WA Trio Earns All Australian Honours Wednesday, April 24, 2024 - 9:47 AM

West Australians Tiama Collard, Cara Dziegielewski, and Lexi Strachan have been rewarded with selection in the 2024 Marsh AFL National Development Championships – U16 Girls All-Australian Team. 

The trio were stand-out performers at the recent National Championships. 

Collard has been named in a forward pocket, Dziegielewski in the ruck, while Strachan has been named on the interchange. 

As a bottom-aged small forward who plays for Peel Thunder, Collard starred against the Gold Coast Suns using her pace, agility, and goal sense to light up WA’s forward line, finishing with three goals from her 14 disposals (11 contested) and laying seven tackles. 

Collard displayed neat skills on both sides of her body. 

Dziegielewski, a national high jumper, showed her ability as an athletic ruck who used her natural leap to give her team first use around stoppages throughout both matches, averaging 18 hit-outs.  

The West Perth product followed up at ground level using her clean hands to create for her team, as well as laying tackles in two impressive performances. 

She showed both courage and skill in the air and is a fierce competitor, averaging 16.5 disposals (8 contested), 3.5 marks and 7.5 tackles. 

Strachan, also from West Perth, was a super competitive and enthusiastic midfielder who attacked the ball aggressively, winning contested ball and providing consistent drive forward for her team. 

Lexi averaged 20.5 disposals (11 contested) and nine tackles to earn the MVP award for WA. 

Trent Cooper, Manager Female Talent Programs and Coaching Specialist at the WAFC, congratulated the trio. 

“Cara, Lexi and Tiama applied themselves extremely well throughout the program and then performed well in the games against quality opposition,” Cooper said. 

The three players are all extremely different but excelled in their various roles and are thoroughly deserving of the accolade.” 

The 2024 Marsh AFL National Development Championships – U16 Girls All-Australian Team was selected by a panel of experts. 
 

Kevin Sheehan (AFL Talent Ambassador – Chair), Paul Hamilton (AFL National Talent Development & Competitions Manager), Jess Smith (AFL National Female Talent Manager) and AFLW club representatives Keegan Brooksby (Hawthorn), Flynn Loft (North Melbourne), Naomi Maidment (Port Adelaide) and Shae Sloane (Melbourne) had the task of naming the side. 

WA RESULTS 
 
POOL A 
 

Gold Coast Suns Academy 3.0 (18) def by Western Australia 12.8 (80) 
Gold Coast Suns Academy 
Best: Allie Cameron, Stephanie Aguinaldo, Eva Hooper, Maddie Campbell, Tara Nieass, Asia Single 
Goals: Allie Cameron 2, Nikki Sandeman 
Western Australia 
Best: Lexi Strachan, Tiama Collard, Mia Carlshausen, Avuya Nomlatyu, Lacey Mckay, Rikisha Nannup 
Goals: ?Tiama Collard, Ada Duncan 3, Summer Ajduk, Mia Carlshausen, Arybella Nelson 2 
Details: Sunday, April 7 at Trevor Barker Beach Oval 

South Australia 16.10 (106) def Western Australia 1.5 (11) 
South Australia 
Best: Georgie Fielder, Emily Mableson, Layla Vizgaudis, Emma Charlton, Jyearah Newchurch, Charlee Brooksby 
Goals: Taya Maxwell 3, Kate Alexander, Charlee Brooksby, Emma Charlton, Lillian Thomas 2, Georgie Fielder, Tara Lord, Jyearah Newchurch, Polly Turner, Layla Vizgaudis 
Western Australia 
Best: Cara Dziegielewski, Lexi Strachan, Heidi Ireland, Hannah Seaborn, Marie Polimeno, Rikisha Nannup 
Goals: Ada Duncan 
Details: Sunday, April 14 at Prospect Oval 
 

STANDINGS 
 
POOL A