By Nick Creely
The Dandenong Stingrays have dominated the AFL Women’s Under-18 All-Australian squad, with four star youngsters nominated in the 54-player list.
Of all of the 12 TAC Cup clubs, the ‘Rays produced the most All-Australian members, ahead of the Calder Cannons, Eastern Ranges and Geelong Falcons with three each.
The most notable of the four is Bridie Kennedy, who was crowned the inaugural TAC Cup Girls best-and-fairest earlier this year.
Kennedy plays her football with Cranbourne in the VFL Women’s competition, and is undoubtedly set to go high in this year’s AFL Women’s draft.
Other ‘Rays to make it, defender Courtney Jones and midfielders Jordyn Allen and Georgia Gee, all had particularly outstanding carnivals.
Gee was best afield in the very last match on 14 July against Western Australia, playing a starring role for Vic Country in its 22-point victory.
In a stunning tournament for Vic Country, who was undefeated throughout, they had a total of 15-players selected – among 24 Vics in total – in the 54-player squad.
Gippsland Power duo Darcy Guttridge, who is also one of the most promising stars on Cranbourne’s list, and Tyla Hanks were both named, with Hanks winning Country’s MVP award.
The squad also includes 10 representatives from Queensland, eight from Western Australia, five from ACT and seven from the Allies (a combined squad representing South Australian, Tasmania and Northern Territory) and also nine players selected from Vic Metro.
TAC Cup players in the squad:
Defenders: Rebecca Webster (VC – Murray Bushrangers), Courtney Jones (VC – Dandenong Stingrays), Iilish Ross (VC – Murray Bushrangers), Bridie Kennedy (VC – Dandenong Stingrays), Lucy McEvoy (VC – Geelong Falcons), Georgia Clarke (VC – GWV Rebels), Olivia Vesley (VM – Sandringham Dragons), Georgia Ricardo (VM – Sandringham Dragons), Georgia McPherson (VM – Eastern Ranges), Molly Warburton (VM – Calder Cannons).
Midfielders: Darcy Guttridge (VC – Gippsland Power), Tyla Hanks (VC – Gippsland Power), Jordyn Allen (VC – Dandenong Stingrays), Aisling Tupper (VC – Bendigo Pioneers), Olivia Purcell (VC – Geelong Falcons), Georgia Gee (VC – Dandenong Stingrays), Madison Prespakis (VM – Calder Cannons), Maddy Guerin (VM – Northern Knights), Olivia Flanagan (VM – Eastern Ranges), Georgia Patrikios (VM – Calder Cannons).
Rucks: Rene Caris (VC – GWV Rebels).
Forwards: Denby Taylor (VC – Geelong Falcons), Eden Zanker (VC – Bendigo Pioneers), Emerson Woods (VM – Eastern Ranges).
The final All Australian team will be named after the Celebration of Football curtain-raiser.
The selectors are Aasta O’Connor, Kiara Bowers, Renee Forth, Kate Sheahan, Luke Power, Julia Price, Ahmed Saad and Jan Cooper.
