NATIONAL Academy member Lexi Strachan and over-age athletic star Macy Fair will co-lead the West Australians at the AFLW Under 18 Championships which kicks off next month after the duo were named skippers at the season launch. Strachan is touted among the first round prospects in this year’s draft, while Fair was highly rated heading into last season coming off a massive preseason, but was struck down by her year-long knee injury and will make her return at the 2026 national carnival.

The announcement of co-captains came as the final squad for the national championships was confirmed, with Western Australia’s team the latest announcement for the Under 18s carnival following that of Queensland and South Australia. Alongside the mix of over-ager, top-age and bottom-age players are five Under 16s prospects including Sandgropers’ MVP at the National Development Championships, Bella Nelson.

Western Australia’s squad features 40 players, but also includes both the additions from the Under 16s campaign, and unlucky injured players such as West Perth talents Lunay Van Den Heever and Vienna Matera. Subiaco’s Caitlin Boss and Swan Districts’ Keira Fawcett were among the other Sandgropers to impress at the Development Championships to earn a spot on the extended Under 18s list.

Looking to the top-age cohort, and it is headlined by midfielder Strachan and her ruck partner in crime, Cara Dziegielewski. Fellow National Academy member Mia Carlshausen will hold down a place in defence and prove plenty of run, alongside the impressive Cienna Leslie and India Bonadeo. Western Australia will be spoilt for choice off a wing too, with stacks of natural wingers including West Perth’s Rikisha Nannup and East Perth’s Olivia McCay, while Tiama Collard, Charlie Fletcher, Summer Ajduk and Shaya Yarran have all spent significant time there.

East Perth’s sole representative Charli Bassett will build on her bottom-age carnival, while Swan Districts’ Grace Hirst will get her opportunity to represent the Sandgropers at Under 18s level. The likes of Heidi Ireland (Peel Thunder), Marie Polimeno (South Fremantle), Mel Grage (Perth) and Avuya Nomlatyu (East Fremantle) will return for another year after representing the Black Ducks in 2025.

Elly Lambkin, State Talent Manager – Female Academies at WA Football said she was looking forward to seeing the players challenge themselves and develop throughout the tournament.

“Every year, the dynamic of the 18s group is different with changes to the squad,” Lambkin said. 

“My hope for this group is to step into the challenge that lay in front of them during the 18s National Championship, to grow, learn and evolve themselves as players with each performance. 

“Success for the team will be measured on each individual choosing to use their grit and determination across all four quarters of each game.” 

WA’s AFLW National Under-18s Championship fixtures

Saturday, June 13: WA v South Australia (Mineral Resources Park, 1pm)
Saturday, June 20: WA v Vic Metro (Cockburn, 1pm)
Friday, July 3: WA v Vic Country (Melbourne, TBC)
Wednesday, July 8: WA v Allies (Melbourne, TBC)

2026 Western Australia AFLW Under 18s?Girls?Squad:

Claremont: India Bonadeo, Lucy Gilbey, Hannah Seaborn
East Fremantle: Cienna Leslie, Sienna Lilly, Olivia McCay, Avuya Nomlatyu
East Perth: Charli Bassett
Peel Thunder: Tiama Collard, Charlotte Fletcher, Tahlia Head, Zaide Wilson, Heidi Ireland, Tahlia Head, Maya Walsh, Mia Van Kleef 
Perth: Mia Carlshausen, Mel Grage, Niah Catto
South Fremantle: Marie Polimeno, Alexis Edgley
Subiaco: Macy Fair, Marley Kelman, Caitlin Boss, Beatrice Crane
Swan Districts: Summer Ajduk, Grace Hirst, Keira Fawcett, Shaya Yarran, Michaela Grau, Penelope Punaivaha
West Perth: Cara Dziegielewski, Jasmine Giles, Miley Hynes, Rikisha Nannup, Tayah Nicholson, Lexi Strachan, Lunay Van Den Heever, Vienna Matera, Arybella Nelson