Twenty-four talented women ready to represent the NT in Under 18 Championships

The NT’s brightest female footy stars are headed for Adelaide this weekend for Round 1 of the NAB AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships.

The players based in Darwin were presented their jumpers after training on Monday night, with the full squad of 24 to come together for the two games against South Australia on Friday and Sunday. 

Players from Alice Springs, Katherine, and a couple more attending school in Geelong and Adelaide make up the talented list. 

Round 1 of the championships follows on from the development camp and northern academy games the team played in Coffs Harbour a couple of weeks ago, with NT Thunder Women’s Academy Manager Heidi Thompson saying she was keen to keep the momentum rolling.

“We were pleased with how the group came together and bought into the Coffs Harbour experience. Though they didn’t get the on-field results they desired and worked for they showed great cohesion and pride in representing the NT, and I’m sure they will again this weekend.”

The coaching panel, headed by Thompson, selected the squad of 24, which includes two top age players in Alysha Healy and Madeline Gault, both premiership experienced players with Waratah in the NTFL Women’s Premier League. 

It also includes one bottom age (16-year-old) player in Georgia Johnson, who also hails from Waratah and is described by Thompson as an exciting talent. 

“Georgia is one of those players who is always willing to compete, as an inside midfielder she wins plenty of footy.”

Thompson also highlighted captain Bella Clarke, as well as Mattea Breed and Shantel Miskin-Ripia as ‘players to watch’.

“Bella, Mattea and Shantel all showed great skill and composure in the games we played in Coffs Harbour and were some of our biggest playmakers, so we look forwarded to watching them develop further in the games against Adelaide and hopefully push their case for Central Allies selection,” she said. 

The games against Adelaide this weekend is the first step in the process for Round 2 when the NT will join with South Australia to form the Central Allies team to take on the other states. 

Thompson said the team’s focus was to be competitive.

“South Australia is a quality outfit, who will go from being our opposition to our teammates in a month’s time so while we want to get as many Territory girls as possible on the Central Allies team we also want to be a united front which plays our style of footy and gives them a good run,” she said.

The games will be live streamed, check the AFLW page here for details when they are released: https://womens.afl/talent-pathway/u18s 

Round 1 2019 NAB AFLW Under 18 Championships

Game 1
SA vs NT
Peter Motley Oval, Unley
2pm Friday 31 May

Game 2
SA vs NT 
Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide
11am Sunday 2 June

NT squad for Round 1 2019 NAB AFLW Under 18 Championships