THE 2026 Vic Country Girls summer squad has 25 players between the top-age (2008-born) and bottom-age (2009-born) draft crops. Having won one match from four games last season at the AFLW Under 18 Championships – a victory against the Allies in Round 1 – Vic Country will be looking to build on that in 2026. We profile each of the summer hub members.

>> FULL SQUADS: 2026 Victorian summer squads revealed

Georgia Garlick (Bendigo Pioneers)
Defender/Midfielder | 169cm | 01/07/2008

While primarily playing on-ball, Garlick is a smooth-moving half-back or wing with a damaging left foot when transitioning the ball forward. She has impressed throughout her bottom-age season, and has been touted as one to watch thanks to her professionalism and dedication. Plenty of upside, and should take the reins when it comes to work between the arcs often as a second or third-possession player.

Beth Morris (Bendigo Pioneers)
Midfielder | 167cm | 04/09/2008

Morris looms as the natural player to step up and lead the Pioneers’ inside brigade in 2026 as a high contested ball-winner who knows her way around a stoppage. Her outstanding work rate is a highlight, with fantastic competitiveness and reliability each and every game. Her performances close to the coalface allow her teammates to shine, and with some further outside polish, can go to another level.

Lacey Nihill (Bendigo Pioneers)
Midfielder | 172cm | 01/05/2008

The most consistent all-round midfielder at the Pioneers, Nihill has a combination of Garlick’s smooth-moving outside ability, while also the toughness to win the inside ball too. She really upped her numbers in 2025, and shows terrifically clean hands and a high level contested rate. Has the traits and ability to play anywhere on the field, and if she continues her upward trajectory for the Pioneers and Vic Country, watch out.

Marlee Black (Dandenong Stingrays)
Forward/Midfielder | 164cm | 14/05/2008

An exciting high half-forward who has shown promise in both midfield and attack. While other Stingrays might have caught more attention externally, Black played a crucial role in linking up the two lines and also hitting the scoreboard herself. She kick-started her bottom-age campaign with three goals in Round 1 and finished with six for the season, while providing a strong aerial presence for the Stingrays.

Lily Brittain (Dandenong Stingrays)
Wing/Forward | 163cm | 26/01/2009

A standout for Vic Country Under 16s side at the National Development Championships, Brittain projects as a long-term midfielder, but after playing that role and up forward for Vic Country, she rolled off a wing for the Stingrays. Only the two games in her double bottom-age campaign, Brittain looks likely to follow a similar path to Cunnington in the sense that she will likely play predominantly outside before gaining more minutes inside later on.

Ella Bologa (Dandenong Stingrays)
Defender | 162cm | 10/09/2009

A smooth-moving small defender who was ultra-exciting at the National Development Championships and for Rowville in the Herald Sun Shield. Winning best on ground in the latter, Bologa will likely cement her spot in the back six for the Stingrays this season. Watch for her repeat contest work and reading of the play behind the ball, though has the capacity to move up the field in the coming seasons as well.

Alice Cunnington (Dandenong Stingrays)
Utility | 174cm | 30/06/2008

The hybrid tall has been touted as one to watch for this year’s AFLW Draft since bursting onto the representative scene at Under 16s level. Her aerial ability, athleticism and smarts are incredible, and she has spent time as a forward, wing or on-ball which further illustrates her versatility. Clearly one of the top Victorian prospects this season, she played all four AFLW Under 18 Championships games as a bottom-ager, averaging 13 touches and five marks per game.

Ruby Geurts (Dandenong Stingrays)
Forward | 171cm | 17/09/2008

A raw, but talented tall who had started her Stingrays career as a defender, but moved forward last season and locked down a key role. Despite an injury-interrupted year which saw her limited to just one full game at the national championships, Geurts returned to the Stingrays and looked the most damaging target in the front half, booting nine goals from her 11 matches and playing in the Under 17 National Future Girls squads.

Scarlett Marsh (Dandenong Stingrays)
Defender | 162cm | 03/04/2008

A really smart and skilful defender, Marsh went to another level as a bottom-ager. Often tasked with the kickouts, she had some outstanding games with her execution out of the back half, while also getting offensive run happening from behind the ball. Only slight at 162cm, she is a nautral footballer who can find the ball, showing just that at the AFLW Under 16 Championships in 2024. One to watch to go to another level in 2026.

Gabrielle Mehrmann (Dandenong Stingrays)
Key Defender | 179cm | 11/09/2008

The key utility honed in on a defensive spot this year, and while she had some great games, her finals series was outstanding. Keeping pick one contender Bailee Martin to just one goal – the only time at Coates Talent League level the Chargers’ forward kicked less than three – in the preliminary final, she went on and had another great game in the grand final. Not a massive accumulator, but has some great athletic traits with strength to-boot.

Sophie White (Dandenong Stingrays)
Ruck | 181cm | 18/03/2008

A developing ruck who was part of the Vic Country setup in 2025. She played two games at the AFLW Under 18 National Championships, averaging 18 hitouts from seven touches per game. White is a natural tap ruck and after waiting until her bottom-age season to debut for the Stingrays, she played 15 games and was one of the premier rucks in the competition. Another player who does not win a stack of the ball, and is developing the rest of her game, but has some great foundational traits.

Zoe Zach (Dandenong Stingrays)
Defender | 165cm | 09/12/2008

After just one game in 2024, the Vic Country bottom-age summer hub member got another 15 in 2025 for the Stingrays. Though she did not end up representing the ‘Big V’, she did play a key role for the Stingrays. Unfortunately a school camp meant she missed out on the Coates Talent League Girls Grand Final, but Dandenong is in a good place to get there again. Could see more midfield minutes in 2026.

Jemma Andrews (Geelong Falcons)
Midfielder | 179cm | 28/04/2009

Andrews is an exciting developmental tall who can use her size to impact around the clearances. She averaged six clearances per match at the AFLW Under 16 Development Championships off 12.5 disposals, and did the bulk of her work in close. Though she didn’t get a chance for Geelong last year, is ready to take over from a predominantly top-age Falcons midfield. Still a long way to her draft so one with plenty of ceiling.

Ava Bilyk (Geelong Falcons)
Utility | 167cm | 07/07/2008

Seems to have been out of sight, out of mind in terms of the AFLW Academy selection, but she is firmly inside our top 25 players without doubt. A super all-round talent who can play across all three lines and just does everything right. She is skilful, a terrific decision maker, impacts offensively and defensively, and is incredibly in the air for her size. Had her season curtailed by injury limiting Bilyk to just seven games, but she’s a bonafide star.

Ella Condon (Geelong Falcons)
Ruck | 182cm | 23/04/2009

Like Bilyk, Condon is a Vic Country MVP winner at Under 16s level. A great size at 182cm, Condon predominantly played through the ruck for both Vic Country and Geelong, but has the aerial presence and strength to lock down a key position as well. Readymade to compete against older opponents, Condon looms as a key target across the field and will be crucial to the Falcons aspirations over the next couple of seasons.

Meyah Fursland (Geelong Falcons)
Tall Defender | 175cm | 15/10/2008

Spending time behind the ball and chopping out in the ruck when required, the 175cm Fursland is a developing tall. A little undersized for the ruck role, she will likely cement a spot as a rebounding defender, and while she is still building elements of her game, gained great experience with 10 matches for the Falcons in 2025. Earned Vic Country summer hub honours off the back of a solid year, and will be looking to go to another level again this year.

Jayme Lasky (Geelong Falcons)
Key Defender | 179cm | 18/03/2008

A key defender who has the capacity to matchup on a wide variety of opponents, Lasky does not have the exposure of some of the other top-agers, only able to manage two games in her double bottom-age season. The Northern Territory native will look to return to the field this year and could be a wildcard for the Falcons. A good size who could come a long way in a short space of time.

Greea McKeegan (Geelong Falcons)
Forward/Wing | 176cm | 15/12/2008

An aerial specialist, McKeegan went from strength to strength in 2025. Starting as a talented forward who backed up her double bottom-age with the Falcons with an equal offensive output (seven goals in six games) but doubling her disposal tally as a high half-forward and wing, McKeegan firmly cemented her spot as one to watch. At 176cm she has size and a vertical leap which worries opponents, averaging four marks from 10 touches for Vic Country last season, while being an elite defensive player too.

Grace Dillow (Gippsland Power)
Midfielder/Forward | 167cm | 03/06/2008

Dillow is a natural ball-winner who can play across all three lines, but is most notably a midfielder who can go forward. She finds the ball exceptionally well, and is more often than not a damaging ball user even when winning the bulk of her touches around the coalface. Dillow possesses great footy smarts, and teaming up with Milner, provides Gippsland with a great one-two punch between on-ball and attack.

Brooke Kelly (Gippsland Power)
Forward | 168cm | 17/08/2009

The naturally gifted left-footer progressed from the AFLW Under 16 National Development Championships into the Gippsland lineup and showed plenty of promise for the future. While her kicking – particularly on goal – could use some work – she booted 1.7 in one contest – her pressure inside 50 and smarts to get to the right spots to win the ball were evident. Has a slick sidestep too to work her way out of traffic.

Lily Milner (Gippsland Power)
Midfielder/Forward | 172cm | 25/01/2008

A hard-working midfielder/forward who like Dillow, can play anywhere on the field. She is capable of extracting the ball from the coalface then finding space to link up by hand or foot going forward. She brings others into the game with her decision making and quite often is unselfish, doing all the right team things. Watch for her run and carry as a standout attribute heading into 2026 and has a nice technique as well.

Lila Evans (GWV Rebels)
Midfielder | 166cm | 30/04/2008

Following in the footsteps of recently drafted Maggie Johnstone, Evans is the next Warrnambool-based prospect out of the GWV Rebels. She got better as the year went on and really cemented her place in the midfield later in the 2025 season, averaging 11 disposals, three tackles, two clearances and two inside 50s throughout the season. A highly contested talent, will get even more midfield minutes in 2026.

Milly Shortal (GWV Rebels)
Midfielder | 175cm | 24/06/2008

A top prospect for Vic Country, Shortal was a late inclusion to the state side in her bottom-age campaign. At 175cm tall, Shortal rotated from being a half-back into the midfield for the Rebels where she used her body to take control of the stoppages. She has a powerful left boot and is hard to bring down, strong and evasive around the ball. Can play anywhere, and has enormous upside. A big watch in 2026.

Skylah McPherson (Murray Bushrangers)
Forward | 169cm | 22/01/2008

Showed some exciting traits in 2025 for the Bushrangers, and after having some early yips in front of goal, really settled and became a fluent scorer. She finished with 12 goals from 16 games, and progressed further up the field as the season went on. Has some potential to rotate into the midfield, but can be that damaging medium-tall forward who brings outstanding defensive pressure as well as creating scoring opportunities.

Eliza Roche (Murray Bushrangers)
Forward | 165cm | 03/03/2008

While struggling for opportunities deep forward for the Bushrangers, when she can get onto chances, she can apply plenty of scoreboard pressure. A naturally gifted player, Roche can be crafty inside 50 and find space where few others could. Her defensive pressure is a big tick, and at the AFLW Under 16 Championships she averaged six tackles from 10 touches and three marks, showing she can impact outside the scoreboard.