SA U16 Girls Team – Game 1

By ZAC MILBANK

The SA U16 Girls team has unveiled its leadership group ahead of its first AFLW National Championships match against Western Australia on Sunday.

Set to tackle the Sandgropers in Perth, the Croweaters will be captained by Woodville-West Torrens midfielder Maia Freemantle, with Norwood half-back Lani Cocks to be vice-captain.

Sturt’s Charlotte Copson, Glenelg’s Charlotte O’Sullivan and North’s Iris Newman have also been selected as leadership group members.

Freemantle and Newman, together with South Adelaide half-back Marley Tape, are among those selected to have already tasted action in this year’s Hostplus SANFLW League.

Dual AFLW U16 championship-winning coach Bek McMahon will again be at the helm for SA, which is chasing its third title in succession.

After confronting WA on foreign soil, the Croweaters will then host the Brisbane Lions at Thomas Farms Oval, Unley, on Tuesday April 15 at 10.30am.

See below for a link to a livestream of the match, via the AFL Play channel on YouTube.

Sunday April 6
AFLW U16 National Championships
Game 1 – Western Australia v South Australia
Revo Fitness Stadium, Claremont – 1pm (SA time)

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

F: 4. Charlotte Mauritz (Central), 23. Isabella Beaumont (North), 20. Jaidee-Lee Shortridge (South)

HF: 25. Sarah Deed (West), 27. Charlotte O’Sullivan (Glenelg), 18. Scarlett Blethyn (West)

C: 11. Lily Whiteman (Sturt), 9. Izabella Nisbet (Central), 5. Iris Newman (North)

HB: 7. Lani Cocks (Norwood), 26. Charlotte Copson (Sturt), 14. Marley Tape (South)

B: 12. Mia Wood (Norwood), 32. Amalia Musolino (Central), 3. Sienna Antony (Central)

R: 31. Lara Gribben (Norwood), 6. Lia So (Norwood), 8. Maia Freemantle (Eagles)

INT:  10. Maya Fuller (North), 16. Maya Vonarx (Glenelg), 2. Lillian Thomas (Norwood), 15. Sebella Coghlan (Glenelg), 17. Kirralee Johns (Norwood)

EMG: 21. Indiana Nelson (Central)