ONLY four teams took part in Round 2 of the AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships, with plenty of impressive individual performances to put their hands up for their respective state sides over the next couple of weeks. We looked at those who took to the field across various competitions.

ALLIES:

Giants Academy: Billie Hamilton, Lauren O’Sullivan
Murray Bushrangers: Charlie Gibson
Swans Academy: Jordan Davis

After a nine-goal haul the week before, Billie Hamilton had a little quieter outing against Eastlake Demons, but still booted two majors taking her tally to 17 from four games in the First Grade Women’s competition in Canberra. Fellow Giants Academy member Lauren O’Sullivan was impressive with 19 disposals, three marks, five clearances, three tackles and three inside 50s in her side Parramatta Goannas’ victory over St George, a game where Jordan Davis would have played had she been available.

Meanwhile in the Talent League Girls competition, Charlie Gibson had 20 disposals, eight tackles in four clearances in Murray Bushrangers’ low-scoring, scrappy defeat to Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels, being among the better players on the ground.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA:

Players: Lillian Thomas, Georgie Fielder, Charlotte Maurits, Sharmaine Crosby, Indianna Nelson, Kate Alexander, Taya Maxwell

The standout performance of the SANFLW came from Norwood ruck/forward Kate Alexander who spent more time in the latter role, and finished with 2.4 from 22 disposals, four marks, six tackles, nine hitouts and five clearances in a busy day out. Omitted winger Sharmaine Crosby made her debut dropping back to state level for Redlegs teammate Charlee Brooksby in the state side, with a few touches in the contest. Lillian Thomas didn’t play and instead ran out for Tea Tree Gully again in the Adelaide Footy League where she kicked a goal.

While most of the missing players are still out injured – such as Taya Maxwell, Georgie Fielder and Charlotte Maurits – however Central District bottom-ager Indianna Nelson did and finished with seven disposals, five hitouts, four clearances and two inside 50s in the Dogs’ tight win over North Adelaide.

VIC METRO:

Players: Perri Goulding, Ruby Jones, Lara Williams, Mackenzie Ackland, Lola Stone, Scarlett Bown, Maya Duane, Aluk Kuol, Elerbertina Schuliga, Luella Hall, April Dye

Vic Metro omissions had the toughest weekend with no Talent League Girls action taking place for the metropolitan teams. The pick of the top-age group in Lara Williams instead turned out for Rowville Hawks and booted four goals against Belgrave in the Eastern Football Netball League. Bottom-ager Perri Goulding was the other Eastern Ranges player to turn out over the weekend – for Mitcham against Wantirna South.

While Maya Duane missed out due to her injury in game one against Queensland, her Sandringham Dragons teammate Luella Hall returned to East Brighton Vampires for her second game of the season in the South Metro Junior Football League. Up in the Essendon District Football League, Elebertina Schuliga was named amongst the best for Moonee Valley against Essendon Douta Stars, while Western Jets’ Aluk Kuol was also amongst the best for the Wyndham Suns in the Western Football Netball League.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA:

Players: Mel Grage, Cienna Leslie, Tiama Collard, Grace Hirst, Macy Fair, Summer Ajduk, Olivia McCay, Keira Fawcett, Jasmine Giles, Beatrice Crane, Maya Walsh, Zaide Wilson, Penelope Punaivaha

Peel Thunder’s Tiama Collard produced another strong game in her return from concussion, picking up 18 disposals, three marks, three tackles and four inside 50s in the side’s heavy loss to Perth. She looms large as a wing option for the Sandgropers in a fortnight, while Zaide Wilson had seven disposals, nine hitouts, two marks and five tackles. Maya Walsh (three disposals and four tackles) was the other State Academy member in the match.

The performance of the weekend had to be Swan Districts double bottom-ager in Keira Fawcett (19 disposals, four marks, five inside 50s and four goals) who starred for the Swans in a massive win over South Fremantle. Top-ager Grace Hirst bounced back from a quiet first AFLW Under 18s contest with 14 touches, one mark, two tackles and a goal.

Right there with her were East Fremantle duo Olivia McCay (24 disposals, two tackles and one inside 50) and Cienna Leslie (22 disposals, one mark, four tackles, three inside 50s and a goal) were both fantastic. Beatrice Crane (14 disposals, five marks, four tackles and three inside 50s) was on the losing Subiaco side.

The remaining players in Mel Grage, Macy Fair, Summer Ajduk and Penelope Punaivaha did not play recovering from various injuries, while West Perth’s Jasmine Giles unluckily had the bye.