UncategorizedDemons livewire in as State 18s boys chase back-to-back wins
Jordan McArdle
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19 Jun 2026
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An improved AAMI WA Football State 18s Girls bounce back from a tough carnival opener to take it up to Vic Metro in their close loss at Victor George Kailis Oval in Cockburn on Saturday.
Western Australia showed plenty of heart in the first half especially, standing tall in defence, providing forward pressure at the other end and holding their own in the midfield battle in the 26-point loss – 6.9 (45) to 2.7 (19).
Peel Thunder midfielder Charli Fletcher was brilliant for the Black Swans, finishing with 18 disposals and 13 tackles to lead the way in the engine room, with East Perth’s Charlie Bassett (19 and six tackles) also influential.
Subiaco’s Marley Kelman (10 disposals, nine tackles and a goal) stood out in attack with her relentless attack on the footy and tackling pressure, while fellow Lion – 15-year-old Caitlin Boss (21 disposals and six tackles) – found a heap of the footy in an impressive display.
Perth half-back Mia Carlshausen (19) provided her usual run and carry from the back half, while fellow AFLW Academy talent Cara Dziegielewski (15 and 24 hit-outs) backed up her performance against South Australia with another important ruck display.
Scores were locked at three behinds apiece after a tense, low-scoring affair in the opening term before the home side broke the game open after quarter-time.
East Fremantle talent Sienna Lilly opened the scoring midway through the second term.
Kelman was then rewarded for her brilliant defence pressure across the first half, laying a game-high six tackles, with a goal before half-time as WA took an 11-point advantage into the break.
Vic Metro then stormed back into the match with a dominant four-goals-to-none third term, making the most of the scoring end to grab a 16-point advantage with a quarter to play.
The visitors put the result beyond doubt midway through the final term with their fifth goal.
WA’s next match in the AFLW National Under-18s Championships is against Vic Country in Melbourne on Saturday, July 4.
SCOREBOARD
Vic Metro 0.3 0.5 4.8 6.9 (45)
West Aus 0.3 2.4 2.4 2.7 (19)
WA goals: M Kelman, S Lilly
WA best: C Fletcher, M Kelman, M Carlshausen, C Dziegielewski, C Boss, C Bassett
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