South Australia and the Sydney Swans Academy secured title wins at the 2025 Marsh AFL National Development Championships – U16 Girls.
South Australia took out the Pool A title by winning both games in the round-robin series. They finished equal on points with Victoria Metro but claimed the title with a superior percentage.
The Pool B title was also decided on percentage, with the Sydney Swans Academy edging out last year’s title winner, the GWS Giants Academy, after both sides finished with 2-0 records.
STANDINGS
POOL A
TEAM | WON | LOST | % | PTS |
South Australia | 2 | 0 | 207.81 | 8 |
Victoria Metro | 2 | 0 | 157.78 | 8 |
Western Australia | 1 | 1 | 143.37 | 4 |
Brisbane Lions Academy | 1 | 1 | 87.30 | 4 |
Victoria Country | 0 | 2 | 63.89 | 0 |
Gold Coast Suns Academy | 0 | 2 | 45.40 | 0 |
POOL B
TEAM | WON | LOST | % | PTS |
Sydney Swans Academy | 2 | 0 | 272.55 | 8 |
GWS Giants Academy | 2 | 0 | 167.95 | 8 |
Tasmania | 0 | 2 | 67.57 | 0 |
Northern Territory | 0 | 2 | 33.96 | 0 |
BEST AND FAIREST AWARDS
South Australia utility Lani Cocks was named the Best and Fairest for Pool A, while Sydney Swans Academy midfielder Emily Hollingsworth was crowned the Best and Fairest in Pool B.
Cocks was among South Australia’s best in both matches, with the dynamic left footer averaging 23 disposals at 74% efficiency, along with 4.5 marks and 2.5 clearances. She displayed great strength and power and often broke the lines with her exceptional speed.
Cocks polled 16 votes to win the award ahead of Victoria Metro’s Maya Duane and South Australia’s Maia Freemantle on 9 votes. Victoria Metro’s Perri Goulding and Western Australia’s Arybella Nelson were tied in fourth place on seven votes.
Bottom-ager Hollingsworth was a standout for the Swans in Pool B, averaging 19.5 disposals at 69 percent efficiency, as well as 7.5 tackles and five clearances. She also booted five goals across her two matches and showed an exceptional ability to read the play.
Hollingsworth won the Pool B best and fairest with 13 votes, finishing one vote ahead of Tasmania’s Matilda Lange. GWS Giants Academy teammates Billie Hamilton and Evie Henley were tied for third on 11 votes.
The Best and Fairest awards and All Australian Team were selected by a panel comprising Kevin Sheehan (AFL Talent Ambassador – Chair), Paul Hamilton (AFL National Talent Development & Competitions Manager), Jess Smith (AFL National Female Talent Manager), Tarkyn Lockyer (AFL National Academy Manager) and AFLW club representatives Ben Waller and Abby Howard (Geelong Cats), Tyson Bourke (GWS Giants), Thomas Waldron (Gold Coast Suns) and Darryn Fry (Fremantle).
ALL AUSTRALIAN TEAM
Continue below to view the 2025 Marsh AFL National Development Championships – U16 Girls All Australian Team. Please click here to read profiles on each player, compiled by Kevin Sheehan.
TEAM MVP AWARDS
The team MVP winners were selected by the coaching staff of each program:
Brisbane Lions Academy: Abbey Crowe (Wilston Grange)
Gold Coast Suns Academy: Lily Moana (Burleigh)
GWS Giants Academy: Evie Henley (North Albury)
Northern Territory: Layla May (Darwin Buffaloes)
South Australia: Lani Cocks (Norwood/Boston Tigers)
Sydney Swans Academy: Emma McCallum (Warners Bay Bulldogs)
Tasmania: Matilda Lange (Kingborough)
Victoria Country: Ella Condon (Geelong Falcons/Torquay)
Victoria Metro: Perri Goulding (Eastern Ranges/Mitcham)
Western Australia: Charlotte Fletcher (Peel Thunder/Baldivis)
RESULTS
POOL A
Western Australia 6.4 (40) def by South Australia 8.5 (53)
Western Australia
Best: Charlotte Fletcher, Tiama Collard, Hannah Seaborn, Arybella Nelson, Miley Hynes, Layla Scott
Goals: Caitlin Boss 2, Monet Cannon, Tahlia Head, Vienna Matera, Trista Smoker
South Australia
Best: Lara Gribben, Maia Freemantle, Lani Cocks, Iris Newman, Charlotte Maurits, Lillian Thomas
Goals: Charlotte Maurits 2, Isabella Beaumont, Scarlett Blethyn, Lara Gribben, Iris Newman, Charlotte O'Sullivan, Lillian Thomas
Details: Sunday, April 6 at Revo Fitness Stadium
Brisbane Lions Academy 13.8 (86) def Victoria Country 7.4 (46)
Brisbane Lions Academy
Best: Evie Baker, Ameleia Murray, Lucca Hall, Edie Fraser, Abbey Crowe, Lucy Ashcroft
Goals: Edie Fraser 5, Indiana Scheffler 2, Ameleia Murray, Lucy Ashcroft, Lucca Hall, Abbey Crowe, Freya McIntosh, Kimberley Bell
Victoria Country
Best: Ella Bologa, Lily Brittain, Ella Condon, Brooke Kelly, Ivy Roberts, Sage Dennis
Goals: Lily Brittain 2, Evie Albones, Claudi Collins, Sage Dennis, Brooke Kelly, Jayda Wright
Details: Wednesday, April 9 at Automall Aspley Oval
Gold Coast Suns Academy 6.8 (44) def by Victoria Metro 12.12 (84)
Gold Coast Suns Academy
Best: Allie Cameron, Harriet Howe, Tara Nieass, Renee Ford, Shayla McDonald, Lily Moana
Goals: Tara Nieass, Mena Warria 2, Nikki Sandeman, Grace Cooper
Victoria Metro
Best: Maya Duane, Perri Goulding, Alana Dambrosio, Grace Sharkie, Coco Balmain, Charlotte Embelton
Goals: Maya Duane 3, Alana Dambrosio 2, Tillie Baldwin, Alira Barnard Rossely, Holly Clough, Perri Goulding, Grace Philip
Details: Wednesday, April 9 at Automall Aspley Oval
Gold Coast Suns Academy 4.6 (30) def by Western Australia 12.7 (79)
Gold Coast Suns Academy
Best: Lily Moana, Asia Single, Tara Nieass, Renee Ford, Nikki Sandeman
Goals: Allie Cameron, Emmie Chudley, Ally McKenzie, Mena Warria
Western Australia
Best: Caitlin Boss, Charlotte Fletcher, Elizabeth Young, Arybella Nelson, Hannah Seaborn, Layla Rose Hagerstrom
Goals: Marley Kelman 4, Monet Cannon, Alexis Henderson 2, Caitlin Boss, Tahlia Head, Vienna Matera, Trista Smoker
Details: Sunday, April 13 at People First Stadium
South Australia 12.8 (80) def Brisbane Lions Academy 3.6 (24)
South Australia
Best: Maia Freemantle, Lani Cocks, Lara Gribben, Charlotte Maurits, Caitlin Hardin, Isabella Beaumont
Goals: Scarlett Blethyn, Lara Gribben, Charlotte Maurits 2, Maia Freemantle, Indiana Nelson, Madeline Nuss, Charlotte O'Sullivan, Jaidee-Lee Shortridge, Lillian Thomas
Brisbane Lions Academy
Best:
Goals: Nikita Clarey, Freya McIntosh, Kiara Tolley
Details: Tuesday, April 15 at Thomas Farms Oval
Victoria Country 7.4 (46) def by Victoria Metro 8.10 (58)
Victoria Country
Best: Sage Dennis, Ella Condon, Lily Brittain, Marlie Collett, Claudi Collins, Dempsey McDonnell
Goals: Annie Clish, Claudi Collins 2, Ella Condon, Brooke Kelly, Jayda Wright
Victoria Metro
Best: Perri Goulding, Charli Parsons Jones, Grace Philip, Maya Duane, Charlotte Embelton, April Dye
Goals: Cleo Barbakas, Kiah McKinnon-Rowe 2, Alira Barnard Rossely, Alana Dambrosio, Perri Goulding, Grace Philip
Details: Wednesday, April 16 at Shepley Oval
POOL B
Sydney Swans Academy 8.15 (63) def Tasmania 4.5 (29)
Sydney Swans Academy
Best: Emily Hollingsworth, Isabella Evans, Emma McCallum, Genevieve Hynes, Lily Davidson, Ashleigh Lestrange
Goals: Emily Hollingsworth, Willow Skene 2, Luca Burge, Genevieve Hynes, Eve Loebel, Ella Tyack
Tasmania
Best: Taryn Lowe, Aya Cottam, Bailee Smith, Matilda Lange, Luca Murgatroyd, Addison Broadbent
Goals: Luca Murgatroyd 2, Emily French, Olivia Lyons
Details: Monday, April 14 at Blacktown International Sportspark
GWS Giants Academy 12.11 (83) def Northern Territory 5.2 (32)
GWS Giants Academy
Best: Evie Henley, Charlie Gibson, Kate Patton, Amelia Rainbow, Billie Hamilton
Goals: Tayla Lawrence 4, Billie Hamilton 3, Charlie Gibson 2, Sophia Dawe, Clare Hyland, Emmersen Lihou
Northern Territory
Best: Peggy Rock, Makenzy Smith, Layla May, Jenara Grant, Amber Quinn, Lakhyah Hill
Goals: Latoya Young 2, Miley Cunningham, Kayla Ilett, Makenzy Smith
Details: Monday, April 14 at Blacktown International Sportspark
GWS Giants Academy 7.6 (48) def Tasmania 6.10 (46)
GWS Giants Academy
Best: Evie Henley, Charlie Gibson, Billie Hamilton, Ava Saad, Amelia Rainbow, Willow Kildey
Goals: Billie Hamilton 6, Zoe Quigley
Tasmania
Best: Matilda Lange, Aya Cottam, Shanita Major, Sophie Dean, Amelia Carter, Savannah Arnold
Goals: Matilda Lange 3, Aya Cottam, Olivia Lyons, Erin Watkinson
Details: Thursday, April 17 at Blacktown International Sportspark
Sydney Swans Academy 12.4 (76) def Northern Territory 3.4 (22)
Sydney Swans Academy
Best: Emma McCallum, Emily Hollingsworth, Isabella Evans, Lily Davidson, Genevieve Hynes, Annalise Crawley
Goals: Addison Gale, Emily Hollingsworth 3, Madison James, Emma McCallum 2, Genevieve Hynes, Eve Loebel
Northern Territory
Best: Jenara Grant, Grace Anstess, Kayla Ilett, Layla May, Lakhyah Hill, Makenzy Smith
Goals: Miley Cunningham, Kayla Ilett, Akia-Marie Lake
Details: Thursday, April 17 at Blacktown International Sportspark
Please click here to watch replays of all matches in the 2025 Marsh AFL National Development Championships U16 Girls.