WESTERN Australia atoned for a demoralising loss to Vic Metro in the final of last year’s national youth girls’ carnival, comfortably beating Metro by 27 points on Monday in the NAB AFL Women’s Under-18 Championships on the Gold Coast.

The girls from the west were noticeably better in the air, taking contested marks with confidence and spreading well around the ground. 

Tall forwards Kate Bartlett (13 disposals, two goals) and Emily McGuire (12 touches, one goal) were too strong for Metro's defence, while McKenzie Dowrick was excellent in the middle with 17 touches. 

Madison Prespakis ran her heart out for Metro, filling holes all over the ground and finishing with 22 disposals, seven marks and a bad cramp in her leg. 

Defender Georgia McPherson was steady under constant pressure from Western Australia, finishing with 12 touches and seven marks. 

The Allies – made up of the best juniors from South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory – overran NSW/ACT, kicking two goals in the final five minutes to snatch a four-point victory. 

The midfield duo of Alyce Parker and Jordan Jolliffe were among the best for NSW/ACT, with Parker accumulating 17 disposals in the first half alone.

For the Allies, South Australia’s Jess Allan was completely dominant in the ruck. Allan’s older sister Sarah is on Adelaide’s AFLW list.

Tasmania’s Daria Bannister was made excellent decisions with ball in hand, while fellow Tasmanian Georgia Hill was strong in defence. 

Adelaide AFLW coach Bec Goddard, in charge of the Allies on the Gold Coast, said before the carnival said there were several up-and-coming stars in the line-up.

"There are a couple of absolute superstars. Daria Bannister from Tasmania is obviously a standout. Danielle Pointer (Northern Territory) is certainly one to watch. In South Australia, we've got the likes of Chloe Scheer and Eloise Jones that are in the hunt to be drafted," Goddard said. 

"I'm really excited to work with the youth and have a look at what's out there going into the (October) draft.

"It's a great experience and hopefully the girls enjoy their footy," she said. 

Vic Country affirmed pre-championships predictions it would be one of this year’s stronger sides, defeating Queensland by 10 points.

Vic Metro's Olivia Flanagan and WA's Courtney Hodder fight for possession in the U18 championships

Country could have won by more, but kicked inaccurately for goal in a wind-affected match.

Eden Zanker booted two goals for Country, as did Georgia Brehmer for Queensland.

RESULTS FROM NAB AFLW UNDER-18 CHAMPIONSHIPS

MONDAY, JULY 10 

QUEENSLAND             2.2       2.3       3.4       3.4 (22)                                  
VIC COUNTRY             0.2       1.4       3.5       4.8 (32) 

GOALS
Queensland: Brehmer 2, Dawes
Vic Country: Zanker 2, Struylaart, Clarke 

BEST
Queensland: Bromage, White, Bella, Blair, Heslop, Wood
Vic Country: Guttridge, Zanker, Purcell, McEvoy, Hanks, Ross 

***

ALLIES             1.0       1.1       1.1       4.2 (26)
NSW/ACT        2.0       2.1       3.3       3.5 (23) 

GOALS
Allies: Tabb 2, Fuller, Bennett
NSW/ACT: Quinlivan, Arndt, Doyle

BEST
Allies: Hill, Bennett, Bird, Allan, Bannister, Tabb
NSW/ACT: Priftis, Parker, Doyle, Jolliffe, Gorham, Steel 

***

VIC METRO     1.1       2.1       3.2       3.2 (20)          
WA                  2.3       4.6       5.8       6.11 (47)         

GOALS
Vic Metro: Flanagan, Newton, Woods
WA: Bartlett 2, Deegan 2, McGuire, Yarran 

BEST
Vic Metro: Prespakis, Woods, Warburton, McLaren, Guerin, Ricardo
WA: Dowrick, Deegan, Hodder, Smith-Bin Omar, Ugle-Haywood, Dorizzi