The Under 18 Girls Aussie Rules Championships have just been run and won by Victoria. The carnival was held at HighGate Reserve, Craigieburn. The Falcons were proudly represented by Jessica Dal Pos and Rechelle McSwain. Both girls had a fantastic tournament, with Jess playing in the centre and Rechelle starring up forward. Well done to Jess for making the All Australian side. For a wrap up of the final and the All Australian team,
Victoria v Western Australia (1st v 2nd)
The first five minutes of the first ever Grand Final for U18 Youth Girls was the tight contest you’d expect with WA first to the ball or ferocious tackling Vic, allowing no space for clean possessions.
Some spectacular overhead marks were wasted in the forward 50 for both teams as they were unable to convert. Sabrina Federick, one of the youngest players at the Champs, rucked superbly to tap WA forward and give her midfielders the ascendancy.
The Championship’s leading goal scorer, Sarah Noga kicked the first goal for the black ducks.
The Vics midfield lifted in the second term and started to drive the ball forward with some authority. Mandi Watts snapped the Vic’s first goal from a pack 10 metres out from goal, typical of Watts confidence in the forward line throughout the Champs.
This was quickly followed by some tigerish play to force the ball forward. Paterno belted one of her two match goals with an effort that clearly caught the eye of the opposition coach who tried to match up and nullify her.
Running in numbers started to prove a good tactical move for the Vics as they doggedly forced the ball into their 50 far more frequently than WA when they had the breeze. Emily Paterno kicked their third with some great run through the corridor.
WA scored their second goal at the six minute mark of the third term through some good run down the wing from Kellie Gibson before Noga marked and goaled. This was followed up by another when Noga bought the ball to ground allowing the nippy Bronwyn Hansen to score.
At the third quarter break the game was set for a thrilling final term with one point separating the teams. However, after a long stoppage from a Vic player going down from an innocuous bump, the game never resumed its pace and intensity.
With relentless pressure from the Vics, WA lost their
momentum. Victoria got home by15 points: a fitting conclusion to a carnival they were clearly well prepared for.
Final scores:
Victoria 6 8 (44) defeated WA 45 (29)
All Stars team:
Heather Anderson ACT/NSW
Danielle Hardiman AFL Vic Dev
Madeleine Keryk AFL Vic Dev
Alex Quigley AFL Vic Dev
Megan Hunt Qld
Breanna Koenen Qld
Katie Brennan Qld
Caitlyn Swanson SA
Caitlin Williams SA
Rebecca Catterall SA
Teena Leceister SA
Brittany Perry SA
Georgia Bevan SA
Mandi Watts Vic
Jessica Dal Pos Vic
Jessica Garner Vic
Georgia Punton Vic
Emily Paterno Vic
Levi McCulloch WA
Grace Dempster WA
Sarah Noga WA
Tiah Haynes WA