COMING away with the first four points of the Talent League Girls season, Brisbane Lions Academy won the Q-Clash battle for points to kick off 2026. In what was a tight tussle with the Gold Coast Suns Academy in perfect conditions, the Lions got up 6.5 (41) to 4.8 (32) thanks to a three goals to one second term. We took note of some of the players who caught the eye in the match.

SUNS ACADEMY:

#4 Sienna Burnham
Midfielder | 161cm | 12/07/2007

Stats: 19 disposals, 7 tackles, 3 clearances, 1 inside 50, 3 rebound 50s

The over-ager made a strong start to her 2026 season, gaining plenty of midfield minutes and providing a mix of clean possessions and great defensive pressure around the coalface. She worked hard defensively, and set the tone with that pressure. Burnham forced turnovers and provided value as both a first and second-possession winner.

#6 Allie Cameron
Midfielder/Forward | 161cm | 04/03/2009

Stats: 15 disposals, 1 mark, 9 tackles, 6 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 behind

The bottom-ager had a stack of contested ball in the game and was not afraid to throw herself into contests and feed it out to teammates. Clean by hand, Cameron was a little less effective by foot, but most of her touches came under serious heat. She almost kicked a ripping goal from the behind post in the final term that only just missed, with her defensive pressure and clean hands at the stoppages two key elements of her game.

#19 Stephanie Aguinaldo
Midfielder/Defender | 170cm | 04/04/2008

Stats: 16 disposals, 5 tackles, 1 clearance, 3 rebound 50s, 1 goal

Able to step up and play some midfield minutes alongside her usual run and carry from the back half, the top Suns Academy draft prospect had some eye-catching moments. Her fierce tackling – though one resulted in a free against – was on display, and her finish on goal midway through the fourth term showed her class. Had another chance later from the boundary but the attempt drifted across the face. Was composed in defence with her passing, usually linking up by hand.

#20 Lilly-Ann Ryder
Tall Defender | 173cm | 24/04/2007

Stats: 15 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 1 inside 50, 5 rebound 50s

The pick of the over-age draft prospects, Ryder still played in her key defensive post from her Lions Academy and Queensland top-age season, but really provided some added offensive run to go with her defensive shutdown work. Ryder played a high defensive line, came out to met the ball on several occasions, and though at times might have run herself into trouble, was able to usually get out of it thanks to her athleticism. Gained plenty of metres and repeat possessions through transitional chains.

#29 Grace Cooper
Tall Forward | 177cm | 04/10/2009

Stats: 15 disposals, 5 marks, 1 tackle, 1 hitout, 2 inside 50s, 2 goals, 1 behind

Arguably Gold Coast’s standout player on the day, Cooper provided a threat inside 50, both in the air and at ground level. She finished with two goals – one on the run in the second term and then a nice snap after picking up a contest spill during the third term – and could have easily had one or two more to her name. She worked up the ground, provided a target and looks a promising forward for the Suns Academy next year.

LIONS ACADEMY:

#2 Molly Ferguson
Midfielder | 161cm | 20/04/2008

Stats: 20 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles, 3 clearances, 3 inside 50s

Coming off an injury-interrupted end to the year last season, Ferguson locked in around the stoppages and showed great composure and clean hands under pressure. Still a lighter bodied prospect, Ferguson can get crunched, but with ball in hand she is ultra-damaging. Her disposal by hand in particular stood out, and most of her touches came under immense pressure. Once she had any time and space she got the ball forward into dangerous spots and set up a number of scoring opportunities such as Pritchard in the last quarter.

#3 Ameleia Murray
Defender/Midfielder | 163cm | 13/09/2009

Stats: 21 disposals, 5 marks, 4 tackles, 2 clearances, 3 inside 50s

The top-end 2009-born Murray started her bottom-age season in style with one of the better performances across the ground. She ran off half-back, played aggressively and also moved into the middle to win a couple of centre clearances back-to-back in the third term. The way Murray covers the ground is important as she can be involved in multiple possessions within a chain, and makes good decisions with ball in hand. Often playing a safe style with her ball use, if the 45-kick is on, she will use it, otherwise will buy time to a teammate and then look to offer herself as a secondary option downfield.

#4 Raffi Baviello
Wing/Midfielder | 164cm | 27/09/2008

Stats: 16 disposals, 4 marks, 6 tackles, 2 clearances, 1 inside 50

Returned from a long-term injury with some highlight reel run-down tackles in the match. Baviello brought the heat and put her body on the line time and time again. Her hands out of the stoppage were good and she popped up from time to time getting involved and keeping the energy high in the front half of the ground. She started on-ball in both of the third and fourth terms and won a couple of clearances across the course of the game.

#6 Zoe Petrides
Forward/Midfielder | 165cm | 2809/2008

Stats: 23 disposals, 5 marks, 6 tackles, 3 clearances, 7 inside 50s

Named best on ground for her performance, the talented Morningside forward caught the eye with her smart ball use and great positioning. She reads the play up the field exceptionally well and cruises around the ground scanning the field for the right option. A couple of big highlights came in setting up goals to Scheffler and Pritchard, the latter of which saw Petrides release by hand then provide a shepherd to two players to allow her taller athletic teammate to burst away and finish on the run. Petrides earned our Player of the Week for her performance.

#18 Freya Ross
Wing/Defender | 169cm | 04/11/2008

Stats: 18 disposals, 4 marks, 11 tackles, 6 clearances, 1 rebound 50, 1 behind

Ross is no stranger to covering plenty of ground and she did that off a wing and darting back to half-back to intercept or mop up. Her double-digit tackles signified her pressure in the game, setting the tone with a very nice run-down tackle late in the first term. She looked for options in the corridor, and when not available, went on the 45 to stretch the field. Played her role and even had a shot on goal that just missed.

#19 Mia Geere
Midfielder | 171cm | 08/04/2008

Stats: 18 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50, 1 behind

Looking to cement her spot as one of the more rock solid midfielders in this year’s AFLW Draft crop, Geere found her fair share of the ball in the game. She covered the ground well and found it in each third of the field and was often being the one to run past for the handball and use her long kick to advantage. The Suns were awake to this on a number of occasions so Geere often found herself under pressure, but played on after copping a big hit in a marking contest midway through the first term. Had an eight-disposal first quarter, and though a little quieter in the second half, still impacted the game.

#25 Aiyana Pritchard
Tall Forward | 175cm | 21/12/2008

Stats: 11 disposals, 5 marks, 2 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 2 goals, 1 behind

While the talented National Academy member did not see a lot of it in the first half with Scheffler doing all the damage on the scoreboard and the Suns intercepting and rebounding otherwise, Pritchard came alive in the the second half. She missed her first set shot midway through the third term, but then kicked two, the first of which came from a nice mark in the sixth minute of the final term. Her second was the highlight reel major, when she received the ball from Petrides on the wing and burst away, gaining distance and then finishing from 40m on the run to bounce home to an open goalsquare.

#35 Indiana Scheffler
Tall Forward | 181cm | 28/10/2009

Stats: 10 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles, 1 hitout, 3 goals, 1 behind

Scheffler had a second term to remember with a remarkable three goals to provide the spark for her team in an eight-minute purple patch. That performance proved to be the difference with four kicks, four marks and three goals in that one term. She looked to have kicked a fourth goal in the last quarter but was touched on the way through. A promising performance and one to watch over the next 18 months.