THE AFLW Under-18 National Championships kick off in earnest this weekend, with eight games to be played over the next seven weekends.
All will be live-streamed on womens.afl, and the fixture can be found here.
The mighty South Australia squad made light work of Western Australia back in April, winning by 35 points, but Queensland, Vic Metro, Vic Country and the Allies (New South Wales, Tasmania and the Northern Territory) will be taking to the field for the first time.
After the one-off supplementary draft earlier this year, we're back in the traditional age-eligibility criteria, meaning the top-age talent on show across the championships will be able to play for AFLW clubs in 2024.
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Who should you keep an eye out for?
ALLIES
Matches: July 2nd v Vic Metro, August 6th v Queensland, August 13th v Western Australia
Coach: Jodie Clifford (Tas)
Assistants: Monique Clift, Bronwyn Gulden, Matt Campbell
Top of the charts here is the AFLW Academy's newly minted best-afield in Mel Staunton, the New South Wales midfielder/forward an outstanding performer in the Academy's recent exhibition match against an Under-23 invitational side.
The state's other two Academy reps – Olivia Morris and Marnie Robinson – will also feature. Morris is a tough inside midfielder, while defender Robinson has a nice pair of hands overhead.
A potential Richmond father-daughter signing in Maria Rioli is also in the Allies squad, the forward is the sister of Maurice jnr and daughter of the late Maurice snr, while Kyanne Campbell's father Fred played for both Sydney and St Kilda.
Top Tassie midfielder Brooke Barwick will not play, having ruptured her ACL in February, with Georgia Clark and Candice Belbin arguably the top-ranked southern talent.
VIC METRO
Matches: July 2nd v Allies, July 9th v South Australia, August 12 v Vic Country
Coach: Allana Dickie (Northern Knights)
Talented Eastern Ranges and AFLW Academy duo Alyssia Pisano and Laura Stone headline the Metro squad, with small forward Pisano hitting the ground running after a torn ACL, and Stone finding the footy at will this year.
Kiera Whiley and talls Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner and Jess Vukic are the other AFLW Academy members in the team, with forward Weston-Turner currently battling a broken wrist.
Bottom-ager and possible Carlton father-daughter Sophie McKay (daughter of Andrew and sister of Abbie) is also in the squad, as is potential Melbourne father-daughter Jemma Rigoni (daughter of Guy), who is an over-ager after overcoming a ruptured ACL.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Matches: April 30 v Western Australia, July 9th v Vic Metro, July 15 v Queensland
Coach: Jason Rivett
It's well worth watching the stacked South Australian team to see the next generation of AFLW talent on show.
It's hard to know where to start. Last year's player of the Under-18 National Championships, Shineah Goody, is now in her final year of junior footy, and the smooth mover can play across all three lines.
Taller top-age prospect Lauren Young has been in the headlines since winning South Australia's Under-19 MVP before her 16th birthday and has settled in a key position role this year, rather than the midfield.
Piper Window just took out the SANFL best and fairest at 18, the lively Elaine Grigg is set to be a fan favourite for years to come, and Molly Brooksby is a beautiful user of the footy.
In terms of family connections, Poppy Scholz is the younger sister of recent Port Adelaide signing Matilda, Ruby Ballard will be hoping to follow Adelaide sister Abbie's footsteps, India Rasheed is the daughter of tennis coaching great Roger, and Marlie Fiegert is eligible as a Power father-daughter signing following the career of dad Nigel at Port.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Matches: April 30 v South Australia, August 13th v Allies, August 19 v Vic Country
Coach: Beau McDonald
There are just three AFLW Academy members in the West Australian team this year.
Tall forward/ruck Georgie Cleaver is also part of Netball Australia's under-19 pathway and the silky smooth Kaitlyn Srhoj provides plenty of run out of defence but can also push further afield.
The powerful Jamie Henry rounds out the trio and the midfielder is difficult to bring down in full flight.
While she's a year younger than the Academy group, there's been plenty of hype about 'Zippy' (Zipporah) Fish, the East Fremantle product is smart, elusive and quick, particularly in the forward half of the ground.
Defender Mackenzie Webb will feature as an over-ager, having been a train-on player with Fremantle in season seven.
QUEENSLAND AND VIC COUNTRY WILL LODGE THEIR FINAL SQUADS WITH THE AFL AHEAD OF THEIR MATCH ON JULY 30 AT BRIGHTON HOMES ARENA
