KICKING 10 of their 14 goals at either end of the game, the AFLW National Academy took care of Carlton VFLW in a highly entertaining exhibition match at Ikon Park yesterday. The top AFLW Draft prospects for 2026 – albeit with a handful missing due to injury – put on a show, and while inaccuracy at times plagued the match, the younger squad proved too good for their experienced rivals, 14.18 (102) to 8.8 (56).

The National Academy actually conceded the first goal when former Northern Knights teammates, now VFLW Blues, Phoebe Hargreaves got the ball inside 50 to Tahlia Plunkett who made no mistake off a quick glance. Plunkett would kick a second on the edge of quarter time, but not before the Academy – headlined by Bailee Martin with two majors – had slammed home five and took a 21-point lead into quarter time.

Danger signs were there when Lions Academy forward Aiyana Pritchard got into prime position for a Martin handball and strolled into kick her side’s sixth less than 90 seconds into the second term. Fortunately for the Blues, ex-AFLW Pie and Dog Nell Morris-Dalton launched a long-range bomb to keep the spirits high. Three more goals to the Academy – with fellow tall forwards Harlee McIlwain and Majella Day now getting involved.

The Carlton VFLW midfield was holding up well against the best young players in the country, as Emily Elkington, Zoe Larkins and Mia Fuller were getting plenty of touches, and Grace Matser was following up well around the ground in a tough matchup against a combination of Sophie White and Cara Dziegielewski.

Naturally players were thrown around throughout the match for the Academy, with Zoe Curry starting in defence, then moving on-ball where she racked up five clearances by half-time. Martin was becoming a problem, but the full-forward was moved to full-back after the main break as the Academy’s embarrassment of riches inside 50 could easily afford one or two of the tall targets to move up the ground. Similarly, Pritchard spent time on a wing, with McIlwain and Day becoming the typical two deepest targets.

The third term was a real stalemate, with neither side able to capitalise on some genuine chances both from set shots and running in to open goals. Just a Dziegielewski snap and McCarthy set shot went through truly, with each having other chances they could have nailed in the term as well. When the siren sounded to finish the third, the Academy lead by an even 30 points.

Northern Knights’ contingent at the Blues continued to just keep the game alive for Carlton, with both Hargreaves and Katelyn Busuttil nailing majors, the latter of whom slotted one from long-range with an open goalsquare helping out. But unfortunately for the away side – who was really the home side – it would not be enough as the Academy started dominating out of the middle and swiftly booted four goals in five minutes – with two to McIlwain, one to Day and one to Mia Geere – to snuff out any hope of a Carlton comeback.

Martin finished the game as the highest disposal winner for her team despite playing up complete opposite ends of the field. The pick one contender managed 19 disposals, four marks, two inside 50s, 2.3 and a couple of goal assists as well. Lions Academy ball-winner Molly Ferguson was terrific off half-back and moving on-ball, while MVP Scout Semple and Darcie Prosser-Shaw were outstanding defensively, laying seven tackles between them, as they also had a combined 33 disposals.

Curry’s second term in particular stood out, but she was solid throughout, picking up 15 disposals, three tackles, six clearances and six inside 50s, while Day and McIlwain lit up the scoreboard once they had the keys to the forward 50, booting three goals each from eight disposals and four marks. Pritchard looked dangerous, while West Perth duo Dziegielewski and Lexi Strachan also caught the eye in what was a really even team performance.

Plunkett was a clear standout for the Blues, booting three goals from 18 disposals and seven tackles, while Larkins (29 disposals, four marks, six tackles, five clearances and three inside 50s) and Fuller (22 disposals, four marks, seven tackles, six clearances and four inside 50s) stuffed the stat sheet. Steph Demeo was reliable out of defence, as Elkington had some blazing moments across the ground showing why she had played at AFLW level.

AFLW ACADEMY 5.4 | 8.8 | 9.13 | 14.18 (102)
CARLTON 2.1 | 4.2 | 5.7 | 8.8 (56)

GOALS:
AFLW Academy: M. Day 3, H. McIlwain 3, B. Martin 2, D. Prosser-Shaw, E. Ward, A. Pritchard, C. Dziegielewski, M. Geere, S. White
Carlton: T. Plunkett 3, O. Di Donato, S. McCarthy, N. Morris-Dalton, P. Hargreaves, K. Busuttil

RMC BEST:
AFLW Academy: S. Semple, B. Martin, M. Ferguson, Z. Curry. M. Day
Carlton: T. Plunkett, E. Elkington, Z. Larkins, M. Fuller, G. Matser