The AFL has today announced the 2023 AFL National Championships U18 Girls All-Australian Team and best and fairest award.
The team features an incredible four SUNS Academy products with Burleigh prospect Havana Harris also named as the Championship’s Best & Fairest.
Harris was joined by two bottom age players in Dekota Baron (Centre Half Forward) and Ava Usher (Rover) - two of 12 total bottom-age players named in the team.
Eighteen-year-old key defender Kiara Bischa was also awarded All-Australian honours for an outstanding Championships which included a best-on performance foe Queensland against eventual title winners South Australia.
Harris won the best and fairest with 18 votes and finished three ahead of South Australia midfielder Shineah Goody, becoming the third-successive player to win the 2023 AFL National Championships – U18 Girls best and fairest while competing as a bottom-age player.
The 2023 AFL National Championships U18 Girls All-Australian team and best and fairest was selected by a panel comprising Kevin Sheehan (AFL Talent Ambassador – Chair), Tarkyn Lockyer (AFL National Academy Coach/Manager), Jess Smith (AFL National Female Talent Manager) and AFLW club representatives Tyson Bourke (GWS Giants), Darryn Fry (Fremantle), Cameron Joyce (Gold Coast SUNS) and Ben Waller (Geelong Cats).
The AFL National Championships – U18 Girls are the highest level of state and territory representative football featuring the country’s most talented under 18 girls footballers.
Full Back
Kiara Bischa
(Queensland/Gold Coast Suns Academy/ Bond University)
Date of Birth: 15/04/05; Height: 171cm
Disciplined key defender who excelled in the one-on-one contests and made excellent decisions on when to mark or spoil. Was Queensland’s best player against the title winner South Australia and was resolute throughout the Championships, averaging 8.7 disposals, four tackles and 3.7 rebound-50s.
Centre Half Forward
Dekota Baron
(Queensland/Gold Coast Suns Academy/Broadbeach)
Date of Birth: 03/01/07; Height: 178cm
Forward who really launches herself at the ball and has strong hands which makes her a dangerous target inside 50. Averaged four marks and 17 disposals as well as 2.5 goals per game. Can also play in the ruck, where she uses her natural leap to great effect. Was also awarded AFL National Development Championships U16 Girls All-Australian honours earlier in the year playing for the Gold Coast Academy in what has been a real eye-catching year for this talented AFLW prospect.
Ruck
Havana Harris
(Queensland/Gold Coast Suns Academy/Burleigh)
Date of Birth: 01/07/06; Height: 181cm
Super athletic bottom-aged player who can use her physical assets and skill in the ruck or forward, which she did to great effect throughout the Championships. Took out both Queensland’s MVP award and the Championships best and fairest after polling votes in all three games. Impressive with her burst from stoppages and penetrating kicking, she averaged 18.3 disposals (9.3 contested), three marks and 17 hitouts.
Rover
Ava Usher
(Queensland/Gold Coast Suns Academy/Burleigh)
Date of Birth:11/08/07; Height: 162cm
Elite athlete with the preparedness to take the game on. Uses her dazzling speed and evasiveness to open the game and her neat disposal skills to maintain possession. She averaged 19.5 disposals (9.5 contested), 3.5 clearances and six tackles and produced a best on ground performance against Victoria Country. This honour tops off a remarkable season in her 16th year, having won the Pool B best and fairest award playing for the Gold Coast Suns Academy at the AFL National Championships U16 Girls earlier in the year.
