THE 2025 AFL Women’s Under 18 All-Australian team was announced last week with a half dozen Vic Metro representatives leading the way, one clear of Queensland and Western Australia. Of the 23 representatives, 19 are eligible to be picked up in the December AFLW Draft, with four not eligible until 2026. We profile each of the 23 players below.

>> REVEALED: 2025 AFLW Under 18 All-Australian team

Back Pocket: Mizuki Brothwell
Vic Country | 175cm | 22/10/2007

The National Academy member has continued her impressive rise since making her mark as a bottom-ager, and still has plenty of potential to fill. Alongside twin sister Nalu, Brothwell is an athletic tall who can play on a variety of opponents and even move into the midfield at times. She is great at reading the play and intercepting from the back half of the ground, before backing herself and taking grass as she turns defence into offence. Tipped to be around the early second round mark, Brothwell is an exciting prospect out of the Dandenong Stingrays.

Full Back: Zara Neuwirth
Vic Metro | 183cm | 06/02/2007

A ultra-athletic key position defender, Neuwirth is one of the few pidgeonholed into a role, but it is a role she does exceptionally well. Often on the last line, Neuwirth has a long reach overhead which enables her to spoil, and complements her vertical leap and speed for a 183cm player. In 2025, Neuwirth has been developing greater offensive awareness to go with her elite defensive qualities, and therefore lifted her production rate in the process. Has some elements to still iron out, but is one of the higher rated athletic key backs.

Back Pocket: Maya Louvel-Finn
Western Australia | 169cm | 20/03/2007

Another player who can matchup on a variety of opponents, Louvel-Finn burst onto the scene this year after getting a taste for WAFLW action last year. Fully fit with a big preseason behind her, the athletic defender has been one of the most consistent backs at state level, and that form translated to her national carnival. A highlight was her shutting down the dangerous Day – also an All-Australian – up at Blacktown, while providing great composure and outstanding strength for her size. Can play offensively or defensively.

Half-Back Flank: Scarlett Johnson
Vic Metro | 175cm | 26/11/2007

Another player whose form heading into the championships had suggested All-Australian was on the cards, Johnson has become a completely different player since transitioning from a tall forward into a wing/defender for Northern Knights. Just as impressive for Vic Metro, Johnson covers the ground exceptionally well, competes in the air, and uses the ball effectively even biting off risky passes into the corridor. A player that teammates want to get the ball in the hands of, her consistency has come with a higher production value, and she has not put a foot wrong all year.

Centre Half-Back: Georja Davies
Queensland | 185cm | 17/01/2007

Seeing last year’s Queensland MVP lineup in defence was a little bit of a surprise, having spent time on the other two lines, most notably as a midfielder/ruck working in tandem with Havana Harris last year. But aside from a short quarter here or there around the ball prior to her more permanent last game move inside, Davies was shutting down opposition forwards in the back 50. She kept Wolmarans statless in a huge first term against WA, while also providing run and carry out of defence. Is as versatile as they come and one of the most promising talls in the draft.

Half-Back Flank: Rhianna Ingram
Queensland | 167cm | 20/10/2007

Despite all the talk around the strength of Queensland and particularly the Gold Coast Suns Academy, somehow Ingram has slipped through the cracks without the deserved recognition. Arguably the most consistent in those colours behind Lappin if we’re talking 2025, Ingram’s stocks have risen to be a genuine draft prospect. A reliable ball user from defence and one who is not just a cheap disposal winner, but one who will also compete in aerial contests or scrap at ground level too, there is plenty to like about what Ingram offers, and her rise will have clubs keeping close tabs on her.

Wing: Priya Bowering (MVP)
Allies | 169cm | 02/01/2007

It should come as no surprise that the most consistent Allies representative of the last few seasons came away with her side’s MVP, having impressed for Tasmania Devils throughout the Coates Talent League prior and post the national championships. Named on a wing which is about the only role she hasn’t been trialled in this year, Bowering is a strong inside ball-winner who is hard to beat both over the ball and in the air. She has terrific speed and evasion, with a powerful, natural kick that enables her to not only clear the congestion, but put it into scoring positions for her teammates. Clean and effective.

Centre: Chloe Bown (MVP / BnF / Captain)
Vic Metro | 173cm | 20/12/2007

Scooping up all the possible awards with Vic Metro’s MVP, the overall carnival best and fairest and therefore captaining the All-Australian team, Bown lived up to her pre-championships billing as one of the top AFLW Draft prospects. A powerful midfielder who can break lines and tackles, surge forward and either hit the scoreboard and set teammates up, Bown is damaging because she uses both sides of her body and therefore can exit stoppages in a number of ways. A high-volume accumulator who really does it all from offensive to defensive work, and remarkably was born 12 days off being a bottom-ager in 2025.

Wing: Mikayla Nurse
Queensland | 168cm | 19/09/2007

Another Queenslander who has shot up draft boards off the back of a consistent 2025, it was great to see the wing specialist earn a spot in the starting side. She has moved on-ball at times, but her run-and-carry and foot skills make her such an eye-catching prospect, and Nurse is one who will back herself to break lines and impact the contest. A risk-taker with her ball user, Nurse has the licence to run-and-gun, often setting up forwards with lace-out kicks inside 50. Having developed greater consistency this year, she has become a weapon with ball in hand for longer periods of time.

Half-Forward Flank: Mischa Barwin
Allies | 167cm | 04/12/2007

Making it two Tasmanians in the All-Australian team, Barwin is an evasive midfielder/forward who often plays a link-up role for the side where she can feed the ball from the middle to inside 50. Also spending time on a wing for the Allies, Barwin has a high running capacity and can also hit the scoreboard which is valuable for any side. However her big point of difference to a lot of smart ball users in the front half is her defensive pressure, with Barwin mowing down opponents for fun. Caught the eye in her debut Coates Talent League season last year, and has built on that in 2025.

Centre Half-Forward: Olivia Wolmarans
Western Australia | 180cm | 02/09/2007

Wolmarans’ best is as good as anyone’s in the draft, and if she can get a sniff, then her opponent is in for a long day. She showed against the Allies that despite having some form and accuracy issues preceding the match, all she needed was a relieving goal which she got, and then booted three more for the match. As athletic as any other 180cm prospect, Wolmarans competes in the air and at ground level, and it is more about keeping the same focus for four quarters. Though her Subiaco side was eliminated in the WAFLW Preliminary Final, she was one of the most impressive forwards in 2025.

Half-Forward Flank: Tayla McMillan
Vic Metro | 161cm | 25/05/2007

After being a surprise omission from Vic Metro’s main squad as a bottom-ager last season, the talented top 10 prospect showed why she is one of her state’s most exciting talents. A blend of skills and competitiveness, McMillan is like a Rolls Royce with a V8 engine. She can win it on the outside, hit kicks lace-out going forward or dance around opponents, but when she needs to, is as tough as any other player going around. Winning it at ground level at the first, second or third possession level, McMillan is one of the most well-balanced players in this year’s draft.

Forward Pocket: Majella Day
Allies | 175cm | 11/03/2008

One of only four bottom-agers, Day certainly impressed a lot of people with her performances in Allies colours, having a couple of big days, as well as working hard even when not hitting the scoreboard as often. Good overhead, exceptionally smart around goal and a long kick that can worry opposition defenders, Day has plenty of upside for 2026. In the past she has spent time down the other end, but she is far too classy in front of the big sticks to move her out of there, with her aerial ability and athleticism such a nightmare combination for any opponent.

Full-Forward: Bailee Martin
Vic Metro | 176cm | 03/09/2008

Speaking of bottom-agers with upside, a potential top pick next year in Martin gave a glimpse into the future with a seven-goal haul against Vic Country. Despite only playing three games and kicking the one goal in the other two, Martin earned All-Australian honours for her incredible burst against Country, beating a number of opponents with the state rivals having no answers for her. She had the Coates Talent League Girls leading goalkicker award won by mid-season, and if she starts kicking straight, she will be booting double-figure bags of goals on the regular.

Forward Pocket: Alannah Welsh
Queensland | 169cm | 23/11/2007

A dynamic forward who has also player on the other lines in the past, Welsh is not afraid to take it upon herself to stand up in big moments. Her final terms against the Allies and South Australia saw her look to win the game for the Maroons, and while in the former she missed a few and they fell short, Welsh kicked the game-winner by breaking a tackle and getting boot to ball in the dying minutes. A Gold Coast Suns Academy member, Welsh can sometimes do a little too much, but she also has Goal of the Year and Mark of the Year in her future as a human highlight reel.

Ruck: Cara Dziegielewski
Western Australia | 180cm | 19/04/2008

A deserved All-Australian honour after a really consistent carnival from the bottom-ager who looms as one of Western Australia’s top two prospects for next season. At 180cm, Dziegielewski moves like a midfielder and competes as fiercely as anyone at ground level with fantastic second and third efforts. She has enormous upside and has got better as the year has gone on, really winning plenty of the football through the WAFLW and showed some of those signs back against her peers at the national championships.

Ruck Rover: Sunny Lappin (MVP)
Queensland | 170cm | 28/11/2007

Might be one of the most consistent players this season and especially when factoring in her rise to where she is now. The signs were always there for the Carlton and St Kilda father-daughter prospect, with Lappin going from a second round prospect into the first round, and potential top 10 with her upside. She can play inside or outside, the former was the main role for Queensland given the state’s injury issues, and she took it with grace, winning the MVP and finishing second to Bown in the overall best and fairest. The talented ball-winner has a big draft decision to make now.

Rover: Emma Charlton (MVP)
South Australia | 160cm | 19/06/2008

The sole bottom-age MVP winner, Charlton has ties to the AFLW through her sister Teah, but if the Crows continue to be a force, it will be tricky to try and reunite them in the tri-colours. Charlton is a chip off the old block with similar evasive abilities and defensive work to her sister, but is also even more developed at her age with elite footy IQ, smart skills and an ability to go forward and play that role as well. Will be right at the pointy end of the draft next year, and is a natural ball-winner with further development left in her game. A definite name to remember in 2026.

Interchange: Josephine Bamford
Vic Metro | 182cm | 03/06/2007

Bamford showed that when she can play as that number one ruck, she can go to another level, and that form through the national carnival earned her All-Australian honours. An athletic tall who competes just as hard at ground level, Bamford moves like a ‘fourth midfielder’ and can go forward and have an impact. Still developing some of her aerial work, she has that rare ruck trait of being able to be involved in transition, even winning handball receives and rucking the ball under the arm. An impressive prospect with a size/athleticism combination.

Interchange: Carys D’Addario (MVP)
Western Australia | 168cm | 01/03/2007

A consistent national championships earned the Swan Districts star an MVP, justifying her place as one of the top stoppage midfielders. So strong on the inside with elite footy smarts to read the ball off the tap exceptionally well, D’Addario missed her past two national carnivals due to injury. That bad luck turned around in 2025, and the contested ball-winning prospect was among Western Australia’s best each match and is a name to remember in the top 30 for 2025. Has unique traits compared to other midfielders.

Interchange: Maggie Johnstone
Vic Country | 171cm | 06/06/2007

Rising up draft boards off the back of a really eye-catching start to the Coates Talent League Girls season with GWV Rebels, Johnstone continued that form through the national championships for Vic Country. A strong and powerful midfielder who can adapt that inside 50 as a marking target. Boasting enormous upside and an ability to just impact wherever she goes, Johnstone looms as Vic Country’s top draft prospect in 2025 and has a raft of clubs interested in her from her form throughout the various competitions.

Interchange: Mia Russo
Western Australia | 162cm | 06/08/2007

The MVP from this age groups’ Under 16s National Championships, Russo battled some injury and soreness coming into the carnival, but showed incredible resilience and grit to not only fight through it, but come out as an All-Australian. Behind D’Addario was the next most consistent Sandgroper, and she worked in tandem around the ball, also going forward to hit the scoreboard and help her side get over the line against Vic Metro in challenging conditions. A star in the making who when fully fit, can be as good as just about anyone in the draft class.

Interchange: Imogen Trengove
South Australia | 165cm | 25/04/2007

A brilliant 2025 season off the back of hard work and determination, the South Australian skipper grabbed her opportunity at the national championships. Unfortunately her carnival was cut short due to an ankle injury in the penultimate game, but she had been so consistent throughout the first three, that an All-Australian nod was well deserved. One of the largest tanks with a speed-endurance mix that clubs love, Trengove is another top-ager rising up draft boards, and has a level head above her shoulders as well.

Coach: Emma Zielke (Queensland)

Though Queensland did not win the overall national championships title – losing to Vic Metro by percentage only – the Maroons were incredible in the face of missing a host of prospects including pick one favourite Ava Usher. Zielke overcame the losses to guide the state to a 3-1 record, with the only loss being a narrow one-goal defeat to the Allies.

BREAKDOWN

ALLIES (3):
Mischa Barwin, Priya Bowering, Majella Day

QUEENSLAND (5):
Georja Davies, Rhianna Ingram, Sunny Lappin, Mikayla Nurse, Alannah Welsh

SOUTH AUSTRALIA (2):
Emma Charlton, Imogen Trengove

VIC COUNTRY (2):
Mizuki Brothwell, Maggie Johnstone

VIC METRO (6):
Josie Bamford, Chloe Bown, Scarlett Johnson, Bailee Martin, Tayla McMillan, Zara Neuwirth

WESTERN AUSTRALIA (5):
Carys D’Addario, Cara Dziegielewski, Maya Louvel-Finn, Mia Russo, Olivia Wolmarans