Leadership Group Revealed for WA AFLW State 18s

Peel Thunder Premiership player Bella Mann has been appointed Captain of WA’s AFLW State 18’s team.

On an emotional night for the squad of 35, players were presented with their jumpers ahead of this year’s NAB AFLW Draft Championships.

Mann heads up a six-player leadership group, which includes Peel teammate Ella Roberts, Swan Districts’ pair Jaime Henry (vice-captain) and Tara Stribley, South Fremantle’s Lauren Wakfer and East Fremantle’s Alli Nokes.

A third-year player in the squad, Mann is honoured to Captain the side.

“I’m so grateful to be leading such an amazing group of girls alongside an excellent team of coaches.

Being in this academy has opened so many opportunities for me and I’m sure a few of our older girls would say the same,” Mann said.

Mann made her League debut last year and was part of the 2021 Peel Thunder Reserves Premiership team.

Two years earlier she was part of Peel’s Rogers Cup Premiership team, also claiming the Paula Barnden Medal in 2019 as the Rogers Cup Fairest and Best.

A defender who can also play midfield for the Thunder, Mann impressed with her performances at the 2021 AFLW U19s Championships and showed she can match it with more experienced players at WAFLW level.

Led by State 18s Head Coach Beau McDonald, the squad began their preparations for the 2022 AFLW Draft Championships with a trial match against WAFLW side Claremont on Sunday 9am at Claremont oval.

“This year’s team has a lot of new faces and youth coming through, which has added some real quality.

All those hours of training and hard work mean it’s time to show everyone what we’re capable of,” Mann said.

WA will travel to Adelaide to play South Australia on Sunday April 10, play the WAFLW all-stars in Perth on Saturday April 16, before taking on Vic Metro on Friday April 22 in Melbourne.