A CONTINUED growth in New South Wales female footballing pathways over the last few seasons and particularly looking to the future has plenty of exciting prospects set to line up for the Allies at this year’s AFLW Under 18 Championships. While the squad itself is yet to be decided, as we did for the boys’, we have taken the time to hypothesis what the Allies’ team could look like at the 2026 national carnival.

Note: This is a completely hypothetical squad, and does not take into account any future injuries, or unavailabilities. It is designed to be a discussion piece of some of the players who are in the mix.

>> SCROLL to see the full hypothetical squad

Unlike in the male equivalent, the Allies do not have the assistance of Queensland, so the combined states are only made up of New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania and Northern Territory. For the latter two, outside the two National Academy members from the Apple Isle, it is predicted most of the Allies representatives hailing from those regions will be bottom-age.

For the Swans and Giants Academy however, there is a great depth of talent across top and bottom-age prospects, as well as even some over-age talents in the mix. When we had a go at piecing together the squad.

DEFENDERS

Locks: Morgan Stevens (Giants Academy), Charlotte Tidemann (Swans Academy)

The two National Academy members will provide plenty of drive out of the back 50 with their kicking skills and athleticism the key highlights of their game. Tidemann will also gain crucial inside minutes, and may even push up to a wing at times, but has been predominantly playing off half-back to utilise her run and carry and skills from defence. No doubt the Allies would love to have key defender Grace Tracey (ACL) available with the National Academy member obviously a lock too.

Watch For: Rose Bell (Murray Bushrangers), Ashleigh Barlow (Swans Academy), Alana Fraser (Giants Academy)

When it comes to reliability this trio loom as three that have shown plenty to deserve a call-up to the squad, with Bell representing the Allies last season. Barlow has performed as strongly as any other tall defender this year, and should get the nod, as should the smart and skilful Fraser who has been running off half-back and providing drive out of the back 50 for the orange team. Bell of course has her booming kick, reads the play well and rebounds consistently.

Others:

After the top five, there is a discussion to be had as to who fills it out. One such consistent name is Lauren O’Sullivan who has shown the flexibility to play across all three lines, which is crucial to the Allies with a team that naturally lacks understanding of each other’s games. In our best squad, we chose Swans bottom-ager Emma McCallum as one who should slot in, having proven herself across her Under 16s and bottom-age campaign thus far. She reads the ball well and distributes effectively from the back half.

RUCK/MIDFIELDERS

The region’s two best over-agers were actually picked up in Monday’s Preseason Draft, with Swans Academy’s Amaia Wain and Giants Academy’s Sophia Gaukrodger both selected into the AFL Women’s by the Western Bulldogs and GWS Giants respectively. They would have been locks for the side, but instead the Allies will have to dig into their depth, particularly in the ruck stocks.

Locks: Zoe Curry (Oakleigh Chargers/Giants Academy), Matilda Lange (Tasmania Devils), Darcie Prosser-Shaw (Giants Academy), Frances Walsh (Swans Academy), Evie Ward (Tasmania Devils)

The top-end talent of the midfield is undoubted, and while we could have chucked a few more ‘locks’ in here, we have gone with the very obvious ones. Having top-age Curry and bottom-age Lange dealing with the contested ball, it allows the runners – be it Prosser-Shaw or Tidemann to take the game on and go. Walsh is the most obvious lock for a wing spot, while Ward can also play out there, but will likely play inside and forward, with Prosser-Shaw rotating between inside and outside.

Watch For: Evie Bowie (Swans Academy), Emma Haley (Swans Academy), Aurelia Russell (Swans Academy), Zara Neil (Giants Academy)

The Swans Academy do a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to the midfield, and a further trio of players are in line to earn a spot. Bowie and Russell are all class and starred for the red and white, while Haley is more of a defensive-minded midfielder who could play as a pressure forward too. She and Neil – a taller midfield/forward option – are possibilities, particularly off form.

Others:

There is a fair bit of bottom-age depth coming through with Murray Bushrangers pair Evie Henley and Charlie Gibson, the former also tied to the Giants Academy. Northern Territory bottom-ager Peggy Rock is her state’s best prospect, but she will also likely play much more forward with the depth on display for the Allies through the middle. Though the wing spot will likely be taken by one of the aforementioned players earlier, Ariella Paterson has been playing a really solid role there for the Giants, while over-ager Lila Micheletti from the Swans should come into consideration.

The ruck spot is more contentious with Wain’s elevation to AFLW suddenly making it a lot more tricky. Giants Academy member Ava Saad looks likely to earn the number one spot from the more obvious options out there, while Imogen Verdouw could be one for a chop out, though as a bottom-ager still has time on her side.

FORWARDS

Locks: Evie Bingham (Tasmania Devils), Majella Day (Murray Bushrangers/Giants Academy)

The forwardline looks a little more open in terms of options, but the clear two obvious choices in Bingham and Day will be locks. Bingham could well start in the midfield – and Tasmanian teammate Ward down forward as well – but we’ve named Bingham here to add that touch of class. No doubt a midfielder or two from the group above – such as Bowie or Russell – will have time off a flank.

Watch For: Jordan Davis (Swans Academy), Ava Hornemaan (Swans Academy) Georgia Patterson (Giants Academy), Brea Trevitt (Giants Academy)

Given her form to start the season, it is hard to deny Horneman a spot as the other key forward, while Jordan Davis can play both forward and chop out in the ruck and provides strong hands. The team could be a little top heavy if they both play with Trevitt (a possibility, but deserving) and Day. It means the Allies will likely opt for some smaller options available inside 50. Rock would most likely feature here, while Lolita Savala and other bottom-agers, Tasmanian Luca Murgatroyd and Billie Hamilton are a couple of other options to slot in.

It would be great to see the Allies call-up former Giants Academy member now Central Districts midfielder/forward Aoife Berry. It is not unheard of to see Allies representatives who have not played through the Talent League, and Berry is age-eligible – 2007-born – and clearly good enough.

OTHERS

A player who would have to be in if not for an ankle injury is another Swans Academy member in midfielder/forward Heidi de Saxe. There is possibility to be added to the championships, but she is likely still over a month away from playing so will likely fall short of their opening game. Bottom-age Swans midfielder Genevieve Hynes could be in as well, as could Tasmania defender Olivia Lyons and Northern Territory duo Layla May and Kayla Ilett are other 2009-born possibilities.

We haven’t included any 2010-born possibilities, though there are some who could be in the mix if the Allies went down the route of adding double bottom-agers. Grace Anstess is arguably the second best NT prospect behind Rock even as an Under 16s talent, and might be a consideration given the balance the Allies squad tries to create amongst the states involved.

From an over-age perspective, Northern Territory’s Marika Carlton could return this year after opting to forgo the championships last year, while Berry, Micheletti and even Allies representative Grace Parsons all potential chances.

ALLIES HYPOTHETICAL SQUAD:

Ashleigh Barlow, Aoife Berry+, Rose Bell, Evie Bingham, Evie Bowie, Marika Carlton+, Zoe Curry, Majella Day, Jordan Davis, Alana Fraser, Charlie Gibson*, Emma Haley, Evie Henley*, Ava Horneman, Matilda Lange, Layla May*, Emma McCallum*, Lila Micheletti*, Zara Neil, Lauren O’Sullivan, Georgia Paterson, Darcy Prosser-Shaw, Peggy Rock*, Aurelia Russell, Morgan Stevens, Charlotte Tidemann, Brea Trevitt, Imogen Verdouw*, Frances Walsh, Evie Ward

Note: Grace Tracey (ACL) and Heidi de Saxe (ankle) would be in the squad had it not been for their respective injuries.