JUST a day after announcing its 2023 Under 18 Girls Academy, South Australia has gone further into the future by naming its Under 16 Academy. Boasting a total of 48 players – six from each of the eight South Australian National Football League (SANFL) clubs – there are seven Under 18 members who are still age-eligible for Under 16s football.

North Adelaide and Central District were the two clubs to feature multiple dual-representatives in both the Under 18 and Under 16s squad. Roosters duo Maggie Clark and Jayde Visser, and Bulldogs pair Sophie Eaton and Holly Tralaggan were among the seven talented young guns. The other three representatives were Norwood’s Charli Hazelhurst, Sturt’s Monique Bessen and West Adelaide’s Stephanie Tredwell.

SANFL Female Talent Coordinator Bek McMahon will coach the squad at the brand new 2023 AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships. A Norwood premiership player herself, McMahon will be well supported by current Redlegs captain Alison Ferrall, retired North Adelaide goalkicking machine Kelly Barltrop, and Norwood premiership winger Anthony Wilson.

The 48-player squad will be cut down to 30 following an internal trial on Friday, March 10. From there, the Croweaters will get the opportunity to take on Vic Metro in Melbourne on Sunday, April 23, before heading to Perth on Sunday, April 30 to tackle the Sandgropers.

For the Under 16 Girls Academy representatives, all the players have previously been ineligible to test themselves at SANFL Women’s level, but will begin filtering through the senior ranks over the next couple of seasons.

2023 South Australia Under 16 Girls Academy