AFTER breaking through for a sensational win over Queensland last year, the Allies will look to use the growing strength of the Giants and Swans Academy to cause a few more upsets in the upcoming AFLW Under 18 Championships which kick off on Sunday. We profile each of the Allies’ top-age or over-age players.

>> FULL SQUAD: Allies release 2025 AFLW U18s squad

NATIONAL ACADEMY MEMBERS:

Mischa Barwin (Tasmania Devils)
Forward/Midfielder | 164cm | 04/12/2007

An evasive and damaging player in the front half of the ground, Barwin will likely play forward then rotate on-ball to add some spark inside which she so often does across multiple levels. Hits the scoreboard and sets others up, Barwin can also play off a wing and add serious wheels to the outside, and showed plenty during last year’s national championships.

Priya Bowering (Tasmania Devils)
Midfielder | 167cm | 02/01/2007

A player who has long been associated with the Allies even before she was playing for them, Bowering is a contested ball-winner who has also been trialled down back and up forward at times. Strong over the ball and in the air, she is so clean at the coalface and makes her teammates better with her release handballs. Rarely plays a bad game with her ultra-consistent approach.

Marika Carlton (Northern Territory)
Wing/Forward | 159cm | 03/08/2007

One of the fastest players going around, Carlton has been a prodigy coming out of the Top End through Palmerston which has produced plenty of talented youngsters in recent years. She is a defensive player with great tackling pressure, but can also go forward and hit the scoreboard as she did against the Cannons last weekend, booting two goals.

Danika McDonald (Northern Territory)
Tall Defender | 175cm | 06/06/2007

Another who represented the Allies 12 months ago, McDonald is a strong aerial prospect who reads the ball well in flight. She has a long kick to clear the danger and across the Territory’s two losses, was one of their most prolific players. Tall and athletic, McDonald will likely play deep in the backline and take a dangerous forward.

Madeleine Quinn (Swans Academy)
Ruck | 185cm | 10/02/2007

Players of Quinn’s height should not be able to move like she does, and the Swans Academy tall certainly has a lot of upside for the future as well. An elite athletic who can also clunk marks overhead, Quinn is a terrific ruck who will rest forward and be a target up there. Her best work is done when she is roaming around the ground being an option in transition, so watch for her to get involved outside the contest.

Isla Wiencke (Giants Academy)
Midfielder/Forward | 175cm | 30/03/2007

Coming off an MVP at last year’s national championships, Wiencke is a midfielder who can win both inside and outside ball. She will mostly play through the middle but is so strong overhead that Wiencke can add as a third-tall forward. She has a booming right peg and is a player who will often have a high percentage of clearances to disposals such is her knack for extracting the ball from the coalface.

TOP-AGE/OVER-AGE TALENTS:

Mia Anderson (Tasmania Devils)
Midfielder | 171cm | 14/02/2007

A hard-working inside midfielder, Anderson plays a role for the Devils around the ball and unassumingly racks up possessions to benefit her side. She thrives around the contest and can work to the outside as well. Did dabble forward a little of late and kicked a nice goal against the Bushrangers in Round 9. A tough, groundlevel player.

Harriet Bingley (Tasmania Devils)
Forward/Midfielder | 172cm | 23/03/2007

A strong-bodied utility who has proven herself across multiple positions, Bingley is likely to fit into that forward-midfield rotation. Strong overhead and over the ball, Bingley is difficult to bring down and hard to beat in the air which makes her a tough opponent for any opposition player. Represented the All Stars twice as well, indicating club interest from around the country.

Matilda Elbourne (Giants Academy)
Tall Defender | 176cm | 30/04/2007

The Allies have gone in with plenty of tall defensive depth to the carnival, and Elbourne fits into that mould perfectly. She is not a massive accumulator, but she can do a job and applied nice pressure at ground level. Like many defenders, just goes about her business and will be in the mix for a key spot down back.

Shakaila Gardiner-Dunn (Northern Territory)
Small Forward | 157cm | 22/09/2007

Earned a call-up to the National Academy side when injuries struck, Gardiner-Dunn is one of the few with league experience outside the Allied states. The Territory small forward has plied her trade with South Adelaide through the SANFLW this season and is a lively type with great evasive skills and tackling pressure. Will thrive at the feet of the talls inside 50.

Yasmeen Janschek (Giants Academy)
Ruck | 184cm | 17/02/2006

A netballer who has crossed into the football pathway as well with North Shore Bombers and most recently Sandringham Zebras in the VFLW, Janschek is an elite athlete who is still incredibly raw with her football IQ, but has a lot of traits to work with going forward. A towering presence at 184cm, she can match up through strength or leap, and is one who will attract club interest with those traits.

Peggy Martin (Sandringham Dragons)
Forward | 170cm | 05/05/2007

A dangerous forward with some nice craft around goals, Martin has gained great experience through the Coates Talent League Girls, even playing for the Dragons against the Northern Territory where she hails from making her eligible for the side. Martin, known as ‘PJ’ will be another player at the feet of the tall forwards, but has a nice leap and can provide some highlights as well.

Alex Neyland (Swans Academy)
Tall Forward | 178cm | 04/09/2007

One of the AFLW Draft bolters this year, Neyland’s transformation from key back to key forward was complete, with the outstanding aerial player producing some ultra-consistent performances in 2025. So strong overhead, the athletic tall applies rare defensive groundlevel pressure for a player of her size and sets up her teammates as much as she looks to hit the scoreboard herself.

Grace Parsons (Swans Academy)
Key Forward | 180cm | 10/12/2007

Working in tandem with Neyland at the Swans, Parsons also really threw her hand up to be at the higher end of the draft with the full-forward great overhead and a reliable set shot for goal. Got called up to the All Stars team with Neyland and booted the first goal of the game. Has a nice reach and is mobile to impact at ground level too. Not a huge ball-winner but does damage with her disposals.

Ella Randall (Giants Academy)
Wing | 168cm | 16/06/2006

One of the two over-agers included in the squad, Randall is an all-round athlete who has produced some nice football throughout the Coates Talent League Girls campaign, earning a call-up to the Allies squad. She runs hard on the outside and her athletic traits mean she can fulfil multiple roles for her side and will look to make the most of the opportunity at the national championships.

Taelah Smith (Northern Territory)
Midfielder | 169cm | 12/04/2007

Had a really busy Coates Talent League Girls campaign when captaining the Northern Territory. Smith is a contested ball-winning midfielder who covers the ground well and leads by example. Will take a lot out of that experience and this one, while also likely filling out a second position for the Allies. One of six Territorians in the squad.

Molly Thomas (Swans Academy)
Midfielder/Forward | 169cm | 22/04/2007

A classy left-footer who adds a point of difference to a heavily contested inside midfield, Thomas will benefit from having those ball-winners around her and being a smooth-moving second or third possession winner. She can also play forward and hit the scoreboard, using the ball effectively when going inside 50.

Lucinda Watson (Swans Academy)
Midfielder/Forward | 161cm | 25/11/2007

Yet another Swans Academy ball-winner who can play both midfield and attack, Watson is a little smaller than the others, but has plenty of talent to-boot. She is very clean under pressure and composed with ball in hand which helps her make good decisions a lot of the time. Will play a mix of roles through the national carnival one would think.

Kiera Yerbury (Swans Academy)
Midfielder | 173cm | 24/07/2007

A tall, explosive midfielder out of the stoppage, Yerbury had a blistering 34 disposals against the Oakleigh Chargers in the Swans’ last Coates Talent League Girls game then represented the All Stars. Has that prototype inside big midfielder about her, but she has a booming kick and the capability to play forward as well which are all huge positives.

BOTTOM-AGE TALENTS:

The Allies have named seven bottom-age prospects for next season with six of those hailing from NSW/ACT. Murray Bushrangers-tied Giants in Majella Day and Rose Bell are among the top prospects next season, as are Swans Academy speedster Charlotte Tidemann and inside ball-winner linked with Oakleigh, Zoe Curry.

Tall defender Morgan Stevens is another Giants Academy member, with Swans running machine Frances Walsh and Northern Territory’s Lakhyah Hill the remaining 2008-born prospects who could get a look-in to represent the Allies over the next six weeks.

FIXTURES

Round 1: vs. Vic Country | Sun June 22 @ Trevor Barker Beach Oval
Round 2: vs. Vic Metro | Sun July 13 @ Brighton Homes Arena
Round 3: vs. Western Australia | Sat July 19 @ Blacktown International Sportspark
Round 4: vs. Queensland | Sun July 27 @ Brighton Homes Arena