Tasmanian footballer Matilda Lange has capped a dominant national championships campaign by earning Under-18 Girls All Australian honours after starring for the Allies.
The 17-year-old Kingborough Lions product was selected as ruck rover after taking out the Allies MVP award, averaging 21.2 disposals, 6.8 clearances and four tackles a game at 73% disposal efficiency throughout the championships.
She was the only Tasmanian player named in the All Australian team.
It is the third time Lange has earned All Australian honours, having been selected at under-16 level in both 2024 and 2025 while representing Tasmania.
Lange said she was genuinely shocked when her coach told her at training she had made the All Australian team.
“I was extremely honoured and I felt like a wave of excitement and emotion,” she said.
Lange said being the only Tasmanian selected made the achievement even more special.
“I was really honoured and I think it was like probably one of my personal greatest achievements,” she said.
As a bottom-aged player, Lange is eligible to go through the entire process again next year and said the prospect excited her.
“I personally just get really excited by it because … I know what I’m doing now,” she said.
“And it feels like I have like a little bit extra help.”
Asked whether back-to-back All Australian selection in the under-18s was the goal, Lange was clear.
“It’s definitely the aim,” she said.
Lange said she kept herself grounded by maintaining friendships and things to do outside of football.
“I think just like the normal everyday things, like having friends outside of footy and having just a life outside of footy keeps me grounded,” she said.
Lange will return to action with the Tasmania Devils on Sunday after a lengthy break during the national championships, with the Under-18 girls currently sitting 10th on the Coates Talent League Girls ladder.
“I’m so excited to play for the Devils again,” she said.
