A DAMAGING two-way runner with a brilliant first quarter and two goals to her name, Sydney Swans Academy bottom-ager Madison McCarthy announced herself in Sydney University’s 10.9 (69) to 1.4 (10) victory over the St George Dragons in the AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division. The 172cm wing – who served as a defender for the Swans Academy in the Talent League Girls competition – was given free rein on the wing for the Students, and made the most of it.

We took a look at McCarthy’s performance across the four quarters, where her first-term dominance set the tone and her finishing ability inside 50 shone bright.

PLAYER FOCUS:

Madison McCarthy
Position: Wing
Height: 172cm
DOB: 03/07/2009

2026 AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division – Round 7: Sydney University 10.9 (69) def. St George Dragons 1.4 (10)

#10 Madison McCarthy (Sydney University) Stats: 19 disposals (12 kicks, 7 handballs, 68% DE), 9 contested possessions, 10 uncontested possessions, 5 marks (1 contested), 2 tackles, 6 inside 50s, 2 goals

FIRST QUARTER

Madison McCarthy got the Students going quickly, starting on the wing and feeding out a clean handball off the deck in the early stages of the match. She backed that up with a nice mark on the wing and an effective kick inside 50 when the play came back her way, before winning a handball under duress and getting the ball moving cleanly through traffic – all in the space of the opening minutes.

It was a brilliant finish that truly set the first term alight, however. Streaming to half-forward off a handball receive, McCarthy let fly from long range and nailed the Students’ third goal of the quarter in some style. She followed up with another neat mark on the wing, quick hands to a running teammate beside her, and was still wanting more when she won a handball receive late in the term and found a contest with her kick downfield.

A forceful tackle inside 50 in the dying stages to force a rushed handball capped off a nine-disposal opening quarter that stamped her as the wing to watch.

SECOND QUARTER

McCarthy picked up where she left off, pushing into the centre at a ball-up and working hard to stay involved despite the ball spending extended time in the Dragons’ defensive end. A handball receive midway through the term led to a kick that was smothered in unfortunate circumstances – unlucky as she went to unload forward – but she refused to let the disappointment linger.

Her best piece of the quarter came with the last disposal in hand: a fantastic gather, a spin out of a tackle, a fend-off, and then a composed kick inside 50. It was the type of sequence that demonstrated a polish beyond her age group.

THIRD QUARTER

Back on the wing at the start of the third, McCarthy was attentive to her opponent throughout — putting on pressure when caught behind, forcing a rushed kick from Kaitlyn Eisenhuth despite being unable to complete the smother, and consistently presenting as the quick handball option to keep the ball moving even without winning it.

Her standout moment came when she returned from a rest to reach the forward pocket, helped spoil a ball to disrupt the Dragons’ defence, and finished with genuine class from the tightest of angles to slot her second goal of the afternoon. It was a composed effort that spoke to her forward instincts despite her primary positioning on the wing.

FOURTH QUARTER

McCarthy opened the final term with a strong one-on-one contested mark in front on the wing, converting it into a lovely pass down the ground to half-forward. She was tested early on the left side too, forced under pressure onto her non-preferred foot before kicking to a contest – not perfect, but a sign of a player willing to take the game on.

A clean handball receipt under pressure – gathering it at her feet quickly and getting it away to a teammate – kept the ball moving effectively, and when she returned from a rest late in the quarter she covered the ground both ways, running into clear space and presenting defensively and offensively in equal measure.

SUMMARY

McCarthy finished with 19 disposals and two goals from the wing, an impressive return for a bottom-ager. Playing defence for the Swans Academy and a free-running wing at club level, she has the versatility that selectors covet and the athletic base to grow in both roles. If she continues to develop her efficiency and impact in the Swans Academy environment heading into 2027, McCarthy is a name worth tracking as the draft conversation builds.