Vic girls represent in Australia U18 v All-Stars clash

Many of the most talented under 18 girls footballers in the country who are part of the 2024 Marsh AFL National Academy Girls squad will represent Australia for the second time this year when they take on a national All-Stars side in Melbourne on Sunday.

The King’s Birthday weekend clash will see 25 Victorian girls take to the field across the two sides, with 11 Victorians in the Marsh AFL National Academy Girls squad and 14 Victorians playing for the All-Stars side.

AFL Victoria is proud to recognise the Victorian community footy clubs that have supported these girls on their football journeys.

The clash between the 2024 Marsh AFL National Academy Girls and All-Stars will be played at RSEA Park on Sunday, June 9 from 11:00am AEST.

In an exciting development, the All-Stars team will comprise players aged 21 and under from across Australia for the first time, having previously been made up of talent from Victoria, Northern Territory and Tasmania only.

The All-Stars features talent who compete in the Coates Talent League, VFLW, SANFLW, WAFLW and QAFLW, with the squad selected from nominations submitted by all AFLW clubs.

Due to several injuries within the Marsh AFL National Academy Girls squad, Bendigo Pioneers defender Jemmika Douglas has been included in the Australia U18 team to take on the All-Stars. Douglas is also a member of the 2024 Indigenous Academy.

Existing squad members Grace Baba, Tara Harrington, Poppy Scholz and Elli Symonds won’t play in Sunday’s match due to injury but will still travel to Melbourne to take part in the camp.

MARSH AFL NATIONAL ACADEMY CAMP DETAILS

The Marsh AFL National Academy is an accelerated football and personal development program that provides the next generation of stars with experiences, learnings and further opportunities to best prepare them for the next steps in their football journey.

The 2024 Marsh AFL National Academy Girls squad comprises many of the nation’s most promising footballers born in 2006 who will be eligible to be selected in the 2024 AFLW Draft.

The Academy squad will arrive in Melbourne on Friday to take part in their third high-performance camp of this year’s program.

It follows an induction camp that was held in Victoria in January, and a high-performance camp in April that also featured a match against the U23 All-Stars, featuring players from Victoria, Northern Territory and Tasmania, at IKON Park.

The Marsh AFL National Academy Girls squad will train at The Hangar, home of Essendon Football Club, on Friday morning and take part in a captain’s run at Port Melbourne’s ETU Stadium on Saturday.

Players will also feature in a range of wellbeing, education and team bonding sessions throughout the camp.

Marsh AFL National Academy Manager, Tarkyn Lockyer, said: “It’s great to have the Marsh AFL National Academy Girls squad back together this weekend for their final camp of the 2024 program.

“Sunday’s game provides a platform for players to continue to showcase their learnings from the Academy program and to have the opportunity to play alongside some of their most talented peers from across the country.

“We are excited to also offer the opportunity to players from across the country to represent the All-Stars for the first time. Sunday’s match also provides these players the chance to showcase their skills in front of AFLW recruiters.”

AUSTRALIA U18 vs ALL-STARS

Sunday, June 9, 2024

11:00am AEST

RSEA Park

Free entry

HOW TO WATCH: Sunday’s match between Australia U18 and the All-Stars will be available to watch live and free on the AFLW website.

Continue below to view the Australia U18 and All-Stars squads for Sunday’s match at RSEA Park.

MARSH AFL NATIONAL ACADEMY GIRLS (AUSTRALIA U18) 

*Denotes injured and won’t play

ALL-STARS