A STAR studded AFLW Academy produced a comprehensive 63-point win over the Under 20 All Stars at RSEA Park yesterday with a couple of strong midfielders earning MVP honours. While the Academy clearly had the top-end talent, there was still plenty to like from a host of All Stars including some 2025 AFLW Draft prospects.

A blustery day at Moorabbin did not help the scoring, but in the end an inaccurate third term – where the Academy completely dominated proceedings – somewhat kept the margin lower than what it could have been. In the premiership term, the Academy had 16 inside 50s – for 3.10 (28) – while restricting the All Stars to just four entries up the other end.

Two goals to South Australian Eloise Mackereth and a classy left foot snap from eventual MVP Chloe Bown finally capitalised on all the hard work the side had done to keep the pressure up. Through the first half, the Academy was always on top, but the defensive intent from the All Stars was there and putting up a fight. Ash Patton broke through for the underdogs’ first major in the second quarter with the breeze after the Academy opened the game to lead by 21 points at the first break.

The main reason the first term was relatively close was the incredibly midfield job from South Fremantle’s Renee Morgan who racked up five of the 14 total clearances in the quarter from her seven disposals. She along with Swans Academy over-agers Emma Juneja and Ellie Veerhuis were working hard to clear the danger defensively, while former Allies teammates Isla Wiencke (seven disposals, two clearances) and Priya Bowering (seven disposals, two inside 50s) were doing well through the middle.

A tight second term saw the All Stars maintain the clearance advantage with Morgan up to seven, while Stella Huxtable and Suns Academy Annabelle Foat both starting to consistently get their hands on the ball. Huxtable was one of a number of players who had to come off sore, but did return, as the Vic Metro duo of Bown and Chloe Baker-West were on top. Their ‘Big V’ teammate Tayla McMillan was also providing plenty of pressure going forward with her slick skills hitting targets.

Western Jets defender Alex McBride-Loane and Juneja had a lot of tough work in the third term with the relentless attack from the Academy, while Norwood utility Charli Hazelhurst clunked a great mark and was looking lively back there as well. Tasmanian Mischa Barwin had a remarkable quarter with 10 disposals, five marks and three inside 50s, and had she been able to convert a couple of opportunities, would have had up to three goals.

Instead she would finally kick her major in the last term, with Subiaco’s Olivia Wolmarans joining the party and Wiencke’s quick thinking on the goalline making it three more majors for the quarter. Northern Knights utility Scarlett Johnson had a reason to celebrate with a goal in the last for the All Stars, though ultimately it was the Academy’s day out.

Bown ended on 22 disposals, six marks, eight tackles, six clearances, seven inside 50s, two rebound 50s and one goal, with Wiencke (17 disposals, two marks, six clearances, three inside 50s and a goal). Baker-West (18 disposals, four marks, four tackles and three rebound 50s) doing well across the ground, as Georja Davies was lively with 16 touches, six marks, 16 hitouts and a goal rotating between ruck and forward.

Mackereth was the most damaging forward with three majors as Alicia Blizard kicked two, while in defence Evie Cowcher racked up 18 disposals, three marks, three tackles and five rebound 50s. Skipper for the day, West Perth’s Mia Russo also was impressive until having to come off sore in the last term, laying nine tackles to go with 16 disposals and a goal.

For the All Stars, Foat won the MVP thanks to 17 disposals, five tackles, three clearances and two inside 50s, though her partners in crime, Morgan (16 disposals, two marks, six tackles, seven clearances sand two rebound 50s) and Suns Academy teammate Bronte Parker (14 disposals, 12 tackles, five clearances and two inside 50s) were both very good as well.

Juneja (19 disposals, three marks and three rebound 50s) and Veerhuis (13 disposals, three marks, five tackles and three rebound 50s) provided drive from defence, while McBride-Loane had a game-high seven rebound 50s, often taking kickouts or mopping up in defence.

AFLW ACADEMY 3.4 | 5.4 | 8.14 | 11.15 (81)
U20 ALL STARS 0.1 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 2.6 (18)

GOALS:
AFLW Academy: E. Mackereth 3, A. Blizard 2, C. Bown, M. Barwin, I. Wiencke, G. Davies, M. Russo, O. Wolmarans
U20 ALL STARS: S. Johnson, A. Patton

RMC BEST:
AFLW Academy: C. Bown. I. Wiencke. C. Baker-West, M. Barwin, G. Davies
U20 ALL STARS: A. Foat, R. Morgan. B. Parker, E. Veerhuis, E. Juneja