THE COUNTRY’S best junior female players will be aiming to impress coaches and recruiters from the eight AFL Women’s teams when the NAB AFL Women’s Under-18 Championships start in Adelaide on Friday evening.

This year’s carnival will be played over two rounds, with eight states and territories competing in round one, from May 12-June 17. Northern Territory, South Australia and Tasmania will play in a tri-series during round one, with the best players from matches involving those three teams then selected to play for an Allies team in round two, which will feature six teams.

Round two runs from July 10-14, with six teams playing three games over five days. The new format is expected to enhance player welfare and provide players a broader football educational experience.

Many of the players involved in this year’s championships will be eligible to be drafted by AFLW clubs in October. Players to watch include: 

Alyce Parker, Haneen Zreika and Jordan Jolliffe (NSW/ACT) 

Arthurina Moreen, Calista Boyd and Danielle Ponter (NT) 

Ruby Blair, Arianna Clarke and Gabby Collingwood (QLD)

Chloe Scheer, Brianna Walling and Katelyn Rosenzweig (SA) 

Courtney Webb, Daria Bannister (TAS)

Darcy Guttridge and Jordyn Allen (VIC COUNTRY)

Monique Conti and Madison Prespakis (VIC METRO) 

Sonia Dorizzi, Courtney Hodder and Tayla McAuliffe (WA)

Queensland's Ruby Blair

NAB AFL WOMEN’S UNDER-18 CHAMPIONSHIPS

ROUNE ONE

6pm Friday, May 12
Tasmania v South Australia                               
City Mazda Oval 

4.35pm Saturday, May 13
South Australia v Northern Territory                  
Adelaide Oval (curtain-raiser to Adelaide v Melbourne AFL match) 

10am Sunday, May 14
Northern Territory v Tasmania                          
City Mazda Oval 

6.30pm Friday, May 19
NSW/ACT v Queensland                                  
Blacktown International Sportspark

2.30pm Saturday, May 20
Western Australia v NSW/ACT
Blacktown International Sportspark 

11am Sunday, May 21
Queensland v Western Australia
Blacktown International Sportspark

2.30pm Saturday, June 17
Vic Country v Vic Metro                                  
Simonds Stadium

Vic Metro's Madison Prespakis

ROUND TWO 

Monday, July 10                                                     
10am Queensland v Vic Country                              
11.40am Allies v NSW/ACT                                   
1.30pm Vic Metro v Western Australia                     
Bond University 

Wednesday, July 12   
10am Queensland v Vic Metro                                 
11.40am Vic Country v NSW/ACT                          
1.30pm Western Australia v Allies                           
Broadbeach Football Club

Friday, July 14          
10am Vic Metro v NSW/ACT                                  
11.40am Vic Country v Western Australia                 
1.30pm Allies v Queensland                                    
Broadbeach Football Club 

VENUES
City Mazda Oval Milner Road, Richmond, South Australia
Adelaide Oval War Memorial Drive, North Adelaide, South Australia
Blacktown International Sportspark Eastern Road, Rooty Hill, NSW  
Simonds Stadium Moorabool Street, South Geelong, Victoria
Bond University University Drive, Robina, Queensland
Broadbeach Football Club Dunlop Court, Mermaid Waters, Queensland 

Go to aflcommunity.com.au for full scores and to afl.com.au/womens for news and updates. All matches will be streamed live on the AFL Women’s YouTube channel.