Calder Cannons coach Nic Tenabel takes us through the Under-18 Girls squad

With two players in the AFLW National Academy and several draft prospects, Calder Cannons is looking at a strong season. Coach Nic Tenabel takes us through every player.

Calder Cannons leaders (from left) Chloe Baker-West, Jade McLay and Taylah Gilchrist.

Will we see a Calder Cannons renaissance in 2025.

Once the absolute power of the Coates League Girls competition, the club has slipped down the ladder in recent years.

However, with two players in the AFL National Academy and several more AFLW Draft prospects, it looks like a strong season ahead.

New coach Nic Tenabel takes us through every player on the Cannons’ Under-18 Girls list.

CHLOE BAKER-WEST (Strathmore)

Current Vic Metro representative and a member for the National Academy. Our vice-captain for 2025. An exceptional kicking ability and work rate. Baker-west is a key voice on and off the field with an extremely hand work ethic. Midfielder with speed and endurance.

CHARLOTTE BEATTIE (Sunbury)

Recovering from a serious ankle injury. Charlotte’s strength is her physicality in contests and her quick thinking under pressure.

CHLOE BULLEN (Gisborne)

Tall strong defender. Great kick-out ability and loves contested aerial contests.

CHARLIE CALLEIA (Aberfeldie)

Medium midfielder, drives her legs through packs. Takes the game on and is very competitive.

CHLOE CAPECI (Aberfeldie)

Medium midfielder, reads the play super well and is great at ground level. Seen to be very good at reading an intercept mark.

LARA CHURCHILL (Aberfeldie)

Recovering from a shoulder injury. Medium forward who has exceptional marking skills. Very clever around the goals at ground level.

SIENNA COLGAN (Moonee Valley)

A 17-year-old who is rehabbing from an ACL injury from last year.

JASMINA CURTIS (Strathmore)

Medium forward with great goal sense and speed. Ability to read the play well and good user of the ball.

MIETTA DATSON (Craigieburn)

A 17-year-old small forward. Has speed and is clever at ground level. Will most likely be in forward line.

GEMMA ELLIS (Gisborne)

Tall forward with strong aerial capabilities, may look to develop into a defender this year.

MABEL-JEAN FLANNERY (Strathmore)

A 17-year-old outside mid. Very strategic player and reads the play well.

TAYLAH GILCRIST (Strathmore)

The Vic Metro Under-17 captain in 2024. Reads the play well as a strong intercept-marking defender. Transitions around the ground well and good use of her marking abilities.

EDEN GRANT (Sunbury)

A 181cm ruck with speed and agility. Eden will be our primary ruck this year and is a great over-head mark and has speed around the ground.

EMMY GRAZIANO (Research)

Medium defender with great running ability and physicality. Able to read the angles well and brings strong tackle pressure.

EDITH KAVANAGH (Strathmore)

Back in the program this year after an ACL and a year at local level. Nice intercept marking and clever around the ball, basketball background gives her some great agility.

CAITLYN KENNEDY (Strathmore)

A 17-year-old forward who debuted in 2024 and played a variety of roles. Will most likely play forward or back for us in 2025, will start forward given she is sneaky around goals.

MONTANA KERR (Maribyrnong Park)

Small forward-winger with the quickest time trial result for our 1.2km – 4min17. Great endurance which allows her to transition both ways quickly.

TAYA KONIA (Macedon)

A 19-year-old, picked up after her first year of local football last season. New to the Coates League half-way through 2024. Has the ability to break free of congestion with quick hands, plays inside and outside while also sneaky around goals.

FELICITY MAHONEY (Maribyrnong Park)

A 17-year-old who made her debut 2024. Played six games off a wing. Very solid player with speed. Great kick on the run.

SHAUNA McELLIGOTT (Aberfeldie)

Very clever forward with plenty up her sleeve this year. Has put in the effort on the off-season to add more strength to her already fast speed transition and looking to impact the scoreboard early.

JADE McLAY (Diamond Creek)

Current Vic Metro representative and also a member of the National Academy. Named Cannons captain for 2025. A strong-bodied damaging midfielder with great physicality allowing her to burst away at stoppages. Jade will also float forward this year to hit the scoreboard

ROACHE MEILAK (Greenvale)

A 17-year-old tall forward-ruck. Competitive for a tall, shows good physicality early.

SIENNA SHINNERS (Kilmore)

A 17-year-old tall forward-ruck. Good ruck work who is developing her all-round game.

SUMMER SIONETALI (Greenvale)

A 17-year-old, strong defender. Loves to compete for the ball and good at ground level.

LILY SKEHAN (Gisborne)

Another 17-year-old ruck or key position player. Good Ruck positioning, strong use of body and great marking capabilities

MADISON SPRING-BROWN (Essendon Doutta Stars)

Madi is a damaging ball-user, particularly with speed. Runs off the half-back line who can really take the game on.

AVA STEEL (Maribyrnong Park)

Medium forward or midfielder with a solid mark. Great physicality and bursts of high-speed running.

ASHLEIGH STORY (Moonee Valley)

A 17-year-old tall developing ruck or key forward. Powerful and has high acceleration for a tall.

ANABEL TULLY (Craigieburn)

The 17-year-old defender has great speed and stamina. Will likely work off half-back.

HOLLY VESCOVI (Gisborne)

A 17-year-old inside mid or outside wing. Can kick on both feet and has great leg drive in congestion.

RUBY WELSH (Moonee Valley)

The 17-year-old small forward is strong in the contest, has great ball-winning ability at ground level and is clever in front of goals

SASKIA WILLIAMS (Maribyrnong Park)

Medium forward or winger. Williams has great acceleration and endurance. Very sneaky forward craft in 2024, looking to continue to hit the scoreboard in 2025.

IVY WILLS (Macedon)

A 17-year-old high running defender. Great acceleration and drive. Solid kick on the run and loves the contest.