A POWERFUL fourth quarter resulted in Team Vescio getting the chocolates over Team Conti in the 2025 National AFL Future Girls clash at Ikon Park yesterday. The result itself is essentially irrelevant, with the main goal to showcase the 2026 AFLW Draft crop, and the entertaining showcase certainly did that.

Unsurprisingly, goalkicking machines Bailee Martin and Majella Day booted the first two goals of the game for their respective sides, though Martin’s major after a smart one-on-one in the goalsquare was the only six-pointer for Team Vescio in the first half as Conti raced to a 14-point lead. Day had her second, and when Northern Knights speedster Maddison Meagher slotted one from a classy finish, the side was up and about.

Naturally the game saw plenty of rotations and both sides shuffle the magnets to give recruiters an idea of where the talent lies next season. Though the game missed arguably half a dozen of its first round prospects, there was still no shortage of talent on display.

South Australian midfielder Lucy Moore (23 disposals, three tackles, one clearance and 10 inside 50s) was outstanding throughout the match to win Conti’s MVP for the game, while Vescio key defender Grace Tracey earned her side’s top honour. Tracey overcame injury throughout her double bottom-age campaign to produce some strong performances, nab an Allies spot and then one in the Under 17 Futures.

Tracey finished with 16 disposals, four marks, five tackles and eight rebound 50s, while Moore was influential in linking midfield into attack, notching up a game-high 23 disposals and 10 inside 50s, while also narrowly missing a couple of chances on goal when rotated forward in the last term.

Vescio kicked four of the first five goals of the fourth quarter, with Ruby Lynch‘s first minute major a relief for the talented tall, having shanked a kick from a closer distance the quarter before. Thankfully for Moore’s Woodville-West Torrens teammate, it landed in the arms of Jorja Davey – niece of former AFL players Aaron and Alwyn Sr – and the Northern Territory prospect drilled the major.

Lynch’s long-range set shot was perhaps even bettered by West Perth’s Lexi Strachan who launched one from the paint of 50 and it bounced home obligingly. Then it was up to Martin to finish off, kicking two goals in two minutes to hand Team Vescio a nine-point lead. Day finished off with her third, and Conti kept attacking with a couple of near misses including a poster from skipper Zoe Curry who hit the post, before Gippsland Power’s Grace Dillow booted the match-winner for Vescio in the final three minutes.

The only sour note of the game was Murray Bushrangers midfielder/defender Sophia Green coming off after a big collision on the wing, though despite fears of a stretcher, she was able to walk off in the hands of the trainers. Naturally she played no further part in the showcase.

Aside from Tracey, Dillow (17 disposals, five tackles, four clearances and a goal), Strachan (15 disposals, seven tackles, five clearances, four inside 50s and a goal) and Evie Ward (20 disposals, two marks, two tackles, three clearances and two rebound 50s) were all lively rotating through the middle.

Providing run from defence was Giants Academy utility Darcie Prosser-Shaw and West Australian Heidi Ireland, while winger Summer Browning added dash, getting the ball forward to Martin and fellow tall forward Aiyana Pritchard who showed off her athletic gifts in the air and in transition to finish wiht 15 touches, five marks and six inside 50s.

For Team Conti, Curry lead by example with 19 disposals, two marks, six tackles, four clearances and five inside 50s, while Lions Academy talent Mia Geere (19 disposals, four marks, five tackles, three clearances and three inside 50s) was also busy. Eastern Ranges pair Scout Semple and Emily Rankin, Swans Academy speedster Charlotte Tidemann and Geelong Falcons utility Ava Bilyk also had their moments.

TEAM VESCIO 1.3 | 1.4 | 2.5 | 7.6 (48)
TEAM CONTI 1.2 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 5.11 (41)

GOALS:
Team Vescio: B. Martin 3, G. Dillow, L. Strachan, J. Davey, R. Lynch
Team Conti: M. Day 3, E. Rankin, M. Meagher

RMC BEST:
Team Vescio: G. Tracey, G. Dillow, A. Pritchard, L, Strachan, B. Martin, E. Ward
Team Conti: L. Moore, Z. Curry, E. Rankin, M. Geere, S. Semple, C. Tidemann