hand when exiting the back 50.

#21 Julia Faulkner (Woodville-West Torrens)
Midfielder/Forward | 161cm | 06/05/2008

Stats: 16 disposals, 6 tackles, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50

Though the bulk of her work came at the coalface, Faulkner’s key traits of clean hands and fierce pressure were critical when the game was at its hottest. Faulkner has some nice pace to burn as well, but will usually be the first one to the loose ball firing it out to a teammate in a split second. Did well early in the fourth term to beat two opponents when inside 50 and get a handball clear to a teammate for a shot.

#23 Lucy Moore (Woodville-West Torrens)
Midfielder | 164cm | 30/04/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 7 tackles, 4 clearances, 4 inside 50s

Moore is another Eagles bottom-ager with great clean hands and an ability to win the ball both on the inside or outside. She reads the ball off hands well, with a knack to flick off a handball or if there is space, put the jets on and burst forward. Applied terrific pressure throughout the contest and did a lot of great work at ground level. Not able to have too much time and space outside the congestion, Moore played her role to contribute well.

#27 Polly Turner (North Adelaide)
Tall Defender | 178cm | 16/01/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles, 1 rebound 50

The Adelaide and Carlton father-daughter eligible tall produced her best game of the carnival with a great performance at centre half-back. She competed strongly one-on-one and also got proactive to intercept and drive the ball back down the field. A couple of contested marks among her four grabs, Turner was also not afraid to use her deceptive athleticism to step around an opponent and deliver down the ground.

QUEENSLAND:

#2 Aleah Stringer (Bond University/Suns Academy)
Wing | 165cm | 30/01/2007

Stats: 17 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles, 1 clearance, 4 rebound 50s

Stringer’s impact in the match came via her run and carry, as well as her defensive pressure. While her final execution is an area to improve, she has quick hands and gets into ball-winning positions for her team. Stationed on a wing, she did well to fold back defensively, often being there to mop up in the back half. At one stage she looked like having an outstanding play with a couple of running bounces in the second term but unfortunately her kick was smothered. Has traits, just rounding out her game.

#3 Kaiya Hides (Wilston Grange/Lions Academy)
Defender | 166cm | 09/02/2006

Stats: 16 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

The over-age defender has been a reliable source of composure behind the ball. She has the smarts to get into the right spots, and when having time and space, executes by hand or foot well. Her move from an inside role of recent times to half-back – where she has played before along with a running wing role – allows her to use her pace and also defensive pressure to advantage. Takes grass whenever possible to break lines.

#7 Mikayla Nurse (Southport/Suns Academy)
Midfielder/Wing | 168cm | 19/09/2007

Stats: 18 disposals, 3 marks, 4 tackles, 4 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 behind

Another big game from the rising AFLW Draft prospect who continued her transition from wing to midfield, playing the latter in the first half and former in the second half. Nurse set the tone early with a brilliant run-down tackle in the middle, then had a shot on goal off a handball receive midway through the second term that missed to the right. Did a lot of impactful things such as linking up by hand through the middle and often encouraging one-twos to keep the tempo high.

#9 Annabelle Foat (Bond University/Suns Academy)
Midfielder/Forward | 164cm | 23/04/2007

Stats: 11 disposals, 2 tackles, 3 clearances, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal

Foat is not necessarily a recognised goalkicker, but the tough inside midfielder – who played on-ball for the first half and then forward for the second – stepped up to kick a crucial goal in the final term. Gathering it inside 50 midway through the quarter, she extracted the ball then won it back to snap around her body from long-range and cut the deficit back to three points. Always brings effort and runs hard.

#12 Sunny Lappin (Southport/Suns Academy)
Midfielder | 170cm | 28/11/2007

Stats: 32 disposals, 6 marks, 7 tackles, 6 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 8 rebound 50s

The Queensland MVP might have capped off her carnival with her best performance yet. Having only really one semi-quiet game, Lappin has produced three big ones, and her game against South Australia was clearly her best. She ran at 75 per cent disposal efficiency, had more than half of her touches under pressure, and even clunked two contested marks showing great courage. Her performance screamed “clear first rounder” vibes now.

#13 Rhianna Ingram (Southport/Suns Academy)
Defender | 167cm | 20/10/2007

Stats: 20 disposals, 3 tackles, 1 inside 50, 2 rebound 50s

One of a number of Queenslanders who has really had an ultra-consistent year but still somewhat flying under the radar, Ingram paired well with Hides in the back half to provide important run and carry. She played higher up, intercepted, mopped up and had some kickouts too, using the ball exceptionally well. Aside from being run-down in the middle during the third term, hardly put a foot wrong and was a key player for the Maroons.

#21 Alannah Welsh (Southport/Suns Academy)
Forward | 169cm | 23/11/2007

Stats: 7 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 1 inside 50, 2 goals, 2 behinds

After peppering the goals in the last quarter of Queensland’s loss to the Allies, Welsh again stepped up when called upon to do so late. After kicking a very nice goal in the second term from long-range with ease, the National Academy became the match-winner with her ability to use strength close to go while being tackled to throw it on the boot and snap truly. Thrives on the big moments and does not shy away from opportunities.

#26 Georja Davies (Southport/Suns Academy)
Ruck/Midfielder | 185cm | 17/01/2007

Stats: 14 disposals, 2 marks, 7 tackles, 20 hitouts, 6 clearances, 3 inside 50s

In a throwback to her MVP-winning carnival last season, Davies started the game in the ruck then rolled into the midfield later on with Monique Corrigan taking the bulk of the ruck duties. With Davies around the ball, it gave Queensland a different look given her size and she once again showed she was difficult to matchup on. Her efficiency by foot was down on the day, but her tap work and desperation to win the ball was on full display.