ENSURING it would turn the tables on a Round 1 loss, Western Australia finished the 2026 AFLW Under 16 Championships with an even ledger after accounting for Brisbane Lions Academy at Shepley Oval on Friday. The Sandgropers made the most of their chances inside 50 with eight goals from 37 entries compared to the Lions Academy who kicked five from 47 – including 1.7 in the first term – to win, 8.6 (54) to 5.13 (43).

The result could have gone either way, and realistically the inaccurate first term by the Lions with the massive breeze hurt, and always gave the West Australians a chance. Able to limit the damage to no more than two goals a quarter, the Sandgropers were 14 points down at the final break, and used the four-goal breeze to kick that many majors to the Lions’ two behinds and come away with the 11-point win.

A microcosm of the overall game occurred in the last quarter when after doing well to win the ball and burst away, Sienna McCormack heartbreakingly hit the post. Western Australia went coast-to-coast and Sariyah Homer ran into an open goal to make it a 11-point play. Talented midfielder Caitlin Boss then sealed the win, with Boss and Bella Nelson again standouts for the winners. Libby Robinson and Summer Carriage were among the best players for the Lions Academy.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA 0.2 | 3.2 | 4.3 | 8.6 (54)
LIONS ACADEMY 1.7 3.9 | 5.11 | 5.13 (43)

GOALS:
Western Australia: L. Fuller 3, S. Homer 2, C. Boss, C. Natta, V. Matera
Lions Academy: L. Hall 2, S. Carriage, S. McCormack, S. Kelly

RMC BEST:
Western Australia: A. Nelson, C. Boss, C. Cousin, Ke. Fawcett, C. Natta
Lions Academy: L. Robinson, S. Carriage, K. Wills-Rawlings, K. French, L. Hall

WESTERN AUSTRALIA:

#2 Caitlin Boss (Subiaco)
Midfielder/Forward | 160cm | 07/12/2010

Stats: 23 disposals, 4 marks, 7 tackles, 3 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 1 goal

A really promising small who moves well in traffic and commands the ball with the way she attacks every contest. Her ability to sidestep opponents and use her pace to breakaway, while also able dispose of the ball under immense pressure is terrific. At times she had even more time than she realised, so could have composed herself slightly to get a greater result such as her out on the full shot in the second term. She more than made up with it though as she starred through the middle and put the game to bed with the last goal in the final few minutes.

#3 Keira Fawcett (Swan Districts)
Forward/Midfielder | 159cm | 13/11/2010

Stats: 17 disposals, 6 marks, 7 tackles, 4 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Started on-ball and then rotated forward, looking really lively by finding space inside 50. She reads the ball in flight well, times her leads and sometimes jsut gets to the right spots to win the ball before anyone else. Though only small like a lot of others on this list, she was not afraid to throw herself at everything and landed some strong tackles. Had a shot on goal after marking a second before the siren in the third term, but played on to try and gain distance as the siren sounded. Linked up well with teammates and was usually a disposal or two away from a West Australian score.

#6 Chelsea Natta (East Fremantle)
Small Forward | 158cm | 10/01/2010

Stats: 18 disposals, 6 marks, 2 tackles 1 inside 50, 1 goal

Oozes X-factor in the front half and just looked like having a big day out throughout the match. She has terrific lateral movement and a building highlight reel with an attempted specky as well as providing a spark around goals. Kicked her sole major after getting goalside and marking easily one metre out to cut the deficit to just two points in the final quarter.

#9 Charlotte Cousin (Swan Districts)
Utility | 162cm | 27/09/2010

Stats: 19 disposals, 5 marks, 4 tackles, 1 clearance, 5 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Strong for her size, Cousin usually put her body on the line when it counted and seemed to be all over the ground. From winning a clearance in the middle to leading out inside 50 and then spoiling in the defensive 50, Cousin did it all. Her looping handball at half-forward in the second term lead to a goal and then later in the quarter she saved a major with great body work. Continually presented, linked up well and was a key player in the win.

#31 Bella Nelson (West Perth)
Defender | 174cm | 10/03/2010

Stats: 29 disposals, 5 marks, 2 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 13 rebound 50s

Yet another accolade for the hard-running Nelson who is no stranger to MVPs at these carnivals. She had the ball on a string coming out of defence, either intercepting, mopping up or being the receiver to drive the ball long out of danger. She had to adapt to the wind when it came to marking which is usually her forte, but when she did she was a complete brick wall. Accumulated with ease and had more disposals than any other player on the ground.

LIONS ACADEMY:

#5 Kya Wills-Rawlings (Maroochydore)
Wing/Defender | 164cm | 04/01/2010

Stats: 20 disposals, 3 marks, 4 tackles, 1 clearance, 3 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

Wills-Rawlings played a really strong transitional game, often intercepting behind the ball and driving it back forward with force. She spread well on the wing to be a marking target and distributor going inside 50, while also taking the game on every chance she got. Took a late kickout and tried to break the lines but was caught holding the ball in doing so, though her efforts were to be admired given her determination to keep the game alive. In the second term she had three disposals in one chain from centre half-back to centre half-forward, showing lively run between the arcs.

#7 Lucca Hall (Wilston Grange)
Midfielder/Forward | 165cm | 22/03/2010

Stats: 20 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 2 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 2 goals, 1 behind

Looked lively in the front half after starting on-ball and showed clean hands and great footy nous to finish with a couple of majors to her name. She converted her first in the second term after a nice mark at close range, then kicked the last goal of the third term – and what would be the Lions Academy’s final major – to give them a 14-point buffer at three quarter time. Buzzed around and was a busy bee across the front half.

#13 Summer Carriage (Aspley)
Forward/Wing | 167cm | 01/10/2010

Stats: 20 disposals, 4 marks, 8 tackles, 1 clearance, 4 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 1 goal, 1 behind

Really liked Carriage’s run-and-gun game where she applied terrific defensive pressure but also nailed some outstanding passes. There were a few moments where she was the one to release by hand out of the defensive 50 or hit the risky pass downfield, but each time she won the ball, you felt like something was going to happen. Kicked a brilliant running goal to set the tone early, and was one of the Lions Academy’s clear standouts.

#16 Libby Robinson (Sherwood)
Midfielder/Forward | 170cm | 27/09/2010

Stats: 25 disposals, 5 marks, 4 tackles, 6 clearances, 7 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 behind

Without a doubt best on ground across the board for her work in the middle, Robinson’s clearance work and attacking prowess were big ticks for the Sherwood prospect. She was clean at ground level and has a nice burst of speed when exiting congestion, while also resting forward and being a target inside 50. A left-footer with great variation on her execution, Robinson equally produced some terrific run-down tackles. Is one to watch with ball in hand going forward.

#18 Kischandra French (Sandgate)
Midfielder/Defender | 164cm | 05/08/2010

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

A powerful athlete who spent more time behind the ball and through the middle than up forward, French was tasked with trying to penetrate both the opposition’s defensive zone and against the breeze at time. Her decision making stood out, and she competed well one-on-one, battling hard in contests and driving the ball forward with vigour. She goes at 100 miles an hour to win the ball, and takes bodies with her if need be. Showed good hands when tackled as well.