Caris, Clarke selected for squad

Wimmera footballers Rene Caris and Georgia Clarke have won selection in an all-australian women’s squad.

Caris, Horsham Saints, and Clarke, Ararat Storm, made the cut after impressing at the AFLW Under-18 National Championships.

Caris, a ruckwoman in her first year of club football, and Clarke, a versatile forwardmidfielder who was a key part of the Storm’s 2016 Ballarat youth girls football competition premiership team, were standouts for Victoria Country along with fellow Greater Western Victoria Rebel Sophie van de Heuvel, of Ballarat.

The under-18 all-australian squad will feature in a curtainraiser match to the AFL Women’s All-stars game.

The final all-australian team will be named after the match, which will be played on the AFL’S bye week in early September.

Caris, who also plays championship netball for the Australian Catholic University Sovereigns in the Victorian Netball League, will be eligible for the 2017 AFL Women’s National Draft.

Clarke still has another year at TAC Cup Girls level with the Rebels before being eligible for the draft.

Greater Western Victoria Rebels finished the inaugural fivegame TAC Cup Girls season in seventh spot following three wins and two losses.