SOUTH Australia notched up a second consecutive win at the 2026 AFLW Under 18 Championships, defeating the Allies by nine points, 5.7 (37) to 3.10 (28). In a tough battle for most of the day, the two goals to nil third term separated the sides, with both teams having an even contribution across the board.

>>> MATCH REPORT: Croweaters hold Allies at bay

We took note of some of the players who caught the eye from both sides.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA:

#3 Charlee Brooksby (Norwood)
Defender/Wing | 170cm | 26/01/2008

Stats: 13 disposals, 2 marks, 1 clearance, 4 rebound 50s

The Norwood top-ager made her long-awaited return from injury and had a busy start to the match coming out of defence. While her first few kicks were a little rusty, she worked into the game nicely and got more damaging as the match went on. Tasked with some of the kickouts, she was an option coming out of the back half, and pushed up the ground to work off a wing with some nice work in transition.

#8 Emily Mableson (West Adelaide)
Defender | 171cm | 05/05/2008

Stats: 16 disposals, 1 mark, 5 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Aside from one rare blunder from a kickout that ended in a goal going back over her head, Mableson was her usual damaging self, coming from defence and driving the ball forward, providing plenty of run with her lovely skills and smarts. She worked hard to defend strongly, then take off and link up by hand, often winning multiple touches in a chain. Her tackling pressure was great, and on the flip side had moments such as her low bullet to Beaumont for a goal assist.

#9 Emma Charlton (South Adelaide)
Midfielder | 162cm |19/06/2008

Stats: 19 disposals, 3 marks, 8 tackles, 3 clearances, 2 inside 50s

While Charlton has had higher production games, the South Adelaide talent looked up there with the best around the midfield and in transition. She was fierce with her pressure, often tackling much bigger opponents, and when she had ball in hand she was usually neat and effective with her execution and decision making. Clean at ground level, Charlton was consistent across the game, and played her team role around the ball.

#11 Demi Holloway (Central District)
Forward | 160cm |12/02/2008

Stats: 13 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 1 behind

Holloway was one a of a number of players who stepped in game two, getting her hands on the ball more often and providing a two-way impact. She pressure inside 50, worked up the ground and also set up scoring opportunities for her side. She had a shot on goal off the back of a 50-metre penalty from 25 metres out that just missed for a behind, but had some great moments with her run-down tackle on Tidemann in the fourth term. Kicking can be hit and miss, but she’s clean, quick and tough.

#12 Julia Faulkner (Woodville-West Torrens)
Forward/Wing | 164cm | 06/05/2008

Stats: 14 disposals, 4 tackles, 2 clearances, 1 inside 50

Often under immense pressure, Faulkner did not have a lot of time and space, but she continually cracked in and worked hard to win the ball. Her hands are ultra clean and she won a couple of critical one-on-ones, including feeding it out to Layla Vizgaudis for a goal. She spent the second half on the wing after playing forward in the first half, and showed her running capacity between the arcs. The bulk of her touches were slick handballs to release to teammates.

#14 Lani Cocks (Norwood)
Midfielder | 162cm | 15/09/2009

Stats: 23 disposals, 3 tackles, 6 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 1 behind

Busy throughout the match, Cocks racked up the most touches on the ground and was constantly involved in link-up passages from defence to attack. Her clearance work was evident, but she spread consistently and looked to thump the ball long, while having the nous to draw free kicks when required. Her spins and weaves out of congestions caught the eye, and she has that brilliant burst that can burn off an opponent and break away from the contest effectively. Had a flying shot on goal as she was dragged down that went through for a behind.

#15 Lucy Moore (Woodville-West Torrens)
Midfielder/Forward | 165cm | 30/04/2008

Stats: 19 disposals, 2 marks, 6 tackles, 7 clearances, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50, 1 behind

Was one of the more dominant midfielders going around and brought the clearance form she has showed with the Eagles this season to Alberton Oval. After splitting her time between midfield and attack last week, she was far more full-time around the ball, and she was able to extract it time and time again, while using her fierce pressure to nail some big tackles. She didn’t get a lot of looks outside the contest but when she did rest forward, had a snap on goal that bounced to the right for a behind.

#25 Olivia Leslie (Central District)
Tall Defender | 177cm | 05/12/2009

Stats: 8 disposals, 1 tackle, 1 rebound 50

While not winning a lot of the ball herself, the South Australian full-back played a key role in restricting dominant Allies forward Day. She kept her goalless, and while her opponent definitely had a couple of chances that she could have kicked majors – a couple of gettable behinds and one shot marked on the line – at the end of the match, Leslie had still done her job. She competed well one-on-one, and even when caught for speed slightly, usually could pressure her opponent enough to spoil, or be proactive and come out at the ball to gather and clear like she did on the edge of three quarter time.

#29 Caitlin Hardin (North Adelaide)
Defender/Midfielder | 166cm | 19/03/2009

Stats: 13 disposals, 3 tackles, 1 clearance, 1 rebound 50

It was a mixed bag of a day for Hardin who again rotated between defence and midfield, and had some brilliant plays, as well as giving away quite a few free kicks. She loves to take the game on, and weaves through traffic or looks to sidestep selling some candy before clearing the ball downfield. While she caused some headaches for the opposition with that gamestyle and particularly looked good through the middle when moving on-ball in the second term, she also conceded five free kicks.

#31 Isabella Beaumont (North Adelaide)
Key Forward/Ruck | 180cm | 30/03/2009

Stats: 8 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 16 hitouts, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal

Predominantly played forward then rotated into the ruck to give Endersby a rest, Beaumont took advantage of the Allies not having a full-time ruck to rack up the hitouts as well. While her Under 16s All-Australian effort came at the other end of the ground, Beaumont has shown her versatility with her leap and mobility for a tall. She took a nice mark in the second term to slot a goal, and also ran-down Rock inside 50 in the final stanza to set up a shot on goal.

#32 Polly Turner (North Adelaide)
Tall Forward | 176cm | 16/01/2008

Stats: 11 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles, 1 hitout, 2 inside 50s, 1 goal

A hard-working performance from the Adelaide and Carlton-linked Turner. She lead up the ground and was always offering to be the first target out of the defensive 50, usually clunking the mark or at least neutralising the contest and bringing it to ground. Tough to beat in a one-on-one contest, Turner’s best moment came in the third quarter where she marked at half-back, hit a target on the wing, then pushed forward to mark where she slotted a set shot goal from long-range.

#33 Miyu Endersby (Central District)
Ruck/Forward | 179cm | 01/06/2008

Stats: 12 disposals, 4 marks, 34 hitouts, 4 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

After having her colours lowered through the ruck to the dominant Cara Dziegielewski last week, Endersby enjoyed being the clear standout ruck on the day as she had her way around the ruck stoppages and controlled the first touch down to her midfielders. Endersby was constantly a threat in the air, taking a number of strong marks – including intercept grabs – around the ground, and she even linked up by hand with neat one-two’s in transition well.

ALLIES:

#1 Evie Ward (Tasmania Devils)
Defender | 172cm | 29/10/2008

Stats: 16 disposals, 1 mark, 4 tackles, 3 rebound 50s

The versatile Tasmanian National Academy member played a different role out of defence on the weekend and provided a fair bit of drive being proactive and working in tandem with Tidemann in repelling the attack. She pushed up the ground and was able to find her fair share of the ball with a six-disposal first term, but finished strong with five touches in the last as well. Showed some clean hands and a willingness to attack.

#3 Aurelia Russell (Swans Academy)
Midfielder/Forward | 160cm | 03/12/2008

Stats: 10 disposals, 1 mark, 5 tackles, 3 clearances, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50

Was one of the more prominent players in the first half playing through the middle, collecting eight of her 10 disposals and winning three clearances to set her side up. In the second half she was rotated forward, and aside from a nice mark and then pass inside 50 which lead to a shot on goal, was relatively out of the action as South Australia had more control of the play. Her clean hands and great bursts coming off half-back with one-two’s caught the eye, and she gained plenty of metres when having any time and space.

#6 Frances Walsh (Swans Academy)
Wing | 173cm | 30/03/2008

Stats: 11 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles, 1 clearance, 1 rebound 50

Clean and concise across the ground, Walsh did not need a lot of touches to impact the game, with some neat passes off both sides of her body and always had her head on a swivel. Not her highest production game, but that was a case with most players on the field in what was a really tough game to rack up the ball. Did her part and was just solid.

#10 Matilda Lange (Tasmania Devils)
Forward/Midfielder | 166cm | 30/01/2009

Stats: 21 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles, 3 clearances, 6 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 1 goal

The pick of the Allies alongside Curry, Lange backed up her dominant first game of the national carnival, with a still influential second game. She again kicked a terrific goal after intercepting a miskick in the forward 50, and consistently caused all sorts of headaches around the stoppages. Her strength – which included multiple fend-offs, spins and bone-crunching tackles – alongside her clean hands and neat skills on both sides of her body meant she was able to impact in a variety of ways. Overall was clearly top two with Curry from the losing side, and amongst the most damaging on the ground.

#12 Charlotte Tidemann (Swans Academy)
Defender | 169cm | 08/08/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 2 marks, 6 tackles, 2 clearances, 5 rebound 50s

It was a mixed bag of a day for Tidemann similar to Hardin in the sense that what she provided in ball in hand was damaging, but she still got caught holding the ball twice in a couple of minutes resulting in a set shot goal to Chelsea Newitt with the second. But the benefits with her gamestyle outweigh the risks as she always takes it on and looks for those risky kicks or breaks clear to run the extra meterage and try and put the ball to open space or to her teammate’s advantage. Her evasion and then inboard passing was effective, and she even played on out of full-back taking multiple bounces to half-back so she took the ball all the way to the wing.

#13 Evie Bowie (Swans Academy)
Forward/Midfielder | 170cm | 31/12/2008

Stats: 13 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 1 clearance, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Bowie was another player who spent considerable time outside the midfield, coming off half-forward and pushing up the ground where she was still able to accumulate consistently. Her quick hands in traffic and ability to get out of trouble was a constant, and Bowie always looked to provide some attacking drive in transition. Like many in the game, played her part and was just solid across the board.

#14 Peggy Rock (Northern Territory)
Forward/Midfielder | 170cm | 20/07/2009

Stats: 13 disposals, 1 mark, 7 tackles, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s, 1 behind

Brought her usual aggression to the contest, and gives as good as she got, involved in a minor scuffle on the half-time siren that was quickly cleared up. While she can get caught holding the ball or for overzealous tackles, her sheer weight of defensive pressure was huge, as she locked the ball in the Allies’ front half consistently. Rock went on-ball in the last term and also drifted behind the play to mop up in the back half, showing positive signs as a bottom-age prospect.

#16 Ava Horneman (Swans Academy)
Tall Forward | 175cm | 12/11/2008

Stats: 12 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 1 goal, 2 behinds

Looked dangerous inside 50 and if the Swans Academy top-ager had been able to capitalise on a couple more chances, could have really had a big day. She kicked her goal off a nice set shot in the second term, and then missed another from a dropped mark turning into traffic, before a set shot and quick snap in the second half also evaded the big sticks. However what Horneman did well was provide a contest and always follow-up to try and win the ball, and she was constantly a threat that the opposition defenders had to quell.

#20 Morgan Stevens (Giants Academy)
Ruck/Defender | 177cm |13/08/2008

Stats: 10 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackles, 7 hitouts, 1 clearance, 1 rebound 50

Stevens had the tough task of starting in the ruck and then rotating to defence at different points. While she made a good go of it in the first term – six hitouts – it was a far more difficult task once Endersby had got into her groove. Stevens provided a calming influence in the back half though and saved a goal with a brilliant run-down tackle in the third term. Calm and composed with ball in hand as usual.

#22 Alana Fraser (Giants Academy)
Tall Defender | 175cm | 27/09/2008

Stats: 13 disposals, 5 marks, 1 tackle, 1 rebound 50

Competed well in the air and kicked off her day with a great mark on the goalline from a Faulkner set shot before clearing the ball to half-back. She used it effectively across the defensive half of the ground, and she was another Giants Academy defender who is polished and composed with the ball. Pushed up the ground at times, but did her best work either intercepting or being an option in the back half where she did opt to switch to open up the play on occasions.

#23 Majella Day (Murray Bushrangers/Giants Academy)
Tall Forward | 177cm | 11/03/2008

Stats: 8 disposals, 4 marks, 1 tackle, 2 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 2 behinds

Day had one of those ‘almost days’ where though you give the points to her direct opponent, the Murray Bushrangers and Giants Academy star really could have put a few majors on the board. Her first set shot was straight as an arrow and looked a goal until Tori Evans plucked a mark on the goalline, which perhaps was symbolic of Day’s luck in the match. She tried to soccer home another chance under pressure that just missed, had a shot that was stopped in the goalsquare, and then came the miss from almost point-blank range running in. Strangely a couple of other players missed from a few metres out up the same end which was interesting, but Day would kick them 99 times out of a 100. Still, she presented, clunked some good grabs and ever looked threatening each time she gathered the ball.

#35 Zoe Curry (Oakleigh Chargers/Giants Academy)
Midfielder/Forward | 172cm | 09/10/2008

Stats: 19 disposals, 1 mark, 4 tackles, 5 clearances, 1 inside 50, 2 rebound 50s

Curry’s presence around the Allies landscape changed the look of the game because when she and Lange were in the middle, they were tough to stop. Her sheer strength, clean hands and decision making were on show, and her penetrating kick allowed her to clear the danger on multiple occasions. Her second term in particular was a huge reason the Allies stuck with the Croweaters, picking up 10 disposals and being a menace at the centre bounce. She will be better for the run given she was only just returning from injury, but there were positive signs.