A HARD-FOUGHT second round of the AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships served up just two matches, but plenty of standout performances, with South Australia’s nine-point win over the Allies and Vic Metro’s 26-point comeback against Western Australia shaping our Round 2 Team of the Week. The Croweaters lead the way with seven representatives, with Vic Metro and Western Australia (six apiece) not far behind, while the Allies round out the 24-player squad with five.

DEFENDERS:

The back six was anchored by a pair of Western Australians who held firm in a losing side. Mia Carlshausen continued to lead the charge from the defenders at the national carnival, the Perth prospect calm and composed with 19 disposals and seven rebound 50s while gatekeeping the big sticks and dropping into the hole in front of the dangerous leads.

Alongside her, Heidi Ireland‘s five touches do not tell the story – the Peel Thunder talent produced arguably the best defensive job seen on pick one contender Bailee Martin all season, keeping the Chargers tall to four disposals while she was on her. The third spot in the back line went to Allies’ Alana Fraser, who competed superbly in the air with five marks – including a saver on the goalline from a Faulkner set shot – and was polished and composed coming out of the Giants Academy defender’s natural habitat.

The half-back line was loaded with run and drive. Sophia Green racked up a game-high 25 disposals for Vic Metro, the Carlton father-daughter prospect busy out of a back half under pressure and collecting 18 of those touches through the middle two quarters as she switched play and linked up with the midfield. Western Jets’ Kiara Boyd joins her after a slick showing off half-back, sidestepping opponents and switching lanes through the corridor while remaining hyper-vigilant at forward stoppages.

The final defensive spot belonged to South Australia’s Emily Mableson, who was her usual damaging self driving the ball out of defence with lovely skills and smarts, backing up her run with strong tackling pressure and a pinpoint low bullet to Isabella Beaumont for a goal assist.

MIDFIELDERS:

The engine room was headlined by a trio of inside bulls who thrived in the contested stuff. Bottom-ager Lani Cocks racked up a game-high 23 disposals and six clearances for the Croweaters, constantly involved in link-up passages from defence to attack with that brilliant burst to break clear of congestion. Allies pair Zoe Curry and pick one contender Emma Charlton round out the centre square work – Curry’s presence changed the look of the game with 19 disposals and five clearances, particularly a 10-disposal second term that kept the Allies in touch, while Charlton was fierce with her pressure (eight tackles) and neat by hand in a strong all-round display.

On the outside, Vic Metro’s Maddison Meagher was the difference after quarter time, the explosive Northern Knight’s line-breaking run sparking the Vics before she read a kickout to slot the opening major eight minutes into the third term. She is joined on the wing by bottom-age Sandgroper Tahlia Head, who showed plenty of draftable qualities covering the ground and clunking several big intercept marks, including three in the final term.

In the ruck, Miyu Endersby was the clear standout big after having her colours lowered last week, dominating with 34 hitouts, controlling the first touch to her midfielders and providing a constant aerial threat with her strong intercept marking around the ground.

FORWARDS:

In a low-scoring round, the forward line was built on impact rather than a flood of majors. Allies star Matilda Lange was again among the best afield, the bottom-ager backing up her dominant opener with 21 disposals, six inside 50s and a terrific goal, causing all sorts of headaches with her strength, clean hands and skills on both sides.

South Australia’s Polly Turner earns her spot on the back of a hard-working effort up the ground, capped by a brilliant passage in the third term where she marked at half-back, hit a target on the wing, then pushed forward to mark and slot a long-range set shot. Vic Metro’s Brylee Anderson was one of the most consistent contributors on the ground with 23 disposals, starting forward and applying pressure before working into the midfield rotation.

The full-forward line balances finishing with relentless pressure. Isabella Mazzei adapted her midfield traits to a purely forward role for Metro, kicking a set shot goal and impressing with her ultra clean hands and aerial strength. Allies tall Ava Horneman looked dangerous inside 50 all day, kicking one and threatening to do real damage had a couple more chances gone her way, while the tenacious Peggy Rock brought her usual aggression and weight of defensive pressure (seven tackles) to lock the ball in the Allies’ front half, showing positive signs as a bottom-age prospect.

INTERCHANGE

The bench is headlined by the two rucks who went toe-to-toe at Cockburn. Reigning All-Australian Cara Dziegielewski was among the best on ground for Western Australia, taking control around the stoppages with 24 hitouts, nine tackles and fantastic follow-up pressure, while her opponent Cleo Barbakas competed strongly all day for Metro, providing an aerial presence and acting as an extra midfielder in transition with 18 disposals and 10 hitouts.

They are joined by a quartet of damaging midfielders and defenders. Double bottom-ager Caitlin Boss looked a class above her age with 23 touches and six inside 50s among WA’s best, with teammate Charlie Fletcher thriving on the inside and bringing enormous pressure with a whopping 13 tackles.

South Australia’s Lucy Moore was one of the more dominant midfielders going around with 19 disposals and seven clearances, while bottom-age full-back Olivia Leslie did the unheralded work, keeping dangerous Allies forward Majella Day goalless with a disciplined lockdown effort.

EMERGENCIES

It was tough to trim the squad to three emergencies, with Vic Metro pair Alli Allen and Grace McIntyre and South Australia’s Charlee Brooksby the final inclusions. Allen’s form has gone to another level off half-back before her day ended early through a knock, McIntyre worked into the game with 19 disposals and a goal on the wing, and Brooksby was busy on return from injury, providing a transition option from defence onto a wing.

2026 AFLW UNDER 18 CHAMPIONSHIPS: ROUND 2 TEAM OF THE WEEK

B: Mia Carlshausen (Western Australia) – Heidi Ireland (Western Australia) – Alana Fraser (Allies)
HB: Emily Mableson (South Australia) – Kiara Boyd (Vic Metro) – Sophia Green (Vic Metro)
C: Maddison Meagher (Vic Metro) – Lani Cocks (South Australia) – Tahlia Head (Western Australia)
HF: Matilda Lange (Allies) – Polly Turner (South Australia) – Brylee Anderson (Vic Metro)
F: Peggy Rock (Allies) – Ava Horneman (Allies) – Isabella Mazzei (Vic Metro)
R: Miyu Endersby (South Australia) – Zoe Curry (Allies) – Emma Charlton (South Australia)
INT: Cleo Barbakas (Vic Metro) – Caitlin Boss (Western Australia) – Cara Dziegielewski (Western Australia) – Charlie Fletcher (Western Australia) – Olivia Leslie (South Australia) – Lucy Moore (South Australia)

EMG: Alli Allen (Vic Metro) – Charlee Brooksby (South Australia) – Grace McIntyre (Vic Metro)