{"id":195701,"date":"2025-07-18T19:35:45","date_gmt":"2025-07-18T09:35:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=195701"},"modified":"2025-07-18T19:35:48","modified_gmt":"2025-07-18T09:35:48","slug":"preview-2025-aflw-u18s-allies-vs-western-australia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2025\/07\/18\/preview-2025-aflw-u18s-allies-vs-western-australia\/","title":{"rendered":"PREVIEW | 2025 AFLW U18s – Allies vs. Western Australia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WESTERN Australia becomes the first team to wrap up its AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships tomorrow as the Sandgropers hope to move to an even keel of 2-2. Losses to Queensland and South Australia were followed by a nice win over Vic Metro, while the Allies fell short against the latter in a gallant effort after being blown away by Vic Country in game one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

NEED TO KNOW<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Date: <\/strong>Sunday, July 19
Venue: <\/strong>Blacktown International Sportspark
Time: <\/strong>12:00pm AEST
Live stream: <\/strong>AFL.com.au or the AFL app<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

PREDICTED LINEUPS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Allies:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

B:<\/strong> Ava Read – Danika McDonald – Rose Bell
HB:<\/strong> Ella Randall – Morgan Stevens – Charlotte Tidemann
C:<\/strong> Frances Walsh – Priya Bowering – Mischa Barwin
HF: <\/strong>Kiera Yerbury – Alex Neyland – Harriet Bingley
F:<\/strong> Shakaila Gardiner-Dunn – Grace Parsons – Majella Day
R: <\/strong>Madeleine Quinn – Mia Anderson – Isla Wiencke
INT:<\/strong> Zoe Curry – Jessica Owen – Taelah Smith – Molly Thomas – Lucinda Watson<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Western Australia:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

B:<\/strong> Marie Polimeno – Ava Stewart – Sienna Timmermans
HB:<\/strong> Maya Louvel-Finn – Olivia Crane – Mia Carlshausen
C:<\/strong> Lexi Strachan – Renee Morgan – Sunni-Quay Peters
HF: <\/strong>Layla Quinn-Schofield – Olivia Wolmarans – Lucy Greenwood
F:<\/strong> Alicia Blizard – Mel Grage – Alira Fotu
R: <\/strong>Cara Dziegielewski – Carys D’Addario – Juliet Kelly
INT:<\/strong> Addison Opalinski – Avuya Nomlatyu – Mia Russo – Eva Flynn – Ella Gilbey<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

CHANGES<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Allies:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

IN:<\/strong> Ava Read
OUT:<\/strong> Matilda Elbourne<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Western Australia:<\/strong>
IN: <\/strong>Addison Opalinski, Eva Flynn,
OUT<\/strong>: Charli Bassett, Heidi Ireland<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

ANALYSIS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Allies showed much improvement against Vic Metro compared to Vic Country, having gelled a lot more since game one and almost stole the points in a last quarter comeback. They perhaps would want to start a little better to avoid chasing down a big lead, but the work of Majella Day<\/a> (three goals) in particular will pose a problem for the West Australian defence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The inclusion of Tasmanian Ava Read<\/a> is well deserved, having impressed down back for the Devils this season after representing the Allies as a forward last year. A question will be whether or not her being down back releases Swans Academy talent Alex Neyland<\/a> or Murray Bushrangers’ Rose Bell<\/a> to go up forward. Potentially it is just a like-for-like swap with Matilda Elbourne<\/a>, but all three players can perform up either end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Western Australia gives two top-age prospects a chance to don the state colours by bringing in the explosive forward Eva Flynn<\/a> and tall rebounding defender Addison Opalinski<\/a>. Both prospects can play up on a wing as well, with the Sandgropers also making like-for-like changes with Charli Bassett<\/a> and Heidi Ireland<\/a> – both bottom-agers – going out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

\"\"
Mia Russo was subliime last time out for Western Australia, booting two goals in the win over Vic Metro. Image credit: Rookie Me Central<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The midfield battle will be a fascinating one with both sides boasting readymade onballers. Tasmanian National Academy members Priya Bowering<\/a> and Mischa Barwin<\/a> can roll through there and up forward, with Isla Wiencke<\/a> (Giants Academy), Zoe Curry<\/a> (Giants and Oakleigh Chargers) and Mia Anderson<\/a> (Tasmania) all strong inside ball-winners. They face off against the likes of Carys D’Addario<\/a>, Renee Morgan<\/a>, Juliet Kelly<\/a> and the explosive Mia Russo<\/a> who was able to kick two goals in the Sandgropers’ win over Metro a fortnight ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It could be time to shine for tall forward pairing Olivia Wolmarans<\/a> and Alicia Blizard<\/a> who will test the Allies’ defence, while Alira Fotu<\/a> and Lucy Greenwood<\/a> are others looking for big games in Blacktown. Grace Parsons<\/a> is one up the other end who can do damage on her day, while Madeleine Quinn<\/a> has been a target when not in the ruck. The combination of both Quinn and Jessica Owen<\/a> will outsize Cara Dziegielewski<\/a>, but the West Perth bottom-ager has been in ripping form for the state team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

PREDICTION<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There is genuine belief that the Allies can win it and get on the board in front of home fans. They still have one more match – up against the unbeaten Queensland next week – while Western Australia caps off its carnival. The Sandgropers will rue not quite being able to challenge for a title, but have missed Evie Cowcher<\/a> in defence. Western Australia by 14 points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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