{"id":202672,"date":"2025-09-12T17:43:31","date_gmt":"2025-09-12T07:43:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=202672"},"modified":"2025-09-12T17:43:35","modified_gmt":"2025-09-12T07:43:35","slug":"preview-2025-afl-national-futures-girls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2025\/09\/12\/preview-2025-afl-national-futures-girls\/","title":{"rendered":"PREVIEW | 2025 AFL National Futures Girls"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A MASSIVE clash of some of the most talented AFLW Draft prospects for next year go head-to-head at Ikon Park when Team Vescio and Team Conti battle it out in a showcase of future talent. The match starts at 10am on Sunday as part of a curtain-raiser to the Richmond-Geelong clash, and we will take a look at some of the players to watch out for in each side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>> TEAMS: <\/strong>Team Vescio vs. Team Conti full teams<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

HOW TO WATCH<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2025 Marsh AFL National Futures Girls match will be broadcast live and free on the AFLW website and AFLW App.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ENTRY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patrons attending the 2025 Marsh AFL National Futures Girls game are required to purchase a ticket to the NAB AFLW match between Richmond and the Geelong Cats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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ABSENT<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Six potential first rounders are missing from the game, so there is substantial quality out of the game. South Australian MVP Emma Charlton<\/a> and her Panthers teammate Taya Maxwell<\/a> (who missed most of the national championships through injury) won’t play, nor will Central District tall utility Miyu Endersby<\/a> or Queensland midfielder Molly Ferguson<\/a> (who like Maxwell went down at the national championships).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps the two most unlucky are Alice Cunnington<\/a> (Dandenong Stingrays) and Harlee McIlwain<\/a> (Morningside) who both came off injured in their respective finals just last weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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PREVIEW<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

TEAM VESCIO<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Defenders<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vescio has a lot of defensive options who can also swing into other spots so it will be fascinating to see how the side rolls out. Expect South Australian Polly Turner<\/a> and Swans Academy tall Grace Tracey<\/a> to be a couple back there, while the likes of Heidi Ireland<\/a> and Marie Polimeno<\/a> will be more likely to suit up back there, but can rotate through the middle. Where will Murray Bushrangers’ Rose Bell<\/a> play? Could be either end. Stephanie Aguinaldo<\/a> is one to watch be it playing in defence or up the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rucks<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Norwood tall Kate Alexander<\/a> and Dandenong Stingrays’ Sophie White<\/a> are the two rucks named in the side. Both are more one position oriented but can rest forward, while another South Australian in Ruby Lynch<\/a> doesn’t need to roll through there even though she has, with the Eagles’ talent capable of slotting in on any of the three lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Midfielders<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Headlined by Vic Metro star Brylee Anderson<\/a>, Vescio also has the explosive speed of Milly Shortal<\/a> and power of Lexi Strachan<\/a>, while Gippsland’s Grace Dillow<\/a> and Tasmanian Evie Ward<\/a> can also roll through there. Fascinatingly, the side has more wing options than inside ones, with the likes of Frances Walsh<\/a> (Swans Academy), Leni Lockyer<\/a> (Oakleigh Chargers), Bridie Neale<\/a> (Eastern Ranges), Summer Browning<\/a> (Suns Academy) and Darcie Prosser-Shaw<\/a> (Giants Academy) all good shouts, though the last two can play off half-back and Neale is capable of half-forward too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Polly Turner could play up either end for Team Vescio. Image credit: Rookie Me Central<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Forwards<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any side that has goalkicking machine Bailee Martin<\/a> is going to be a problem, and though there are not a heap of tall forward options, they have the elite athlete in Aiyana Pritchard<\/a> there to complement Martin. Turner, Lynch and Bell are three options who could swing forward as well, while the pace at ground level of Hope Taylor<\/a> and Jorja Davey<\/a> is exciting too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Potential 23:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

B: <\/strong>Marie Polimeno – Grace Tracey – Heidi Ireland
HB: <\/strong>Heidi Ireland – Rose Bell – Darcie Prosser-Shaw
C: <\/strong>Frances Walsh – Lexi Strachan – Summer Browning
HF:<\/strong> Grace Dillow – Polly Turner – Bridie Neale
F:<\/strong> Hope Taylor – Bailee Martin – Ruby Lynch
R:<\/strong> Kate Alexander – Brylee Anderson – Milly Shortal
INT:<\/strong> Stephanie Aguinaldo – Jorja Davey – Leni Lockyer – Evie Ward – Sophie White<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TEAM CONTI<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Defenders<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first thing you notice about Team Conti’s half-backs are speed, speed and more speed. Charlotte Tidemann<\/a> is one of the fastest players going around, but even she might be pipped by Maddison Meagher<\/a> who just goes to gears no one has when exploding down the ground. Those two combined with the composure of Emily Mableson<\/a> – who will likely have midfield minutes – as well as Mia Carlshausen<\/a>, Sophia Green<\/a> and potentially Evie Bingham<\/a> and Lakhyah Hill<\/a> gives Conti plenty of options. From the talls department they’re a little thinner, but Morgan Stevens<\/a> is one such player who will stand up and take a key role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Morgan Stevens is the obvious tall defender in Team Conti. Image credit: Rookie Me Central<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Rucks<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All-Australian ruck Cara Dziegielewski<\/a> will continue her partnership through the big stocks with Avuya Nomlatyu<\/a> as the other obvious tall. The West Australian pair are definitely capable of being the other tall forward when not in the ruck, which gives Conti a little flexibility in that regard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Midfielders<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a distinct South Australian flavour around the ball with Georgie Fielder<\/a> and Lucy Moore<\/a> both tough nuts. Fielder could also play off a wing given Conti also has contested ball-winners in Emily Rankin<\/a> and Zoe Curry<\/a>. Geelong Falcons’ Ava Bilyk<\/a> could genuinely play anywhere and her coach Tash Heffernan knows her well from leading her at Coates Talent League level as to where she might slot in. Green will get minutes on-ball as will likely Mia Geere<\/a>. Meagher might start on a wing too with less obvious wing options for Team Conti.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Forwards<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allies forward Majella Day<\/a> looms as the massive threat inside 50, and will team up with the ultra-talented Kiara Boyd<\/a>. Ruby Geurts<\/a> is in ripping form for Dandenong Stingrays at the moment, and with medium options such as Greea McKeegan<\/a>, Scout Semple<\/a> and Zoe Petrides<\/a> all there, Team Conti has a nicely balanced front six that will be a problem for the opposition defence. India Bonadeo<\/a> is another player who has missed a fair bit of footy since Under 16s but was a star for Swan Districts’ Rogers Cup this season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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Zoe Petrides is a smart forward coming off the QAFLW Grand Final last weekend. Image credit: Rookie Me Central<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Potential 23: <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

B: <\/strong>Mia Carlshausen – Evie Bingham – Sophia Green
HB: <\/strong>Charlotte Tidemann – Morgan Stevens – Emily Mableson
C: <\/strong>Maddison Meagher – Lucy Moore – Georgie Fielder
HF:<\/strong> Zoe Curry – Kiara Boyd – Ava Bilyk
F:<\/strong> Zoe Petrides – Majella Day – Ruby Geurts
R:<\/strong> Cara Dziegielewski – Mia Geere – Emily Rankin
INT:<\/strong> India Bonadeo – Lakhyah Hill – Greea McKeegan – Avuya Nomlatyu – Scout Semple<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mentions<\/span><\/span><\/div>