QUEENSLAND remains undefeated in the 2025 AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships after an incredibly hard-fought 12-point win over a gallant Vic Country at Brighton Homes Arena. Missing up to seven of their starting side, the home team had an electric start and a strong finish to secure the 6.4 (40) to 3.10 (28) win.

The clash between two Round 1 winners looked to be a one-sided contest early when Queensland slammed home three goals in the first three minutes with Vic Country barely touching the ball in that time. Bottom-ager Aiyana Pritchard opened proceedings in just 27 seconds, and by the third minute, both Edie Fraser and Mia Geere had added their names to the goalkickers list.

While it only took three minutes for hte first three goals, just three were kicked in the next 64 as Vic Country clawed its way back into the contest. A massive contested mark in the final term to Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels” Maggie Johnstone handed the visitors the lead for the first time in the match. That would only be a brief moment of joy however as that awoke the sleeping giant.

Queensland kept pressing forward of centre and Pritchard became the hero, slotting two goals – one from getting deep and running in from point-blank range and the other from a set shot – within the space of four minutes to deny Country an unlikely win.

Despite all of Country’s best efforts to limit the home side – and having 10 more inside 50s (42-32), Queensland punished its opposition more on the scoreboard with greater accuracy. The way the Maroons were able to overlap really helped, with Mikayla Nurse and Aleah Stringer providing the run and carry, while the reliability of defender Rhianna Ingram out of the back 50 was a key to denying Country.

The win marked Queensland’s second after the last-kick thriller over Western Australia six days earlier, meaning the Maroons move into the box seat as the only undefeated side with Vic Metro remaining. Nurse finished with 24 touches, five marks, three tackles, three clearances and nine inside 50s, while Stringer (20 disposals, five marks, two tackles, four inside 50s and two rebound 50s) and Ingram (20 disposals, two marks, two clearances and seven rebound 50s were both crucial as well.

Starting in defence then rotating into the ruck for the last term, Georja Davies had 18 disposals, four marks, four tackles, 15 hitouts, three clearances and eight rebound 50s, while Dekota Baron made a successful return from a long-term injury and though her accuracy on goal was a little off, she still clunked four marks.

For Vic Country, the Geelong Falcons pair of Stella Huxtable and Georgia Tyrrell combined for 41 disposals, nine clearances and seven inside 50s, with the Geelong Falcons skipper also laying 10 tackles in the loss. Johnstone (15 disposals, four marks, three clearances, five inside 50s and a goal impressed again, as did Dandenong Stingrays duo Alice Cunnington (14 disposals, six marks, three tackles, three inside 50s and two rebound 50s) and sisters Nalu (17 disposals, three tackles and two clearances) and Mizuki Brothwell (14 disposals, five rebound 50s) also worked hard.

Both sides have a fair rest until July 20 when Vic Country takes on Vic Metro in a massive all-Victorian clash at RSEA Park, while Queensland hosts the Allies back at Brighton Homes Arena on July 27.

QUEENSLAND 3.0 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 6.4 (40)
VIC COUNTRY 1.4 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 3.10 (28)

GOALS:
Queensland: A. Pritchard 3, Z. Petrides, M. Geere, E. Fraser
Vic Country: M. Johnstone, A. Hobson, C. Sutton

RMC BEST:
Queensland: M. Nurse, A. Stringer, R. Ingram, A. Pritchard, M. Geere
Vic Country: G. Tyrrell M. Johnstone, S. Huxtable, A. Cunnington, M. Brothwell