Future stars to feature during opening round of 2023 NAB AFLW SeasonTuesday, August 29, 2023 - 8:54 AM

Four West Australians have been named by the AFL in a squad of 44 players for this weekend’s  2023 AFLW Futures match.

A selection of the best under-17 female footballers from across the country will take part in the match, which will be played in Melbourne this Saturday from 8.30am Perth time.

The match will be played prior to the 2023 NAB AFLW Round 1 clash between Hawthorn and Essendon.

The 44-player squad will be split into two teams to be named after Melbourne premiership forward Tayla Harris and WA’s Collingwood dual All-Australian defender Ruby Schleicher.

Both Harris and Schleicher are graduates of the AFL’s Talent Pathway programs who have gone on to become stars of the AFLW.

South Fremantle pair Noa McNaughton and Molly O’Hehir have been named in the Team Harris side, while East Fremantle duo Zipporah Fish and Natasha Entwistle will represent Team Schleicher.

All players selected in the AFLW Futures match are born in 2006 and will be eligible for selection in next year’s NAB AFLW Draft following the 2024 season.

The AFLW Futures match provides next year’s draft prospects an opportunity to be part of a high-performance environment and showcase their talent as they push for selection for the 2024 AFL Academy Girls program.

Players were nominated by state talent programs, national selectors and AFLW clubs, with all states and territories represented in the 44-player squad.

Among those selected to play in the 2023 AFLW Futures squad are:

• 2023 AFL National Championships U18 Girls best and fairest Havana Harris. The athletic Queensland ruck and forward dominated this year’s U18 Girls Championships as a bottom-age player, averaging 18.3 disposals (9.3 contested), three marks and 17 hitouts per match.

• Seven members of 2023 AFL National Championships U18 Girls All-Australian team, including Victoria Country MVP Ashley Centra, Zipporah Fish, Havana Harris, Sara Howley, Emma McDonald, Molly O’Hehir and Jemma Whitington-Charity.

• Northern Territory Academy forward Emma Stark, who last year became the youngest field umpire to officiate at the highest level of the AFL when she presided over the NAB AFLW Round 1 match between Essendon and Hawthorn at Marvel Stadium at 16 years of age.

AFL National Academy Manager Tarkyn Lockyer said: “We are thrilled to have many of the most promising young female players in the country come together to take part in the AFLW Futures program.

“The inaugural AFLW Futures match last year was a great success and featured a host of players who are likely to be selected in the upcoming AFLW Draft.

“Saturday’s match at Kinetic Stadium will be a fantastic showcase of the next generation of exciting talent coming through the football ranks and it is great to have the match feature as part of the opening round of the 2023 NAB AFLW season.”

The AFLW Futures squad will come together on Friday, September 1 for a training session at the Swinburne Centre before attending the opening match of the 2023 NAB AFLW Season between Melbourne and Collingwood at IKON Park.

Northern Knights assistant Laura Frazer has been appointed head coach of Team Schleicher and will be assisted by former West Coast Eagles player Alicia Janz, Monique Clift and Craig Black.

Team Harris will be coached by Gippsland Power’s Nathan Boyd, with North Adelaide forward Kelly Barltrop, Ash Close and Whitney Kennedy to serve as assistants.

HOW TO WATCH: The 2023 AFLW Futures match will be broadcast live and free at www.afl.com.au/aflw and on the AFLW app.
 

Continue below for the list of players selected for the 2023 AFLW Futures match.