WESTERN AUSTRALIA came into the 2026 AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships hoping to blood a stack of bottom-age prospects alongside its top-end 2008-born talents, and while the record finished at just 1-3, the Sandgropers did enough late to avoid the wooden spoon. A stirring comeback win over Vic Country in Round 4 proved the highlight of a tough carnival, with star ruck Cara Dziegielewski the standout performer across all four appearances.

RESULTS

Western Australia finished the national carnival with a 1-3 record.

Round 1: South Australia 12.6 (78) def. Western Australia 4.2 (26) – Mineral Resources Park

South Australia controlled play for the entire first half to set up a big 52-point win on day one of the carnival. The Sandgropers fought back to win the second half, but it was too little, too late.

Round 2: Vic Metro 6.9 (45) def. Western Australia 2.7 (19) – Cockburn ARC Oval

Despite an inaccurate and slow first half, Vic Metro wrestled control back from Western Australia to post a 26-point win, giving the Sandgropers an 0-2 start to the carnival.

Round 4: Western Australia 6.4 (40) def. Vic Country 5.3 (33) – Kennedy Community Centre

Trailing by 16 points at the final change, Western Australia booted four unanswered last quarter goals to complete the comeback and secure its maiden win of the carnival by seven points.

Round 5: Allies 8.12 (60) def. Western Australia 4.7 (31) – Shepley Oval

The Allies broke the game open with six goals to two after quarter-time in the second match of the final day’s triple-header, securing second spot overall with a 29-point win.

MVP

Cara Dziegielewski (West Perth) Ruck | 182cm | 19/04/2008

Stats: 16.5 disposals, 3.0 marks, 5.5 tackles, 32.0 hitouts, 1.8 clearances, 4.0 inside 50s, 3.3 rebound 50s

The reigning All-Australian ruck backed up her billing with a national carnival that cemented her spot as one of the most highly touted talls in this year’s draft crop, punctuated by a tournament individual-high 44 hitouts in the carnival finale against a ruckless Allies outfit. An elite athletic, Dziegielewski’s leap allows her to compete with rucks well taller than her 182cm frame, and her craft at the stoppages consistently gave her midfielders first use of the ball.

KEY PLAYERS

Mia Carlshausen (Perth) Defender | 171cm | 10/04/2008

Stats: 16.5 disposals, 4.8 marks, 1.0 tackles, 0.5 clearances, 0.5 inside 50s, 5.5 rebound 50s

The clear standout alongside Dziegielewski all carnival, Carlshausen was the conductor out of the back half, directing traffic and organising the troops while remaining accountable to her direct opponent. Her clean intercept marking and ability to drive the ball from danger was just part of her hugely consistent national carnival.

Lexi Strachan (West Perth) Midfielder/Forward | 169cm | 30/09/2008

Stats: 16.0 disposals, 1.0 marks, 5.2 tackles, 4.5 clearances, 4.8 inside 50s, 1.8 rebound 50s, 0.2 goals

Western Australia’s co-captain and National Academy member headlined the top-age brigade alongside Dziegielewski. She was best afield in the Round 4 win over Vic Country with 19 disposals, nine clearances and nine tackles, and was equally as impressive across Round 5 despite spending time on the bench after a heavy knock.

Charli Bassett (East Perth) Midfielder | 156cm | 19/11/2008

Stats: 15.2 disposals, 2.0 marks, 5.0 tackles, 4.2 clearances, 2.5 inside 50s, 1.0 rebound 50s, 0.2 goals

East Perth’s sole representative in the squad, Bassett built on a strong bottom-age carnival with genuine two-way impact through the midfield, her clearance work among the best in the side across all four games.

India Bonadeo (Claremont) Defender | 177cm | 05/08/2008

Stats: 13.2 disposals, 3.0 marks, 2.5 tackles, 0.8 clearances, 2.8 rebound 50s

Alongside Carlshausen, Bonadeo formed a formidable read-of-the-play combination in defence, marking cleanly overhead and consistently providing drive out of the back half across the carnival.

Marie Polimeno (South Fremantle) Defender | 171cm | 06/07/2008

Stats: 8.5 disposals, 1.8 marks, 3.2 tackles, 1.0 clearances, 2.0 rebound 50s

A returning top-ager after representing the state in 2025, Polimeno offered a skilful and composed option whether deployed off half-back or through the wing.

Heidi Ireland (Peel Thunder) Defender | 173cm | 14/08/2008

Stats: 5.8 disposals, 2.8 tackles, 1.0 clearances, 0.8 rebound 50s

A big-bodied returning top-ager, Ireland’s flexibility to play through defence or the midfield, including tagging duties when required, made her a valuable utility across the carnival.

Rikisha Nannup (West Perth) Wing | 165cm | 23/04/2008

Stats: 9.7 disposals, 1.7 marks, 2.0 tackles, 1.0 clearances, 1.7 inside 50s, 1.3 rebound 50s

One of five top-age Falcons in the State Academy, Nannup missed a match, but showed her versatility across the wing and defence in the three games she did play, using the ball cleanly under pressure.

Shaya Yarran (Swan Districts) Forward | 163cm | 24/12/2008

Stats: 9.0 disposals, 2.0 marks, 5.0 tackles, 1.3 inside 50s, 0.7 goals

A livewire forward, Yarran was part of a lightning-quick start against the Allies in Round 5, helping race Western Australia to an early lead, and consistently pressured opposition defenders across her three appearances.

Summer Ajduk (Swan Districts) Midfielder/Wing | 171cm | 12/11/2008

Stats: 14.5 disposals, 3.0 marks, 4.0 tackles 1.5 inside 50s

A ball-winning wing who missed the start of the carnival, Ajduk slotted straight back into the outside role upon her return and produced strong disposal numbers across her two appearances on a wing.

FUTURE STARS

Western Australia’s bottom-age crop was headlined by a trio who offered genuine signs for the 2027 carnival.

Niah Catto (Perth) Forward | 164cm | 28/05/2009

Stats: 7.7 disposals, 4.7 tackles, 0.7 clearances, 2.0 inside 50s, 0.7 goals

Catto is the perfect example of a player making her moment count rather than her match. Held to just one touch in the first half of the Round 4 win over Vic Country, she came alive after the main break with seven disposals and two goals, her back-to-back majors in the fourth term turning the game in Western Australia’s favour.

Hannah Seaborn (Claremont) Forward/Midfielder | 177cm | 16/04/2009

Stats: 9.5 disposals, 1.5 marks, 7.5 tackles, 2.0 clearances, 2.0 inside 50s, 0.5 goals

A strong contested mark with a knack for defensive pressure well beyond her years, Seaborn backed up double-digit tackle efforts with genuine scoreboard impact. The talented bottom-ager looms as one of the top picks in next year’s AFLW Draft.

Charlie Fletcher (Peel Thunder) Midfielder | 167cm | 04/02/2009

Stats: 12.8 disposals, 2.8 marks, 7.5 tackles, 1.5 clearances, 2.2 inside 50s, 1.0 rebound 50s

The need-for-speed Peel Thunder junior rolled seamlessly from an AFLW Under 16s campaign into the top level, showing off her speed and endurance through the midfield and off a wing. Her run-down tackling was a regular highlight.