FINALLY the 2026 AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships are here, with Western Australia playing host to South Australia in the first of three national carnival matches over the weekend. It is the only one on Saturday, and should be a great way to kick off the tournament.

NEED TO KNOW

Date: Saturday, June 13
Time: 1:00pm (local) | 2:30pm (ACST) | 3:00pm (AEST)
Venue: Mineral Resources Park, Perth

TEAMS:

Western Australia:

B: Mia Carlshausen – India Bonadeo – Bella Nelson
HB: Heidi Ireland – Marie Polimeno – Maya Walsh
C: Charlie Fletcher – Charli Bassett – Rikisha Nannup
HF: Shaya Yarran – Avuya Nomlatyu – Miley Hynes
F: Keira Fawcett – Hannah Seaborn – Marley Kelman
R: Cara Dziegielewski – Lexi Strachan – Grace Hirst
INT: Alexis Edgley – Lucy Gilbey – Jasmine Giles – Makaela Grau – Sienna Lilly

Note: Rough starting lineup based on team named

>> FULL SQUAD

South Australia:

B: Marley Tape – Olivia Leslie – Tori Evans
HB: Caitlin Hardin – Ruby Lynch – Emily Mableson
C: Sharmaine Crosby – Emma Charlton – Lily Whiteman
HF: Lucy Moore – Polly Turner – Demi Holloway
F: Madeline Nuss – Isabella Beaumont – Elke Cameron
R: Miyu Endersby – Lani Cocks – Maia Freemantle
INT: Chelsea Newitt – Julia Faulkner – Hope Taylor – Layla Vizgaudis – Maya Fuller

>> FULL SQUAD

MISSING IN ACTION

South Australia is still minus top five talent Taya Maxwell (meniscus) who will hopefully return during the national carnival at some stage, while Charlee Brooksby and Georgie Fielder (both ankle) are the other key top-age injured prospects not available for game one.

Western Australia has lost Lunay Van Den Heever (knee), while co-captain Macy Fair is still recovering from her ACL injury. Tiama Collard is being carefully managed after a month off in concussion protocols and will return via the WAFLW. Others who have missed footy include Olivia McCay and Mel Grage. Top prospect Cara Dziegielewski was rested from the AFLW Academy game with a hamstring complaint but has been named for the big clash.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Western Australia:

While the ruck battle is an obvious aspect that will be key in the match, what Western Australia has plenty of is athleticism. The Sandgropers have talls and smalls who can move well, and the defence is of particular highlight. Mia Carlshausen and India Bonadeo read the ball exceptionally well in flight and provide drive out of the back half, with Grace Hirst (defender/midfielder) another skilful user from defence if deployed there. Marie Polimeno (defender/wing) is in a similar boat, while bottom-ager Miley Hynes could be chucked any where on the board.

Charlie Fletcher and Rikisha Nannup will have the ability to hold down nice wing positions, though Fletcher might even go inside. Behind Dziegielewski, fellow West Perth prospect Lexi Strachan is another potential top 10 talent, and will likely start at centre bounces and rest forward to see if she can hit the scoreboard. Strong in the air and around the ball, she is hard to beat.

The forwardline has a mix of class and toughness with Shaya Yarran (forward/wing), Hannah Seaborn (forward/back) and Charli Bassett (forward/midfield) providing some alternate options for scoring, while Avuya Nomlatyu is a contested marking star. Then there’s Heidi Ireland who will likely play as a mid/defender, though has the capacity to even drift forward and provide a contest.

South Australia:

Emma Charlton is the reigning MVP for a reason, and she has seemingly only boosted her stocks since then. Add in bottom-age All-Australian, best on ground in the SANFLW Grand Final and National Academy member, and the younger sister of Teah is right up there with the best players in the draft crop. She will also captain the Croweaters at the national carnival.

The depth of the South Australian midfield is not to be underestimated. On face value the likes of Emily Mableson, Layla Vizgaudis, Lucy Moore, Ruby Lynch and Julia Faulkner support Charlton from a top-age brigade standpoint, while bottom-age stars Lani Cocks and Maia Freemantle are among the best players in next year’s crop. All can play multiple positions, as can Caitlin Hardin who like Mableson will provide drive off half-back.

Essentially the depth of South Australia’s squad is incredible, and considering they have three walk-up starters out, makes it even more amazing. Adelaide and Carlton fans can keep an eye on father-daughter Polly Turner (dad Peter played five combined games) who is a contested marking beast and also incredibly agile for her size, while Hope Taylor coming off the bench and Madeline Nuss will provide the required spark up forward.

KEY MATCHUP

Cara Dziegielewski (Western Australia) vs. Miyu Endersby (South Australia)

A very easy choice as the matchup to watch with Dziegielewski Western Australia’s top draft prospect and Endersby among the best for South Australia. They have the potential to follow each other everywhere with Dziegielewski a ruck/forward, while Endersby is a ruck/defender. The Croweaters opted to leave Kate Alexander as an emergency meaning Endersby with do the bulk of the rucking with Lynch likely to back her up, while Dziegielewski has a little more freedom to be forward – especially after being sore a week ago – with Avuya Nomlatyu in the side.

WHERE THE GAME IS WON

It feels like the ruck battle will be fairly even, particularly if Dziegielewski spends more time forward as Endersby will have the athletic advantage over the others. Strachan will be such a key player around the ball as the South Australian midfield is stacked with a host of potential top 10 talents between this year and next.

Western Australia has the physically stronger side from the talls perspective and that is an area where the Sandgropers might be able to take advantage, but the South Australians have plenty of tricks up their sleeves as well. The key is for WA to break even in the midfield, because if the likes of Charlton, Cocks and Freemantle get on top, it will spell danger for the home team.

PREDICTION:

South Australia is one of the title contenders in this year’s national carnival, and could well be the pick for the whole thing if at full strength. Western Australia has the handful of top-end talents, but also a young squad that will experience the national carnival building for the future with plenty of bottom-age hopes amongst the team. Expect it to be fairly contested, but the visitors’ depth and class to pull away.