The SA Heat U18 Girls have wrapped up their 2026 National Youth Championships campaign in Coffs Harbour, finishing the week with plenty to be proud of.
While the results did not always reflect the quality of their performances, the team showed significant growth throughout the tournament, developing their understanding of the game and producing some fantastic moments of touch against strong opposition from across the country.
For several players, this was their first experience competing in the U18 Division, making the step up from U15/U16 and school touch a significant challenge. The group embraced the opportunity and continued to improve throughout the week, with every player playing an important role within the team.
A major highlight came in the pool stages when the SA Heat secured a 3-2 victory over the Northern NSW Eagles, recording an impressive win against an eastern state opponent.
The team faced a challenging pool, including NSW Combined Independent Schools, Brisbane Cobras, Northern NSW Eagles, North Queensland Cyclones, ACT, Sunshine Coast Pineapples and NSWCHS. The girls continued to compete throughout the week despite difficult results, challenging conditions and a demanding schedule.
The team showed plenty of resilience, including playing through around 60mm of rain, while continuing to support one another and maintain a positive team environment.
The SA Heat progressed through to the Alliance Final, where they faced ACT for the second time during the tournament. Despite going down 12-2, reaching the Alliance Final was a fantastic achievement for the group. ACT went on to reach the quarter-finals, where they narrowly fell 6-3 to eventual champions QRSS, who claimed the title with a 10-3 Grand Final victory.
Individual Awards
The team's efforts were also recognised through a number of individual awards.
🏆 Most Valuable Player: Zoe Allen
⭐ Players' Player: Aizure Clarke
👏 Coaches Award: Lylah Oliver
Congratulations to all of our award winners for their outstanding contributions throughout the campaign.
A special congratulations also goes to Adam Barnett, an SA representative who competed in the U18 Boys Division with Western Australia. Adam was awarded WA's Coaches Award, a fantastic achievement and recognition of his efforts throughout the tournament.
The campaign also marked an important milestone for the team's graduating U18 players, with Alessia, Jazz, Darcey, Zoe and Arlie making valuable contributions both on and off the field and providing leadership throughout the week.
A huge thank you goes to all of the SA Heat U18 Girls for their commitment, effort and positivity throughout the campaign. Each player showed growth across the week and can be incredibly proud of what they achieved.
Thank you also to the families who supported the players throughout the campaign and made their participation possible, as well as the coaching and support staff, Zahli, Janelle, Darren and our physio Nic, for their dedication throughout the tournament.
The 2026 National Youth Championships provided a valuable experience for this young group, and with many players eligible to return next year, the future of the SA Heat U18 Girls is looking bright.
Alliance Merit Teams Announced
Congratulations to Aizure Clarke and Phoebe Killick on their selection in the 2026 Alliance State Merit Team following their performances at the National Youth Championships.
This is a fantastic achievement and well-deserved recognition of their efforts throughout the tournament. We are incredibly proud to see both girls recognised on the national stage!
