{"id":127254,"date":"2023-03-30T11:48:25","date_gmt":"2023-03-30T01:48:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=127254"},"modified":"2023-03-30T11:48:27","modified_gmt":"2023-03-30T01:48:27","slug":"croweaters-confirm-2023-aflw-u18s-squad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2023\/03\/30\/croweaters-confirm-2023-aflw-u18s-squad\/","title":{"rendered":"Croweaters confirm 2023 AFLW U18s squad"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

SOUTH Australia confirmed its 30-player squad for the upcoming 2023 AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships today. The squad, which will feature reigning carnival MVP Shineah Goody<\/a> as well as previous South Australian MVP Lauren Young<\/a>, will be eyeing off back-to-back titles after going undefeated in last year’s event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Croweaters will head into the three-match carnival as favourites, with an AFLW Academy midfield of Goody, Young, Piper Window<\/a> and Molly Brooksby<\/a> who could arguably be the top four players in this year’s AFLW Draft. A big loss for the squad – though a win for the state’s development – was the selection of Glenelg ruck Matilda Scholz<\/a> to Port Adelaide, which would have completed a ridiculously strong centre square group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

South Australia does have the depth though, with Central District defender Charlotte Riggs<\/a> capable of playing ruck, as is developing South Adelaide tall Jacinda Schunselaar<\/a> who has cut her teeth at Development Level. Other talls include bottom-age utility Lucy Boyd<\/a> and Scholz’s younger sister Poppy<\/a> who has been playing in defence this season after being a wing in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The father-daughter rule will be one to watch for a couple of key players in the upcoming championships, with Port Adelaide Academy member Marlie Fiegert<\/a> – daughter of Nigel – and tenacious winger Violet Patterson<\/a> – daughter of former Pie, Stephen – among those with club ties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though the Scholz sisters will not get to play together, there will be a pair of sisters running out alongside each other in the Charity’s. The oldest of the pair is top-age tall Chloe Charity<\/a> who has played as a defender but switched forward this season, while younger sister Jemma<\/a> is a classy forward who will be a midfielder long-term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Returning for another year in the tri-colours are the likes of Central District speedster Elaine Grigg<\/a>, Sturt defender Lily Whitcombe<\/a> and exciting forward India Rasheed<\/a> who will all get the chance to don the jumper again. One big improver this season has been Zara Walsh<\/a> who caught the eye as an athletic forward with a rangy kick and X-factor, and has cracked into the State Academy squad after going back to play local footy the last couple of years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From a top-age perspective, others who are into the squad this year include a South Adelaide quartet Holly Ifould<\/a>, Melissa Anderson<\/a>, Brooke Boileau<\/a> and Alissa Brook<\/a>. Boileau has been the most consistent of the four, playing as a big-bodied inside midfielder, with fellow contested ball-winner Anderson cracking in for her debut last round. Ifould has played as a running winger, while Brook is yet to step up to the League side, but is an athletic tall defender.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The remaining players in the squad are all 2006-born talents, with the exception of Monique Bessen<\/a> and Sophie Eaton<\/a>. Bessen is a versatile talent out of Sturt who is eligible for the Under 16s squad, as is Eaton who has proven herself as a high-upside forward with good hands and a long kick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

North Adelaide’s Laela Ebert<\/a> and Norwood’s Coby Morgan<\/a> will provide some pace in the front half of the ground, while Grace Martin<\/a> and Ruby Ballard<\/a> are other bottom-agers who have shown talent through Eagles and West Adelaide respectively. The remaining three players are defenders Esther Schirmer<\/a> (South Adelaide) and Emma Kilpatrick<\/a> (West Adelaide), and Bloods’ utility Asha Dufour<\/a> who played on the wing in Round 5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

South Australia will be coached by former assistant Jason Rivett<\/em><\/strong> who replaces outgoing mentor, Tim Weatherald<\/em><\/strong>. Rivett will have a strong coaching panel of Bek McMahon<\/em><\/strong>, Bill Economou<\/em><\/strong> and Craig Lum<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Croweaters take on Western Australia in Perth on April 30, with further matches on July 9 (Vic Metro in Melbourne) and July 16 (Queensland in Adelaide). They will also face a SANFL Women’s Under 23s side on June 25 as a warm-up for those final two matches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2023 SOUTH AUSTRALIA U18 GIRLS SQUAD<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PLAYER<\/th>SANFL CLUB<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Elaine Grigg<\/td>Central<\/td><\/tr>
Jasmine Evans<\/td>Central<\/td><\/tr>
Charlotte Riggs<\/td>Central<\/td><\/tr>
Sophie Eaton<\/td>Central<\/td><\/tr>
Piper Window<\/td>Glenelg<\/td><\/tr>
Violet Patterson<\/td>Glenelg<\/td><\/tr>
Poppy Scholz<\/td>Glenelg<\/td><\/tr>
Laela Ebert<\/td>North<\/td><\/tr>
Coby Morgan<\/td>Norwood<\/td><\/tr>
Molly Brooksby<\/td>Norwood<\/td><\/tr>
Jacinda Schunselaar<\/td>South<\/td><\/tr>
Melissa Anderson<\/td>South<\/td><\/tr>
Esther Schirmer<\/td>South<\/td><\/tr>
Holly Ifould<\/td>South<\/td><\/tr>
Alissa Brook<\/td>South<\/td><\/tr>
Brooke Boileau<\/td>South<\/td><\/tr>
Monique Bessen<\/td>Sturt<\/td><\/tr>
Lily Whitcombe<\/td>Sturt<\/td><\/tr>
India Rasheed<\/td>Sturt<\/td><\/tr>
Zara Walsh<\/td>Sturt<\/td><\/tr>
Asha Dufour<\/td>West<\/td><\/tr>
Ruby Ballard<\/td>West<\/td><\/tr>
Emma Kilpatrick<\/td>West<\/td><\/tr>
Lucy Boyd<\/td>West<\/td><\/tr>
Lauren Young<\/td>West<\/td><\/tr>
Jemma Charity<\/td>Woodville-West Torrens<\/td><\/tr>
Chloe Charity<\/td>Woodville-West Torrens<\/td><\/tr>
Marlie Fiegert<\/td>Woodville-West Torrens<\/td><\/tr>
Shineah Goody<\/td>Woodville-West Torrens<\/td><\/tr>
Grace Martin<\/td>Woodville-West Torrens<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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