Super sisters ready to kick on
This article first appeared in the Braidwood Times
By Chris Clarke
This is exactly what will happen this Sunday when the Reid sisters, Cassie and Kate, run out side-by-side for NSW/ACT at the AFL Youth Girls National Championships.
The sister combination forms an integral part of the rep squad that is set to compete against seven other state teams in the four-day tournament held in Canberra.
“I think it’s pretty cool and kind of awesome we’re doing it together,” elder sister Cassie told the Post.
“We normally do everything together, so this is just another thing for us.”
The Goulburn High girls have so far shown immense promise in a sport that has increasingly grown in female participation.
“They are as hard as nails those two,” NSW/ACT representative selector Adrian Pervese told the Post.
“They always go hard at the ball and they have a lot of ability.”
Mr Pervese, who is also currently the ACT women’s head coach, first noticed the sisters at the Junior State Carnival in Wagga Wagga late last year.
He hopes the girls bring a bit of grit to the squad which is coached by former GWS Giants and Carlton player Setanta O’Hailpin.
“These are girls I’m wanting to develop and play for me in the future,” Pervese said.
For now the girls train with the Queanbeyan Tiger’s new youth women’s side.
However it is not uncommon to spot the girls matching it with the boys at Goulburn Swans training sessions.
The pair claim training with the lads gives them an edge some other girls may not have. “We learn a lot more, gain more knowledge and experience,” Cassie explains.
The NSW/ACT side kick off their tournament against South Australia this Sunday at 1pm.
Their group B also includes the Thunder Devils [a combined NT and Tasmania team], and the Woomerars, an indigenous team.
The tournament runs from Sunday until the final games on Thursday.
Over 150 junior female footballers will compete in eight state representative teams at the new state of the art Gungahlin Enclosed Oval.
It will also be the first time the adjoining aquatic centre will be used for recovery purposes.
“I think we’re better at different things,” Cassie said of herself and her sister.
“I think she [Kate] is better at long distance things like booting it.”
“Cassie is probably better at the tackling and getting to the ball first,” Kate replied.
