THE FINAL round of the AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships brought the curtain down on the national carnival in style, with South Australia completing an undefeated campaign courtesy of a seven-point win over Queensland, the Allies cementing second spot with a 29-point victory over Western Australia, and Vic Country finishing its carnival on a high with a final-term surge to defeat Vic Metro by 10 points.

The Allies and South Australia lead the way in our Round 5 Team of the Week with five representatives each, while Vic Country and Queensland (four apiece) and Western Australia and Vic Metro (three each) round out the 24-player squad.

DEFENDERS:

The back six is anchored by South Australia’s Emily Mableson, who capped a perfect carnival by claiming her side’s MVP with a team-high 26 disposals, five tackles, five clearances, and eight rebound 50s, driving the Croweaters forward at every opportunity. She is joined by Vic Country’s Georgia Garlick, who continued her tough and consistent form with 14 disposals, two clearances and six rebound 50s, repelling repeated Vic Metro forward thrusts. Rounding out the deep defensive unit is the Allies’ Morgan Stevens, who was the glue in the back 50 with 14 disposals, five marks and five rebound 50s in her most settled role of the carnival.

The half-back line features plenty of drive and rebound. Vic Metro’s Alli Allen claimed her side’s MVP with a hard-nosed 13 disposals and seven tackles, hardly putting a foot wrong upon her return from injury. She is joined by the Allies’ Charlotte Tidemann, who continued her strong carnival with 19 disposals, five marks, five tackles and five rebound 50s, unafraid to break the lines from half-back. Rounding out the unit is South Australia’s Lucy Moore, who produced arguably her best game of the championships with 26 disposals, seven tackles, five clearances and four rebound 50s across both defensive and midfield minutes.

MIDFIELDERS:

The centre line is headlined by a trio of outside runners. Vic Metro’s Grace McIntyre racked up a team-high 22 disposals, four marks and six inside 50s, constantly finding space to drive the ball forward. She is joined by Vic Country’s Ava Bilyk, who was best afield in the win over Vic Metro with 31 disposals, five marks, five tackles, seven clearances, four inside 50s and two goals, continuing her outstanding carnival. Queensland’s Kya Wills-Rawlings completes the line, the double bottom-ager unafraid to take the game on with 14 disposals, three marks, and three tackles.

In the ruck, Cara Dziegielewski takes the starting spot after claiming Western Australia’s MVP with a carnival-high 44 hitouts to go with 21 disposals, six tackles and three clearances, dominating the stoppages all afternoon. At her feet, South Australia’s Emma Charlton produced a stat-stuffing display with 29 disposals, 13 tackles, seven clearances and five rebound 50s, leading the way for the Croweaters. Completing the midfield group is the Allies’ Aurelia Russell, who capped a sparkling carnival with 23 disposals, five tackles and six clearances, just as impactful on the outside as she was at the coalface.

FORWARDS:

The forwardline balances marking power with high-pressure link players. Western Australia’s Lexi Strachan built like a crescendo across the carnival and was at her damaging best, racking up 20 disposals, six clearances and seven inside 50s, adding a long-range goal for good measure. Queensland’s Harlee McIlwain provided a strong marking target inside 50, kicking two goals from 11 disposals and four marks. The Allies’ Zoe Curry rounds out the line, continuing her rise since joining the side in game two with 20 disposals, six tackles, six clearances and four inside 50s.

Deeper inside 50, Vic Country’s Lily Milner was lively in the forward pocket, booting two goals from 11 disposals – including a 40-metre set shot – while showing her fierceness at the contest throughout. She is joined by Vic Metro’s Bailee Martin, who put on a personal show with a match-high seven goals from 19 disposals and four marks, threatening to drag her side over the line almost single-handedly. Completing the forwardline is the Allies’ Rose Bell, who kicked a game-high three goals from just nine disposals, her strength overhead and finishing putting recruiters on notice.

INTERCHANGE:

The interchange bench features a mix of inside grunt and outside class. South Australia duo Caitlin Hardin (17 disposals, four tackles) and Lani Cocks (23 disposals, five tackles and three clearances) provided plenty of drive through the midfield, while Vic Country’s Greea McKeegan (17 disposals, six tackles, one goal) was lively in attack across the final-term surge.

Queensland duo Lily Moana (16 disposals, seven tackles, four clearances) and Zoe Petrides (18 disposals, six inside 50s) round out the bench alongside Western Australia’s Shaya Yarran, who booted two goals from 13 disposals and nine tackles in a well-balanced two-way performance.

EMERGENCIES:

It was a tight squeeze for the final squad, with Western Australia’s Mia Carlshausen (15 disposals, six rebound 50s), the Allies’ Matilda Lange (19 disposals, five inside 50s, one goal, carnival MVP), and Vic Metro’s Emily Rankin (21 disposals, four clearances) named as emergencies after strong performances.

2026 AFLW UNDER 18 CHAMPIONSHIPS: ROUND 5 TEAM OF THE WEEK

B: Georgia Garlick (Vic Country) – Morgan Stevens (Allies) – Emily Mableson (South Australia)
HB: Lucy Moore (South Australia) – Alli Allen (Vic Metro) – Charlotte Tidemann (Allies)
C: Grace McIntyre (Vic Metro) – Ava Bilyk (Vic Country) – Kya Wills-Rawlings (Queensland)
HF: Lexi Strachan (Western Australia) – Harlee McIlwain (Queensland) – Zoe Curry (Allies)
F: Lani Cocks (South Australia) – Bailee Martin (Vic Metro) – Rose Bell (Allies)
R: Cara Dziegielewski (Western Australia) – Emma Charlton (South Australia) – Aurelia Russell (Allies)
INT: Caitlin Hardin (South Australia) – Lily Milner (Vic Country) – Greea McKeegan (Vic Country) – Lily Moana (Queensland) – Zoe Petrides (Queensland) – Shaya Yarran (Western Australia)

EMG: Mia Carlshausen (Western Australia) – Matilda Lange (Allies) – Emily Rankin (Vic Metro)