CONCLUDING their stint in the Talent League Girls competition, the four Northern Academies from Queensland and New South Wales will now head back to their respective state league clubs before the best of them return for the AFLW Under 18 Championships next month. To mark the conclusion of their time in the Talent League Girls – where none of the four teams lost to a full-time club – we put together a Team of the Series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brisbane Lions Academy and Gold Coast Suns Academy each played seven matches, while Sydney Swans Academy (six) and GWS Giants Academy (five) produced enough throughout the extended stay in the competition to help form the Team of the Series. For the team, we have only selected players with a minimum of four games played, and also not included any of those taken in the Preseason Draft (Lily Quigley<\/strong>, Amaia Wain <\/strong>and Sophia Gaukrodger<\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Alana Fraser<\/a> (Giants Academy) – 15.8 disposals, 4.2 marks, 2.6 tackles, 5.0 rebound 50s Three ultra-reliable players hold down the last line of the hypothetical Team of the Series, with the over-age Foat reinventing herself off that half-back flank. A contested ball-winner, she has terrific footy IQ and the role helped utilise her strengths while negating her weaknesses. The supremely skilled Fraser is in the other back pocket, having had a terrific year, streaming out of the back half and more often than not hitting targets downfield. Barlow has been the standout tall defender, capable of playing on talls or smalls, and loves to get aggressive up the field, even kicking a long-range goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Charlotte Tidemann<\/a> (Swans Academy) – 22.8 disposals, 3.0 marks, 4.5 tackles, 3.5 inside 50s, 5.8 rebound 50s, 1 goal Despite missing two games due to injury and one due to National Academy commitments, Tidemann makes it onto the field with her four games hitting the minimum required and doing more than enough in them to secure her place. She loves to run and carry, and usually begins the Swans scoring chains from the back half. Stevens predominantly played in defence as that interceptor, while nullifying her direct opponent. She did get some minutes up on the wing, as well as even in the ruck, but her work out of defence is where she shines. The most versatile of the players, Murray could have been put on any line, but her run and carry and elite skills come in handy off half-back so the talented bottom-ager fits in there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Freya Ross<\/a> (Lions Academy) – 18.1 disposals, 3.9 marks, 6.9 tackles, 2.1 clearances, 3.4 inside 50s, 5 goals The wings wrote themselves with Quigley missing due to being drafted, as Ross and Walsh were the two standout players throughout the carnival. Walsh missed a game due to repping the Australian jumper, but still recorded 20 disposals, four marks and three tackles per game, with her neat skills and great reading of the playing standing out. Ross has been a key link in the chain for the Lions Academy, bringing serious pressure both on the inside and outside, where she rotated on-ball to become a more all-round midfielder. Meanwhile Ferguson was one of the standouts of the carnival, who, like Walsh, missed due to the National Academy call-up, but finished the series averaging the most disposals of any player. She was handed the hypothetical captaincy after her outstanding carnival, while Swans skipper Walsh was named vice-captain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Stella Scott<\/a> (Lions Academy) – 22.6 disposals, 5.4 marks, 4.3 tackles, 2.6 clearances, 3.3 inside 50s, 1 goal The versatile Scott works hard in the forward half and gained plenty of midfield minutes while still playing in a high half-forward role and delivering pressure as well as being an option to deliver inside 50. She covered the ground well, much like Russell who had a brilliant carnival, really announcing herself as a draft bolter. She was terrific offensively and defensively, hitting the scoreboard with five goals while setting up countless others. A really classy operator with toughness. As for the centre half-forward spot, Day was an easy choice, kicking a series-high 16 goals from her 14.6 disposals and 5.0 marks to kick off her top-age season with a bang.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Zoe Petrides<\/a> (Lions Academy) – 17.3 disposals, 2.6 marks, 5.4 tackles, 2.1 clearances, 4.4 inside 50s, 12 goals There was no shortage of options for the forward half, but in the end, opted for the sheer numbers with Scheffler (15 goals), Savala (12) and Petrides (12) all consistently hitting the scoreboard. Savala booted eight in one game which propelled her into the spot, but she provided a target prior to that as well. Scheffler was a traditional marking forward who realistically could have kicked a few more after missing some sitters. Petrides is one of the best forward\/midfielders in the draft and brings elite defensive pressure to accompany her clean hands and smart skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sienna Clinch<\/a> (Suns Academy) – 10.1 disposals, 1.0 marks, 30.6 hitouts, 2.4 tackles, 2.3 clearances, 2.0 inside 50s, 1.7 rebound 50s With Wain ineligible, it was an easy choice to select Clinch in the ruck, who racked up way more hitouts than any other player. She also provided great follow-up around the stoppage and cemented her place in the Queensland squad as the number one ruck in doing so. Her Suns Academy teammate Moana dominated at the National Development Championships, then played the last four games of the series to showcase her elite centre clearance ability and knack for hitting the scoreboard with class. The other midfielder named was Swans Academy’s Bowie who was one of her side’s most consistent players, adding two-way impact and nice extraction ability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Grace Cooper<\/a> (Suns Academy) – 12.0 disposals, 3.0 marks, 2.4 tackles, 2.1 inside 50s, 11 goals Picking just six players to round out the interchange was a tough gig with a number of players in contention to make the side. We opted for a mix of talls and smalls, of whom many are versatile. Cooper had a standout campaign up forward for the Suns Academy, with her and the electric Pritchard earning the tall forward spots over Grace Parsons<\/a> who was terrific in the ruck once replacing Wain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hamilton was a scoring threat in that medium forward role and she could also go into the middle, while Geere played across multiple lines and showed her class. Haley was as consistent as anyone else throughout the carnival and earned her spot, while Prosser-Shaw rounds out the team, having gone down with a serious knee injury in the penultimate Giants’ game, but still playing four matches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tackling machine Sienna Burnham<\/a> and Suns Academy teammate Stephanie Aguinaldo<\/a> were very close, named as emergencies. Though missing out on the 27-player squad, the likes of Ava Horneman<\/strong>, Asia<\/strong> Single<\/strong>, Lilly-Ann Ryder<\/strong> and Emma McCallum<\/strong> were all on the shortlist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2026 TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS: NORTHERN ACADEMY TEAM OF THE SERIES:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n B: <\/strong>Alana Fraser (GWS) – Ashleigh Barlow (SS) – Annabelle Foat (GC) EMG:<\/strong> Stephanie Aguinaldo (GC) – Sienna Burnham (GC) – Ava Horneman (SS)<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\nBACKS:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ashleigh Barlow<\/a> (Swans Academy) – 16.3 disposals, 2.3 marks, 2.8 tackles, 3.2 rebound 50s, 1 goal
Annabelle Foat<\/a> (Suns Academy) – 22.1 disposals, 3.6 marks, 5.3 tackles, 2.1 clearances, 3.9 rebound 50s<\/p>\n\n\n\nHALF-BACKS:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Morgan Stevens<\/a> (Giants Academy) – 14.2 disposals, 2.2 marks, 1.6 tackles, 4.8 rebound 50s
Ameleia Murray<\/a> (Lions Academy) – 22.6 disposals, 5.3 marks, 4.9 tackles, 2.4 clearances, 4.6 inside 50s, 5 goals<\/p>\n\n\n\nCENTRE:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Molly Ferguson<\/a> (Lions Academy) – 26.5 disposals, 4.0 marks, 4.8 tackles, 4.3 clearances, 3.3 inside 50s, 3 goals
Frances Walsh<\/a> (Swans Academy) – 20.0 disposals, 4.0 marks, 3.0 tackles, 2.8 inside 50s, 2.5 rebound 50s<\/p>\n\n\n\nHALF-FORWARDS:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Majella Day<\/a> (Giants Academy) – 14.6 disposals, 5.0 marks, 2.6 tackles, 2.6 inside 50s, 16 goals
Aurelia Russell<\/a> (Swans Academy) – 21.0 disposals, 1.2 marks, 4.0 tackles, 3.2 clearances, 4.7 inside 50s, 5 goals<\/p>\n\n\n\nFORWARDS:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Indiana Scheffler<\/a> (Lions Academy) – 11.4 disposals, 4.1 marks, 2.0 inside 50s, 15 goals
Lolita Savala<\/a> (Swans Academy) – 10.3 disposals, 3.0 marks, 2.2 tackles, 12 goals<\/p>\n\n\n\nFOLLOWERS:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Evie Bowie<\/a> (Swans Academy) – 22.5 disposals, 2.0 marks, 4.7 tackles, 3.3 clearances, 3.7 inside 50s, 2 goals
Lily Moana<\/a> (Suns Academy) – 20.8 disposals, 1.0 marks, 5.5 tackles, 4.5 clearances, 6.3 inside 50s, 4 goals<\/p>\n\n\n\nINTERCHANGE:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Mia Geere<\/a> (Lions Academy) – 18.8 disposals, 4.3 marks, 4.0 tackles, 1.5 clearances, 1.5 inside 50s, 2.2 rebound 50s, 1 goal
Emma Haley<\/a> (Swans Academy) – 16.3 disposals, 2.2 marks, 6.3 tackles, 2.3 clearances, 2.5 inside 50s, 2 goals
Billie Hamilton<\/a> (Giants Academy) – 12.0 disposals, 2.2 marks, 4.4 tackles, 2.3 clearances, 3.0 inside 50s, 9 goals
Aiyana Pritchard<\/a> (Lions Academy) – 14.0 disposals, 3.8 marks, 3.0 tackles, 3.0 inside 50s, 6 goals
Darcie Prosser-Shaw<\/a> (Giants Academy) – 17.5 disposals, 4.0 marks, 4.0 tackles, 3.5 clearances, 6.0 inside 50s, 1.0 rebound 50s, 2 goals<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HB: <\/strong>Charlotte Tidemann (SS) – Morgan Stevens (GWS) – Ameleia Murray (BL)
C:<\/strong> Freya Ross (BL) – Molly Ferguson (BL) (c) – Frances Walsh (SS) (vc)
HF: <\/strong>Stella Scott (BL) – Majella Day (GWS) – Aurelia Russell (SS)
F:<\/strong> Zoe Petrides (BL) – Indiana Scheffler (BL) – Lolita Savala (SS)
FOL: <\/strong>Sienna Clinch (GC) – Evie Bowie (SS) – Lily Moana (GC)
INT: <\/strong>Grace Cooper (GC) – Mia Geere (BL) – Emma Haley (SS) – Billie Hamilton (GWS) – Aiyana Pritchard (Lions Academy) – Darcie Prosser-Shaw (GWS)<\/p>\n\n\n\n