TWO SIDES searching for their first AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships win of the 2026 carnival clash at Brighton Homes Arena coming off a bye last weekend. Queensland will regain some key players since the loss to Vic Metro, while Vic Country will be hungry to get on the better side of the ledger after a tough loss to Allies at Blacktown.

We preview the big clash with the winner still alive in the title race.

NEED TO KNOW

Date: Sunday, June 28
Time: 10:30am (local) | 10:00pm (ACST) | 8:30am (AWST)
Venue: Brighton Homes Arena

TEAMS:

Queensland:

B: Jade Brazier – Ayla Airdrie – Raffi Baviello
HB: Kya Wills-Rawlings – Steph Aguinaldo – Asia Single
C: Summer Browning – Ameleia Murray – Freya Ross
HF: Amelia Ella – Indiana Scheffler – Aiyana Pritchard
F: Zoe Petrides – Harlee McIlwain – Mistee Sagigi
R: Sienna Clinch – Molly Ferguson – Stella Scott
INT: Tara Nieass – Tobi Skalij – Ella Gibson – Freya McIntosh – Harriet Howe

Note: Rough starting lineup based on team named

>> FULL SQUAD

Vic Country:

B: Georgia Garlick – Meyah Fursland – Milly Shortal
HB: Scarlett Marsh – Gabrielle Mehrmann – Zoe Zach
C: Lacey Nihill – Carmela Perri – Lily Milner
HF: Grace Dillow – Greea McKeegan – Skylah McPherson
F: Eliza Roche – Amelia Hamod – Hannah Griffiths
R: Sophie White – Ava Bilyk – Beth Morris
INT: Ella Bologa – Claudia Collins – Lila Evans – Evi Irving – Mia Smith-Clark

Note: Rough starting lineup based on team named

>> FULL SQUAD

CHANGES

Queensland:

IN: Kya Wills-Rawlings, Ameleia Murray, Summer Browning, Tobi Skalij, Harriet Howe
OUT: Maddie Campbell, Tigerlily Nixon, Grace Cooper, Lily Moana, Allie Cameron

Vic Country:

IN: Skylah McPherson, Mia Smith-Clark, Ella Bologa, Gabrielle Mehrmann
OUT: Issy Boulton, Olivia Holmes, Jemma Andrews, Shiloh Little

KEY MATCHUP

Sienna Clinch (Queensland) vs. Sophie White (Vic Country)

Two natural tap rucks who do their best work around the coalface will go head-to-head coming off big games first up at the national carnival. Clinch was too tall and strong for the Vic Metro ruck duo, while White made a mess of a ruckless Allies outfit. Now they take on each other in what promises to be one of the great ruck battles of the carnival. The winner will go a long way to getting it in the hands of the midfielders with plenty of options running through that area of the ground.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Queensland:

Queensland really missed the run and carry of Ameleia Murray and Summer Browning against Metro, and will no doubt be far improved with the ball in their hands on the outside. Add in the equally exciting Kya Wills-Rawlings and the Maroons’ traditional run and gun game should provide plenty more opportunities for the forwards. They struggled to put on a score early against Metro and only really got going late, so will be keen to start well, carrying on the momentum from that final term.

Harlee McIlwain and Indiana Scheffler provide some serious aaerial presence in attack, with Aiyana Pritchard able to rotate between the forward 50 and the wing. Molly Ferguson is one who always provides 100 per cent effort around the ball and has the smarts and skill to do damage via her passes inside 50. Zoe Petrides‘ work in the air and at ground level provides a point of difference, while Stephanie Aguinaldo out of defence and the duo of Stella Scott and Freya Ross add further depth to the Queensland team.

Vic Country:

The return of Dandenong Stingrays’ defender Gabrielle Mehrmann is a welcome return for the Vic Country side, able to take on one of the Queensland tall forwards. She will have her hands full alongside Meyah Fursland and potentially Milly Shortal. down there, while Ella Bologa adds extra class out of defence alongside Stingrays’ teammate Scarlett Marsh

A starring role from Geelong Falcons onballer Ava Bilyk kept Country in the game against the Allies, while Carmela Perri and Beth Morris provided the hard inside edge. Lily Milner and Lacey Nihill are two who can play in any position and will add versatility to the lineup, while Mia Smith-Clark and Skylah McPherson add some needed small-medium forward pressure. Georgia Garlick and Zoe Zach are a couple coming off big games at Talent League level.

WHERE THE GAME IS WON

It all starts around the ball as you would expect, but both sides have added some extra run to their respective teams. Expect it to be a game that Queensland can control if the Maroons get it to teh outside, but Vic Country should be able to match them on the inside. If Country can make it a contested slog and then use the ball effectively when they hacve their chances, they can push their highly touted opponents.

For Queensland, the goal is to get it to teh outside and let their natural flair come to the fore, with the additions of Murray, Browning and Wills-Rawlings all able to explode off half-back and along the wings. Accuracy will be crucial, because both sides should have chances, so taking them will go a long way to getting the job done.

PREDICTION:

Given Queensland’s in’s and being at home, it is impossible to tip against the Maroons. Had the Queenslanders had a full list available to them – including the still-injured Mia Geere – it could have been a very different result than the loss to Metro. Expect a hard-running contest but the Queenslanders to salute in front of family and friends.