VIC METRO’s five goals to nil first half against Queensland was ultimately the difference in the game, with four of those majors coming in the opening term setting up the side for a fantastic start to the 2026 AFLW Under 18 Championships. In dewy conditions underfoot – particularly up what would become the non-scoring end – Metro came away with the 10.9 (69) to 5.3 (33) win at GMHBA Stadium.

Queensland entered the match missing two National Academy members in Mia Geere and Summer Browning, as well as future Academy member Ameleia Murray who has been one of the best players this year even as a bottom-ager. That hurt the Maroons’ chances, and though there was still quality across the line, they were jumped at the start and could never quite recover.

Metro lead by 32 points at half-time and by as much as 44 when the teams headed into the final change. Despite trailing, Queensland gave a brief ‘surely not?’ fightback early in the fourth when the Maroons booted three goals in the first eight and a half minutes to cut the deficit back to manageable 26-point margin. The last of those was a brilliant long-range checkside off the boot of young gun Lily Moana – who would kick a second later in the term – which got the visitors up and about.

But all good things must come to an end, and Vic Metro steadied through Oakleigh Chargers winger Isabelle Godfrey and then continued to pepper the goals later. Eventually any slight chance of a comeback was snuffed out when Bailee Martin iced the game with her fourth goal, missing after the final siren for a fifth. The pick one contender had 13 disposals and three marks with her four majors, and the Queensland defence could not contain her despite some fantastic one-on-one contests from the likes of Jade Brazier who was one of her side’s better players.

The game was always going to be decided in the midfield, and Metro won that albeit marginally (29 clearances to 26) but was far more effective in getting it forward with 42 entries to 27, of which at half-time that statline read 27-9. Full credit goes to Queensland for arresting some of that dominance in the second half, and winning the inside 50s from that point (18-15), but it was just a little too late.

Riding shotgun to Martin’s goalkicking prowess – which of course included a couple of ridiculous bouncing goals from tight angles under pressure – was Western Jets midfielder/forward Tayla Olivieri who showed her wares as a crumbing small with three goals from 11 disposals, three tackles and four inside 50s. The pair booted seven of the team’s 10 goals in what was a fantastic combination, while Brazier (14 disposals, three marks and six rebound 50s), Asia Single (15 disposals, four marks and three rebound 50s) and Stephanie Aguinaldo (13 disposals, six marks and four rebound 50s) were all amongst the Maroons’ best.

While Sienna Clinch gave the duo of Cleo Barbakas and April Dye their stiffest test yet in the ruck winning the hitouts 29 to a team combined 11, it was the Metro midfielders who got to work sharking it, mainly Eastern Ranges pair Emily Rankin (24 disposals, five tackles, four clearances and five inside 50s) and Brylee Anderson (20 disposals, three marks, three tackles and six clearances), while Maddison Meagher provided the explosive run. The only sour note of the day was a knee injury to Sandringham Dragons bottom-ager Maya Duane who kicked an early goal then sat out the game for the last three quarters.

For Queensland, Molly Ferguson (18 disposals, two marks, six tackles and four clearances) and Allie Cameron (15 disposals, two marks, six tackles, seven clearances and four inside 50s) were the stars around the ball, while Moana booted her two fourth quarter rippers to go with 16 touches, four marks and seven inside 50s. Freya Ross and co-captain Amelia Ella also tried hard all day.

VIC METRO 4.3 | 5.5 | 8.5 | 10.9 (69)
QUEENSLAND 0.1 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 5.3 (33)

GOALS:
Vic Metro: B. Martin 4, T. Olivieri 3, G. Perrett, I. Godfrey, M. Duane
Queensland: L. Moana 2, A. Pritchard, M. Campbell, I. Scheffler

RMC BEST:
Vic Metro: B. Martin, B. Anderson, E. Rankin, M. Meagher, T. Olivieri
Queensland: L. Moana, M. Ferguson, S. Aguinaldo, J. Brazier, A. Single