Here 80 Players to Watch during the booming SEQ AFL under-17 girls’ season
Here’s 80 SEQ AFL girls’ footy Players to Watch ahead of the season and what makes them stand out from the crowd.
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Ready, set, takeoff. The SEQ AFL is on the runway, engines warming, and will launch this weekend.
The www.couriermail.com.au, Gold Coast Bulletin and Sunshine Coast daily online will again provide regular coverage of the competition Division 1 competition and some of the Division 2 teams
The competitions were a stepping stone for many into representative and senior footy, and for others a chance to enjoy a different sport and make new friends.
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From Maroochydore to the champion Tweed Coast Northern Rivers out, Victoria Point to Wests Juniors and everywhere in between, we will have a regular story about the competition.
Whether it be Southport’s Shyla Bauer, Wilston Grange’s Maya Cawthorn, Demons’ Mia Avatt or Sandgate’s CJ Elliott, we have them covered in our story below.
So who will be some of the key Players to Watch in 2024? Enjoy the story here.
COORPAROO
Chloe Harrison
A reliable half back with safe hands, Harrison prides herself on her intercept marking. She is a natural leader on the field.
Edie Fraser
Fraser was a great ball user with an ability to convert in front of goal. An Academy player, Fraser always gives 100 per cent at training and playing, setting an example for her peers. She plays midfield and forward.
Lyla Harrison
Coorparoo midfielder and forward Harrison is someone who plays above her size. The sister of Chloe who we mentioned earlier, Lyla was a big competitor, a strong defensive tackler and notable outside runner.
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LAST SEASON’S SEQ AFL UNDER 17 GIRLS PLAYERS TO WATCH
Kameryn Bray
A multi-talented sportswoman, Bray was an evasive runner who shines on the wing. She doesn’t mind contact and was strong defensively, while also being to link up with her run and carry.
Emma Bracegirlde
One of Coorparoo’s best players last season, Bracegirdle will play around the backline where she will read the play well. She was noted for being hard to beat in one-on-one contests.
Mikayla Styles
New to the club, winger Styles enjoys the physical aspect of the game. “We were looking forward to seeing her skills develop this year,’’ said Coorparoo coach Scott Harrison.
SOUTHPORT
Rhianna Ingram
Ingram has been identified by the Gold Coast Suns, that’s how good she has been going over the last 18 months. The under-15 Sharks Best of Fairest winner last season, she will benefit from training with the Suns’ under-18 academy squad.
Shyla Bauer
Remember her? Bauer won the club’s Best of the Fairest award by the length of Southport Spit. The mid fielder will again be an invaluable contributor. Bauer is a natural with a great game sense and long kick.
Scarlett Featherstone
Featherstone’s hard running midfield play will be warmly welcomed in the engine room for the Sharks.
Jayda Crawford
Crawford was a forward and midfielder with excellent skills who knew where the goals were and who could finish a movement off with precision.
MORETON BAY
Taylah Heyma
Heyma, the team’s vice-captain, will be a first season under-17 footy player who has moved up from the under 15s where she was the 2023 Best and Fairest winner.
Emmy Brady
Brady will be a captain courageous who has made a huge impression since joining the club. She has arrived from Sandgate and brings with her good football skills and a hard working ethic which has inspired her peers.
REDCLIFFE
Rosie Kusic, Madison Green
Kusic and Green will be key defenders for Redcliffe this season, with Kusic also swinging toward the wing during matches. Redcliffe could not be in better hands with this pair halting opposition raids, and then rebounding play in the other direction.
Lucy Riddle and Billie Smart
Smart will be a prime mover through the centre and around the ruck, with her midfield efforts distributing possession away from the traffic.
Riddle will be a goal sneak, a key small forward who can scoop up the crumbs.
Tweed Coast Northern Rivers
The Tweed Coast Northern Rivers Tigers have once again assembled a competitive under-17s team for season 2024.
With players from Ballina to the Queensland border, the squad has retained a core group of the team that won the Div 2 Flag in 2023. There were half a dozen highly skilled girls moving up from the under-15s, including Wren Hynes who we picture below.
Maddie Campbell
Campbell has joined the Tigers after moving down from Cairns. She is a powerhouse centre forward who really takes the game on.
Her strength is busting through packs and fast accurate disposal skill by hand and foot. She is a star recruit in the Suns 16s development squad.
Bella Gleed
Another new girl who recently moved to the area, Gleed is a tall fast marking forward. Coming from a long distance and cross country background, she has endurance and is now developing her pace. She is outstanding overhead and has a long accurate kick.
Coco Colefax
Coco has been a solid and dependable player in defence for Tweed Coast for a number of years. She has stepped up into 17s this season and brings with her a natural defensive skill, strength, overhead marking and cool play under pressure. She is a valued team member.
Summer Browning
Another of our girls in the GC Suns 16s development squad member, Browning is another highly skilled player stepping up from 15s. Her explosive pace, silky skills and long accurate kick make her an outstanding winger. She is an exciting and effective attacking option for the squad.
Madi Power
Power is one of the Tigers most versatile players. Her fast and effective ball skills enable her to be dangerous in front of goals as well disciplined, organised and punchy in defence. She is another exciting girl to watch this season.
Bonnie Starling
Another long serving Tiger who has inherited the full back role in our 2024. She is tough, disciplined and inventive, leading a tight and connected defensive structure. She is an awesome player that will excite the crowd this season.
Surfers Paradise
Sophia Springer
Springer was one of the competition’s most notable players last season, someone with an ability to rotate between the ruck and switch back. She made her senior debut earlier this season as well.
Mia Avatt
Avatt was a versatile type who can play both on the ball, but also lock down a back role. Like Springer, Avatt tasted senior footy earlier this season with the Demons.
Lilly Patten
Originally a Carrara Saints junior, Patten was among the Demons’ senior girls best players during a recent match and will be a great asset to the under-17 Surfers Paradise girls. She has an ability to play both forward and across the midfield.
Skye Howell
The Demons were fortunate to have Skye Howells back in business again in 2024. The backline ace is a key defender.
Tara Nieass
Nieass will have a slow start to the season due to injury, but watch for her to return soon. She made under-16 Gold Coast Suns academy squad this year and will play forward and midfield for the Demons.
WYNNUM VIKINGS
Ella Cook and Chelsea Shubert
Both girls will ply their skills both in the midfield, but also drifting forward. Cook the team’s vice-captain, Cook will become a focal point, while Shubert will be a link at centre half forward if not working her way around the midfield.
Taya North, Ava Jacobson and Claudia Hill
What a terrific trio. North will lead from the front after being announced captain of the Vikings. Hill will give her side a spring in its step from the wing, while Jacobson will be reliable across the centre.
EVERTON WOLVES
While it was tough in 2023 for this group going from winning a Division 3 premiership in 2022 to not winning a game, the resilience they showed was a great credit to them. The Wolves were looking forward to starting the 2024 campaign with a real balance and injection of pace in the team.
Charlotte Daly
Here’s a young lady primed and ready to role this season. A real in and under player, she has had a massive pre-season campaign.
Emily Smith
Smith will be Everton’s on field general, a tremendous asset to the group across the half back line. Bring it on.
Lucy Draper
Isn’t it great to see Draper back at the club after a year away. She brings with her great skills and pace.
VICTORIA POINT SHARKS
Chloe Campbell
A Victoria Point Sharks’ ace, midfielder Campbell is calm in traffic, composed and reads the game well. She has beautiful clean hands as well.
Annie Wallace
Wallace balances the Victoria Point Sharks squad splendidly with her never-say-die attitude. A midfielder, she has explosive speed and is hard at the ball.
Tiffany O’Keeffe
O’Keeffe will attack the footy like there is no tomorrow - exactly the type you want in defence or around the midfield. She also has an elite kick and uses possession well.
Harlee Mcllwain
A ruck or centre half back, Harlee’s good vertical leap stands her out from the pack. She has lovely clean hands and makes good decisions with the footy as well.
Nakita Irvine
A midfielder, watch for Irvine’s good turn of speed and great foot skills this season. Irvine was also a capable over head mark of the footy.
ASPLEY
Lauren Grounds
A half back ace who is hard at the contest, Grounds also contributes on the other side of the ball with her terrific tackling.
Madeline Wilkin
Meet the Miss Versatile of the Demons squad. Madeline Wilkin can play anywhere and can impact anywhere. She also has good vision, reads the game well and a fine set of skills.
Jaci Plumpton
Plumpton brings raw talent and a willingness to learn to the squad. In other sporting life she has been an elite soccer player, but was showing exciting promise.
Ashleigh Klamer
Does Klamer have a magnet on her fingertips which attracts the ball? A young gun mid field player always seems to be around the footy.
Charlotte Kerkow
Along with teammate Klamer who we mentioned above, Kerkow has come through the Aspley junior systems where she has been a five-star performer in the under-15 ranks. Kerkow plays in the midfield and is a noted in and under contested ball winner.
WESTS JUNIORS
Sammy Snowden and Maddie Pfitzner
Both girls were among the players of the season in 2023, with Snowden a midfield or forward young gun and Pfitzner outstanding in the ruck. Watch for them to lead the way again in 2024.
Daisy Lythgow and Bailey Cooke
Wests Juniors have some strike this season and one of the Players to Watch will be Lythgow who will swing between the midfield and playing forward.
Watch for Cooke to bob up anywhere on the field, although you will certainly see her on the wing at stages.
MAROOCHYDORE
Molly Ferguson
Ferguson is young for this age group, but as a midfielder she stands out from the crowd with her exceptional aerobic capacity which allows her to get to multiple contests.
Katie Kerr
Watch for Kerr to play more centre half forward this season. She has good contested marking ability and can connect well up the ground, making her an ideal key position player.
Emma Riley and Bella Fernandez
Riley will be a hard at the ball midfielder for the Roos, someone who enjoys the contest, while Fernandez, although under sized, is a hard working ruck who presents the ball well around the ground.
SANDGATE HAWKS
CJ Elliott and Abby Chardon
The Hawks was a wonderful nest for emerging young female talent and two rookies to watch this season will be CJ Elliott and Abby Chardon who will both step up from the under-15s. Elliott will play midfield or forward while Chardon was an either end player.
Eilee Tebbutt
Watch for Tebbutt to lock down the back with her tenacious defending for Sandgate.
TWEED COOLANGATTA
Ava Maher
The Suns under 18 squad member will be great in the air as either a midfielder or forward, while will also lead the squad by example.
Izzy Boucher
From out of the crack PBC SHS footy program comes Boucher, a hard at the ball midfielder who returns after a tremendous 2023 campaign with Tweed Cooly.
Izzy McPherson
New to the club, McPherson gives Tweed Coolangatta plenty of power and pace around the forward line. She was also a fantastic set shot footy player.
Allira Palmucci
A returning player to the Tweed Coolangatta following a gun 2023 season, Palmucci brings versatility to the squad although we expect to see her feature at centre halfback for extended periods.
Jamie Collins
Watch for the silky skills of his returning player to feature in the Tweed Coolangatta midfield division.
WILSTON GRANGE
The Gorillas have a squad of more than 40 girls circling, so will be fielding teams in both the Div 1 and Div 2 north competitions. Wilston Grange has retained its core elite players from last season so the likes of Tayla Simpson, Summer Hamilton, Alyssa Kennedy, Sophia Allen and Issy Levine will again be leading from the front. But what is really exciting for the club community was the addition of a new crop of players that have either come up from Wilston Grange’s under-15s or joined from other clubs.
Maya Cawthorn
Maya Cawthorn will give the side a hard running elite ball user, a versatile type of footy player that will strengthen the team’s midfield and half forward line.
Niamh McCarthy
Former gymnast Niamh McCarthy is new to club football, but has impressed as an aggressive, super fit athlete who will be playing ruck or key forward.
Hazel Wright
Wright had come through the ranks, emerging from out of the 15s where she was a “super competitive small pressure forward who battles and niggles all game’’, according to her coach Jamie Sceney.
Lucy Rayner
Lucy Rayner joins the club from neighbouring Everton as a key defender who reads the play well. He can take an intercept mark and repeal the opposition forays forward.
Caitlin Le Mare
Caitlin Le Mare is another new player to club football, but someone who has been showing ability beyond her experience. She was already a smart footballer who reads the play well, someone who will compliment Wilston Grange’s midfield and wings.
Eddi Wilson
Wilson is another junior who comes up from Wilston Grange’s under-15s, a smart footballer who gets to the right positions and uses the ball well. Wilson will probably spend most of her time around the forward line. Wilson, Le Mare, Rayner, Wright, McCarthy and Cawthorn, who were all mentioned above, were players to watch along with some of our other elite runners like Morgan Whalley, Tilly Curtis and Bella Redpath. Whalley, Curtis and Redpath give the squad run and speed.
BROADBEACH
Ava Mitchell
A centre half back and centre half forward, the key position player is young for this age group but was a natural reader of the game. She is a strong mark with a penetrating kick who will be looking forward to a consistent season ahead. She has an ability to direct the traffic and control the game.
Steph Aguinaldo
A bottom age player will be in only her second season. Strong and powerful as an athlete, the midfielder is improving with the more exposure to the code she gets. She was instantly recognised for her ability in 2023 when she made the state team.
Rahni Kerr
Another young player, Kerr is coming off a fantastic 2023 when she was awarded the under-15 league’s Best and Fairest player. She works extremely hard to get to multiple contests and can break open games with her run and carry. She was looking forward to an exciting 2024.
Sienna Clinch
Playing ruck or a key position, Clinch is a young, raw tall who displays a competitive edge and aggression around the contest. Clinch is one to look out for this season.
MORNINGSIDE
Zoe Petrides
Remember Zoe Petrides from last season? Well, the Algester State School past student and Calamvale Leopards junior is back and ready for action. The Panthers representative player will fill a role as a small forward or in the mid field.
Lucy Callaghan, Ruby Strutton, Leila Tonna
Supporting Petrides will be true blue midfielder Ruby Strutton, while Leila Tonna (midfield and wing) and Lucy Callaghan (midfield and back) will swing about depending on what the team is needing.
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