ROUND 1 of the 2026 NSW/ACT Women’s Under 22 Summer Series is in the books with both Academy sides recording impressive wins over AFL Canberra and AFL Sydney. The Swans Academy crushed the former by 138 points – restricting them to just one behind – while the Giants Academy overcame a third term fight back to defeat AFL Sydney by 35 points.

We took note of some of the top performers from each of the Academies in our first Scouting Notes of the year.

SWANS ACADEMY:

#1 Charlotte Tidemann
Midfielder/Defender | 169cm | 08/08/2008

The National Academy member was at her damaging best coming off half-back to start with, before becoming a prolific ball-winning midfielder. Having impressed as an outside talent last year, Tidemann showed her inside prowess for the bulk of the game, utilising her explosive speed and running capacity to get to multiple contests and set up scoring chances. Her delivery going inside 50 was strong, and she was clearly one of her side’s best.

#2 Evie Bowie
Midfielder/Forward | 170cm | 31/12/2008

Impressed inside 50 in particularly, then went into the middle and read the ball off hands so exceptionally well. She moves effectively in traffic and has a slick sidestep, while also able to be clean with ball in hand and put it into dangerous positions. Highly touted at the Swans, Bowie is only one day off being a bottom-ager and has plenty of improvement to come which is exciting.

#3 Frances Walsh
Utility | 173cm | 30/01/2008

A tireless worker, the Swans Academy captain seemed to be everywhere at once, with her high running capacity enabling her to drop into defence, or go forward such as when she was a permanent wing last year. Entering the fourth quarter, Walsh started on-ball and still remained involved. She was a touch fumbly in the game compared to usual, but she is coming off an interrupted preseason and despite that fact, never took a backwards step with some great defensive efforts.

#6 Willow Orsini
Small Forward | 153cm | 08/06/2008

At 153cm, you have to be a highly smart prospect to match it against much bigger opponents. Orsini offers just that, finishing with three goals and showing her class around the big sticks. Her first came from a checkside goal 20m out, and then drew two free kicks within 15m to nail both set shots. While her kicking penetration is an area to continue to work on. she was clean by hand and also set up a nice goal to Clark.

#7 Leila Clark
Forward | 164cm | 05/09/2009

Another multiple goalkicker on the day, the bottom-ager got involved throughout the second term kicking back-to-back majors in the space of two minutes. Her first was from a free kick in the goalsquare, but her second was a huge highlight, turning in a tackle and getting boot to ball for it to bounce home in a brilliant play. Clark’s third came via hard running into the goalsquare, but she also set up a six-pointer to Lila Micheletti in the game.

#8 Grace Parsons
Forward/Ruck | 180cm | 10/12/2007

The over-age tall has returned to the Swans Academy after being a draft consideration in 2025 thanks to a State Combine invitation. A lovely ball user by foot, Parsons had the luxury of playing forward and then pinch-hitting in the ruck to give Wain a rest, kicking a goal from a great set shot in the second term. Her field kicking is as good as her set shot work, and while she did miss one attempt from 20m out, it was in a tight angle with plenty of breeze.

#9 Lucinda Watson
Midfielder/Forward | 161cm | 25/11/2007

Watson started the game rolling through the midfield and then rotated forward where she looked lively and ran hard. The over-ager kicked a classy goal in the second term with a quick snap, and then showed her repeat contest work by hitting up Parsons in the corridor from the wing, before pushing to half-forward to mark that next kick. Watson can read the ball well off hands inside 50, and though not tall, makes the most of her strengths, and set up goals to Aurelia Russell and Davis.

#14 Heidi de Saxe
Midfielder/Forward | 165cm | 17/04/2008

Really stepped up in the match and showed what she is capable of doing when fully fit. She ran all day with her elite tank on display, but was able to fit in both midfield and forward. Her exceptionally clean hands are as good as anyone’s, and even when playing on-ball she is able to hit the scoreboard. The Swans top-ager started the second term on-ball, but pushed forward after the initial centre ball-up to nail a brilliant finish. Her kicking when having any time and space was great, and her groundlevel pressure was elite.

#23 Madison McCarthy
Utility | 172cm | 03/07/2009

The sole bottom-ager in the notes, McCarthy covered the ground well and played between defence and midfield. At 172cm she is that in-between height where she is strong enough to play as an intercepting player, but is also a big-bodied onballer when she goes inside. Had a number of touches late in the game so ran it out well, and has a strong aerial presence and understanding of the play to get into the right positions.

#25 Ava Horneman
Tall Forward | 175cm | 12/11/2008

One of a number of marking targets in the forward half of the ground, Horneman presented well as a centre half-forward and then delivered it inside 50. Though she had a couple of bad misses on goal from close range, her field kicking was very good and set up numerous goals for her teammates including a couple for Orsini.

#26 Jordan Davis
Tall Forward | 178cm | 10/12/2008

The Sydney and Collingwood father-daughter was another scoring threat in the match, and finished the game with two goals, one in the second term and one in the last. Her hands above her head are very good, and though her groundball work could still develop at times, she remained active inside 50 and set up some goals as well as kicking them herself. Her delivery by foot was terrific going forward.

#27 Amaia Wain
Ruck/Forward | 180cm | 31/08/2007

Arguably best-on and far too athletic for her opponents, Wain put her incredible vertical jump to work as she leapt over the opposition ruck to get first hands to it for her midfielders. Rotated forward at times and even hit the scoreboard with a monster set shot from just inside 50, but her best work was around the stoppages where she would tap it down to teammates then follow-up when required to tackle or win it back and bomb it forward. Moved very well and got involved all around the forward half.

GIANTS ACADEMY:

#9 Georgia Patterson
Forward | 166cm | 26/12/2008

A smart forward who is very clean at ground level, Patterson had her moments around the front half, setting up a couple of Day’s goals and was involved in handball chains going forward late in the match. She looked lively and kept presenting, with plenty of upside to come after promising signs last season in her bottom-age campaign.

#12 Ariella Paterson
Wing | 170cm | 22/11/2008

One of two Paterson twins on respective wings, Ariella built into the game as it went on, getting involved and providing plenty of running before her major highlight of the day. Getting on the end of a team play, Paterson finished with class to kick an important goal. Had another chance that sailed into the behind post later on, but it was her ability to cover the ground that stood out.

#15 Brea Trevitt
Forward | 170cm | 14/04/2008

While she did not see a lot of it early, Trevitt stepped up in the second half to convert a couple of nice goals. One came from running into an open goal, and the other was a set shot following a two-grab mark from 35m out on a slight angle. She built in confidence and looks like being that high half-forward who can win the ball further afield, but also drop back and be a marking target.

#22 Darcie Prosser-Shaw
Midfielder/Defender | 171cm | 02/06/2008

Had a day out through the middle after starting behind the ball, racking it up with ease. At times she can rush a little with ball in hand, but when able to dictate the game through her running and finding space, she sets up goalscoring plays. Combining well with Gaukrodger both at the stoppages and in transition, Prosser-Shaw was quite often involved in one-twos. Though her offensive impact was evident, her defensive work – such as her elite run-down tackle from the centre stoppage as an opponent attempted to kick inside 50 in the fourth term – was just as huge.

#23 Sophia Gaukrodger
Midfielder | 173cm | 16/01/2007

Clearly best on ground with her work all over the field. Using her big tank, Gaukrodger locked in to more opportunities through the middle for the Giants, while still resting forward and finishing off a classy snap. Her tackling pressure was outstanding, she set up goals and got back to assist the defence as well. Gaukrodger had the ball on a string and kept accumulating from the opening bounce to the final siren, in what was a really well-rounded game from the over-age talent who was one of the more naturally gifted players to miss out last season. Looks set for a big 2026.

#25 Majella Day
Tall Forward | 177cm | 11/03/2008

Looked set for a massive day early when she had three goals by the second minute of the second quarter, making a mess of anyone who tried to nullify her. If she wasn’t marking it one-on-one, she was forcing her opponents under the ball then beating them for speed goalside. Had Day capitalised on a few half chances, she no doubt would have finished with a huge haul, ending the game with 4.3 but also moved to defence late in the game – after kicking her fourth major – and took a nice mark.

#30 Morgan Stevens
Tall Defender | 177cm | 13/08/2008

Did not always have a heap to do in the game, but showed off her reading of the play and footy IQ when it did come in her zone. Aside from one rare dropped mark she would normally take close to goal, Stevens was safe in charging out of defence to intercept or dropping back into the hole. Never a huge accumulator, she has a booming kick and her first spearing pass down the middle in the opening term was sublime.

#32 Alana Fraser
Tall Defender | 175cm | 27/09/2008

Her work out of defence caught the eye, as Fraser looked to create open avenues in the middle. At times her decision making could be risky and turned over, but her vision to try and maximise those plays was admirable. Fraser’s tackling pressure and clean hands complemented her two-way ability, and that vision is clearly something that will help her going forward.

#33 Zara Neil
Midfielder | 169cm | 09/03/2008

Spent most of the day through the middle with Gaukrodger and Prosser-Shaw, and found her fair share of the ball, including the first centre clearance. She used a bigger body to get the ball away, and with quick hands and an ability to get ball to boot in swift fashion, Neil played her part and was able to complement the other midfielders.