AN IMPRESSIVE finish to the 2026 AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships saw the Allies snatch second spot overall with a 29-point victory over Western Australia. In the second game of the last day triple-header at Shepley Oval, the Allies got up 8.12 (60) to 4.7 (31) thanks to six goals to two after quarter time.

>> MATCH REPORT: Allies 8.12 (60) def. Western Australia 4.7 (31)

ALLIES:

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

Stats: 15 disposals, 2 marks, 1 tackle, 1 clearance, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

The National Academy member has been one of the more versatile players in the AFLW Draft pool, and in the win against Western Australia, she was deployed in defence. After a quiet start – just two touches – she came alive in the second with the Sandgropers attacking fiercely thanks to the breeze. She took a couple of good marks under pressure and when she did drop one, recovered well to dish off effectively. Ward covers the ground well and provides some attacking transition as well as aiding in the back half, looking for repeat possessions.

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

Stats: 23 disposals, 4 marks, 5 tackles, 6 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 1 behind

The draft bolter capped off a sparkling carnival as one of the Allies best and was constantly involved all around the field. She has that great mix of athletic and footballing traits which catch the eye, and her abiloty to make good decisions with ball in hand is also a big tick. Found a stack of it across the course of the match, and had as much impact on the outside as she did on the inside, marking on the overlap and getting her hands dirty at the coalface.

#7 Billie Hamilton (Giants Academy)
Forward | 168cm | 14/11/2009

Stats: 12 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackles, 1 inside 50, 2 goals, 2 behinds

The powerful forward was on-song with her presence inside 50, kicking two goals from four scores and looking exceptionally dangerous each time the ball came to her. The sister of Sydney’s Lexi and Cynthia was a little wayward at times, but is strong in the air and has such a penetrating kick that allows her to unload from range. Her majors came in the first and third terms, one from a mark and set shot, and the other after a 50-metre penalty taking her to the goalline.

#9 Rose Bell (Murray Bushrangers)
Forward | 171cm | 18/03/2008

Stats: 9 disposals, 6 marks, 2 tackles, 1 clearance, 3 inside 50s, 3 goals

In a forwardline stacked with talent, Bell really put AFLW Draft recruiters on notice as she kicked a game-high three goals. Her strength overhead and ability to finish was a highlight, and aside from a strange set shot that fell short late in the match, was able to do plenty of damage on teh scoreboard. Her elite footy IQ and decision making means she is a high impact-per-possession player, and the Murray Bushrangers top-ager really shone in her final national carnival match.

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

Stats: 19 disposals, 1 mark, 1 tackle, 3 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal, 1 behind

Winning the Allies’ MVP for the carnival, Lange actually spent the bulk of the game forward before rotating into the middle. She had her usual class around the big sticks by swooping on a ball and snapping from a tight angle. A completely uncharacteristic error up the other end saw her mistakingly handball to Mia Van Kleef in the defensive goalsquare, but other than that, she was strong and impactful throughout. Selling some candy after a fend-off in the third term was terrific, and she continued to work hard and provide looks on goal for her teammates in transition.

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

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

Tidemann has been really solid across the entire national carnival, but her work in game four might be the most eye-catching. She applied great pressure in the defensive half which was a huge plus as her natural offensive flair is always there. She really got going into the game with 11 of her 19 touches. coming into the second half as she started the fourth term on-ball. Not afraid to break from half-back and take the game on, she has a spearing pass that can hit leading targets, and while still developing aspects of her game to round out her profile, is a really damaging prospect.

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

Stats: 16 disposals, 4 marks, 6 tackles, 2 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 behind

Rotating between the midfield and forwardlines as she so often does, the Sydney Swans Academy member was fierce at ground level and clean once the pill was in her hands. She looked dangerous in that high half-forward role, and while she can find the ball and get out of tight spaces, is happy to lock it up with fantastic defensive pressure when required. A set shot from 35 metres fell short but was clunked by Bell, and she had a number of big kicks going down the ground leading to scores throughout the match.

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

Stats: 14 disposals, 5 marks, 2 tackles, 2 hitouts, 5 rebound 50s

Much more suited to her rebounding defensive role than the ruck position of game two, Stevens was the glue that held the back 50 together. Alongside a number of clean users, Stevens was no exception, usually calm and composed with ball in hand and a lovely long kick. She positions herself effectively in the defensive 50 to mark, and while her best work is when she has grass in front of her, is effective in one-on-one situations to spoil or intercept depending on the situtation.

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

Stats: 20 disposals, 2 marks, 6 tackles, 6 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

Since coming into the Allies side for game two, Curry has not missed a beat and only lifted her AFLW Draft stocks. A powerful and clean inside midfielder who competes well overhead which enables her to play forward, Curry was involved in a number of bruising encounters, and in the space of a few minutes was a little sore but her opponents in Strachan and Carlhausen – both National Academy teammates of Curry’s – were worse for wear. Everyone was fine in the end, and Curry’s ability to penetrate through the West Australian defence put pressure on the deepest backs of the oppositions.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA:

#6 Charli Bassett (East Perth)
Midfielder | 156cm | 19/11/2008

Stats: 17 disposals, 5 marks, 2 tackles, 3 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Another really fierce contest from Bassett who never shies away from a battle. She shrugged a couple of tackles and used her clean hands to dispose of it, while showing nice strength overhead to clunk a series of marks. Her work rate into space was on show, and she not only won it between the arcs, but worked into the defensive 50 to drive it to safety, as well as put it forward to enable teammates to have looks on goal.

#8 Charlie Fletcher (Peel Thunder)
Utility | 167cm | 04/02/2009

Stats: 13 disposals, 3 marks, 5 tackles, 2 clearances, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50, 1 behind

The explosive Peel Thunder bottom-ager got a taste for a little bit of everything in the match. Starting in defence, Fletcher looked to mop up for her side, before being throw forward and being a link-up player between the arcs. She moved on-ball with Strachan resting to start the fourth term, which saw Fletcher have a say in plays across all three lines. Her almost-moment came when charging towards goal but it just went across the face.

#11 Summer Ajduk (Swan Districts)
Wing | 171cm | 12/11/2008

Stats: 14 disposals, 4 marks, 5 tackles, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

The hard-running wing was a transitional option between the arcs, and used to link up between defence and attack. She finds the ball with ease and sometimes unassumingly, but, the Swan Districts top-ager spread well and when she was in a contest, got her hands dirty. A real all-round player, and while still refining her kicking at times, took a number of good marks and held her own against quality opponents.

#15 Cara Dziegielewski (West Perth)
Ruck | 182cm | 19/04/2008

Stats: 21 disposals, 3 marks, 6 tackles, 44 hitouts, 3 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 4 rebound 50s

It was not a surprise that Dziegielewski essentially did as she pleased against a ruckless Allies outfit, but the National Academy member showed she can knuckle down and get the job done that’s in front of her. Racking up a tournament individual-high 44 hitouts in the match, Dziegielewski continually got first hands to it and set up a number of centre clearances with her ruck craft. She still got involved around the ground which has been the most pleasing aspect of her national carnival, and her work in all thirds of the ground ensured she had an impact wherever she went. A well-deserved MVP-winning campaign.

#17 Lexi Strachan (West Perth)
Midfielder/Forward | 169cm | 30/09/2008

Stats: 20 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles, 6 clearances, 7 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 1 goal, 1 behind

Strachan has built like a crescendo this carnival and arguably peaked in game four, though was just as good in game three as well. The West Perth product racked up six clearances and seven inside 50s, able to extract the ball out of congestion and thump it forward, while getting a couple of early looks on goal and bouncing one home from long-range. She had her share of bumps and bruises in the match, coming off late in the third term through the blood rule but returned in the fourth. Another powerful performance.

#26 Mia Carlshausen (Perth)
Defender | 171cm | 10/04/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 2 marks, 1 tackle, 1 inside 50, 6 rebound 50s

While a little sore towards the end after a crunching Curry tackle late in term three, Carlshausen still showed plenty to suggest her AFLW Draft chances are only growing. She is proactive with her disposal, looking to kick long, then follow-up and drive it even further, and leads the backline with great voice and direction. She competes in the air exceptionally well and is happy to open the game up with the 45-kick into the corridor when it is on, and when it isn’t, she will play the percentages.

#30 Shaya Yarran (Swan Districts)
Forward | 163cm | 24/12/2008

Stats: 13 disposals, 2 marks, 9 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 2 goals, 1 behind

A really big finish to the carnival from Yarran who applied terrific defensive pressure inside 50 and was rewarded with a couple of goals. Both came from close range, the first landing in the right spot for her to slam it home in quarter one, then she took a great mark in the final term, reading the flight perfectly to convert from 15 metres out. A nicely balanced two-way performance from the Swan Districts top-ager.

#33 Hannah Seaborn (Claremont)
Midfielder/Forward | 177cm | 16/04/2009

Stats: 14 disposals, 2 marks, 6 tackles, 4 clearances, 3 inside 50s

Seaborn has dabbled into life as a midfielder – a role she played at the Under 16s Championships last year – and game four gave recruiters and fans a glimpse into what her 2027 national carnival might look like. She started on-ball in each term, and while not winning a stack of it, was able to use her bigger frame to impact at the coalface, clearing the pill forward and applying defensive pressure off-ball as well. Her highlight moment came in the third minute of the second term where she read Dziegielewski’s tap like a book and broke through the traffic in the middle to thump long inside 50.