Image: Gold Coast Suns Academy midfielder Lily Moana claimed the Best and Fairest at the 2026 Marsh AFL National Development Championships U16 Girls. Picture: Matt Roberts/AFL Photos
The 2026 Marsh AFL National Development Championships U16 Girls All Australian Team and MVP winners have been selected.
The Championships concluded last week, with the Gold Coast Suns Academy, GWS Giants Academy and South Australia sharing the title after each winning both of their matches.
STANDINGS
| TEAM | WON | LOST | PTS |
| Gold Coast Suns Academy | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| GWS Giants Academy | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| South Australia | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| Brisbane Lions Academy | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Western Australia | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Victoria Metro | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Sydney Swans Academy | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Northern Territory | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Victoria Country | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Tasmania | 0 | 2 | 0 |
BEST AND FAIREST AWARD
Gold Coast Suns Academy midfielder Lily Moana was named the Best and Fairest winner for the 2026 Marsh AFL National Development Championships U16 Girls following two dominant performances.
The speedster averaged 23.5 disposals, nine inside 50s and six clearances in her side’s two wins to claim the award. She also earned selection in the All Australian Team for a second-consecutive year after earning the honour as a bottom-aged player in 2025.
Moana polled 15 votes to win the Best and Fairest ahead of Western Australia defender Arybella Nelson on 12 votes. GWS Giants Academy ruck Evana Butler and South Australia midfielder Izabella Nisbet were tied for third on 11 votes.
The Best and Fairest award and All Australian Team were selected by a panel comprising AFL staff and AFLW club representatives.
The panel included Kevin Sheehan (AFL Talent Ambassador – Chair), Paul Hamilton (AFL National Talent Development & Competitions Manager), Jess Smith (AFL Talent Pathways Operations and Strategic Project Manager), Mark Brown (AFL NSW/ACT Talent Lead), with AFLW club representatives Caitlin Gould (Adelaide Crows), Michael Swann (Brisbane Lions), Matthew Burton (Carlton), Ed Clark (Collingwood) and Joseph Molluso (Essendon).
ALL AUSTRALIAN TEAM
Please click here to read profiles on each All Australian representative, compiled by Kevin Sheehan.
TEAM MVP AWARDS
The team MVP winners were selected by the coaching staff of each program:
Brisbane Lions Academy: Kya Wills-Rawlings
Gold Coast Suns Academy: Lily Moana
GWS Giants Academy: Evana Butler
Northern Territory: Peggy Rock
South Australia: Izabella Nisbet
Sydney Swans Academy: Quin Neyland
Tasmania: Aliera Denholm
Victoria Country: Harper Delamare
Victoria Metro: Kiera Moroney
Western Australia: Arybella Nelson
RESULTS
South Australia 5.7 (37) def Western Australia 5.2 (32)
South Australia
Best: Emmerson Warren, Della McCracken, Jaidee-Lee Shortridge, Amalia Musolino, Mia Wood, Scarlett Blethyn
Goals: Isabella Gray 2, Chloe Nettle, Ruby Rose, Jaidee-Lee Shortridge
Western Australia
Best: Caitlin Boss, Charli Grau, Arybella Nelson, Sariyah Homer, Layla Scott, Keira Fawcett
Goals: Sariyah Homer 2, Lara Fuller, Bella Godecke, Layla Scott
Details: Tuesday, April 7 at Thomas Farms Oval
Victoria Metro 6.6 (42) def Victoria Country 3.11 (29)
Victoria Metro
Best: Camryn Rabie, Kiera Moroney, Milla Giardina, Zahra Stevens, Deena Gerges, Cate Deayton
Goals: Milla Giardina, Isabelle Le 2, Ashley Denny, Grace Robinson
Victoria Country
Best: Harper Delamare, Shae Anderson, Taylah Mizzi, Tilly McErlain, Remy Sliwa, Marli Vardy
Goals: Zaria Dalton, Layne Harvey, Gypsy Quaife
Details: Thursday, April 9 at Trevor Barker Beach Oval
Sydney Swans Academy 2.2 (14) def by Brisbane Lions Academy 8.11 (59)
Sydney Swans Academy
Best: Marley Vella, Nikki Tooth, Lily Davidson, Gia Hudson, Elizabeth Coughlin
Goals: Lily Davidson, Emily Hollingsworth
Brisbane Lions Academy
Best: Kya Wills-Rawlings, Libby Robinson, Bella Phillips, Kischanda French, Lucca Hall, Crystal Smith
Goals: Scarlett Kelly, Sienna McCormack 2, Summer Carriage, Lucca Hall, Libby Robinson, Crystal Smith
Details: Thursday, April 9 at Blacktown International Sports Park
Tasmania 0.2 (2) def by Gold Coast Suns Academy 21.16 (142)
Tasmania
Best: Georgia Lange, Aya Cottam, Sabella Hanigan, Harper Stewart, Phoebe Sallese, Amelia Carter
Gold Coast Suns Academy
Best: Ally Mckenzie, Harriet Howe, Pippa O'Grady, Stephanie Williams, Lily Moana, Eliza Davenport
Goals: Ally Mckenzie 5, Kirra Nunn 4, Siena Adamson, Brooke Edwards, Chance Spicer 2, Ella Ballantyne, Lacey Bell, Lani Minster, Lily Moana, Tigerlily Nixon, Stephanie Williams
Details: Thursday, April 9 at Blacktown International Sports Park
GWS Giants Academy 9.6 (60) def Northern Territory 3.6 (24)
GWS Giants Academy
Best: Evana Butler, Indie Champion, Lily Martin, Abbey Hunt, Jess Smith, Keira Eagles
Goals: Jess Smith 3, Indie Champion, Lara Frost 2, Abbie Spokes, Lyla Wescombe
Northern Territory
Best: Kayla Ilett, Peggy Rock, Grace Anstess, Brylee Akers, Layla May, Chanelle Fejo
Goals: Olivia Gee, Taniesha John-Forest, Peggy Rock
Details: Thursday, April 9 at Blacktown International Sports Park
GWS Giants Academy 6.16 (52) def Tasmania 6.4 (40)
GWS Giants Academy
Best: Lily Martin, Indie Champion, Evana Butler, Jess Smith, Lyla Wescombe, Isabelle Haberfield
Goals: India Champion, Jess Smith 2, Lily Martin, Lyla Wescombe
Tasmania
Best: Aliera Denholm, Phoebe Sallese, Georgia Lange, Kayla Waller, Macy Devine, Harper Stewart
Goals: Phoebe Sallese 2, Georgina Dean, Aliera Denholm, Macy Devine, Harper Stewart
Details: Sunday, April 12 at Blacktown International Sports Park
Sydney Swans Academy 3.4 (22) def Northern Territory 1.5 (11)
Sydney Swans Academy
Best: Chloe Murphy, Sienna Foster, Francesca Cooney, Lily Davidson, Emily Hollingsworth
Goals: Elizabeth Coughlin, Grace Morris, Scarlett Rodwell
Northern Territory
Best: Peggy Rock, Kayla Ilett, Layla May, Grace Anstess, Chanelle Fejo, Makenzy Smith
Goals: Taniesha John-Forest
Details: Sunday, April 12 at Blacktown International Sports Park
Victoria Country 2.4 (16) def by Gold Coast Suns Academy 10.14 (74)
Victoria Country
Best: Harper Delamare, Layne Harvey, Emilia Evans, Bella Bowles, Tessa Wilson, Remy Sliwa
Goals: Harper Delamare, Layne Harvey
Gold Coast Suns Academy
Best: Lily Moana, Pippa O'Grady, Eliza Davenport, Harriet Howe, Shona Berkeley, Ally Mckenzie
Goals: Ella Ballantyne 4, Lani Minster 2, Brooke Edwards, Ally McKenzie, Lily Moana, Pippa O’Grady
Details: Thursday, April 16 at Shepley Oval
Western Australia 8.6 (54) def Brisbane Lions Academy 5.13 (43)
Western Australia
Best: Arybella Nelson, Caitlin Boss, Beatrice Crane, Keira Fawcett, Indi Slocombe, Zoe French
Goals: Lara Fuller 3, Sariyah Homer 2, Caitlin Boss, Vienna Matera, Chelsea Natta
Brisbane Lions Academy
Best: Crystal Smith, Libby Robinson, Kischanda French, Kya Wills-Rawlings, Xanthe Millington, Bella Phillips
Goals: Lucca Hall 2, Summer Carriage, Scarlett Kelly, Sienna McCormack
Details: Thursday, April 16 at Shepley Oval
Victoria Metro 3.6 (24) def by South Australia 7.7 (49)
Victoria Metro
Best: Kiera Moroney, Deena Gerges, Georgia Naughton, Isabelle Le, Camryn Rabie, Aggie Mathieson
Goals: Deena Gerges 2, Zara Rowson
South Australia
Best: Ella Anderson, Jaidee-Lee Shortridge, Matilda Buchanan, Izabella Nisbet, Scarlett Blethyn, Mia Wood
Goals: Jaidee-Lee Shortridge 3, Scarlett Blethyn, Izabella Nisbet, Ruby Rose, Anika Tran
Details: Thursday, April 16 at Shepley Oval
Please click here to watch replays of all matches in the 2026 Marsh AFL National Development Championships U16 Girls.