2025 SA U18 Girls Academy

By ZAC MILBANK

Seasoned talent is a key feature of the 2025 SA U18 Girls Academy primed to reclaim the AFL U18 Girls National Championship next year.

The majority of the squad has already appeared at Hostplus SANFLW League level, headlined by 2024 SANFLW Team of the Year wing Monique Bessen and fellow AFLW Academy members Lily Baxter, Eloise Mackereth and Sophie Eaton.

All seven U16 All-Australians from this year’s national championship have also been included, featuring SA U16 MVP Emily Mableson, Emma Charlton, Georgie Fielder,  Polly Turner,  Layla Vizgaudis, Miyu Endersby and Charlee Brooksby.

With SA U18 coach Brad Snell continuing in the role after making his debut this year, the Croweaters’ preparation will begin with a training camp from Wednesday December 17 to Friday December 20 before culminating in an internal trial at Eastern Parade Reserve at Ottoway.

A phyisical testing day will be conducted in conjunction with the SA U16 squad on Sunday February 9 at Nazareth College before training resumes on Wednesday April 30, alongside Round 6 of the Hostplus SANFLW League competition.

A second internal trial match will be played on the weekend of May 11/12 before the squad is trimmed from 45 players to 30 ahead of the AFL U18 Girls National Championship.

SA will hit the road in June to face Victoria Metro (Melbourne) and Western Australia (Perth) before hosting Queensland and Victoria Country in Adelaide during August.