WA too strong for ACT/NSW Youth Girls

Coming off a heavy defeat at the hands of Victoria, ACT/NSW started their second game with a great ruck tap from Rebecca Mitchell to set up the first inside 50 of the game. However WA hit straight back after some great run from Nicole Iriks and a 50m penalty that put Levi McCulloch within goal scoring distance WA scored their first 6 pointer.

Mitchell won the next centre bounce but the ball was immediately sharked by WA midfielders who surged forward. Georgia Peach came off the interchange and immediately had an impact forcing a turnover to result in WA’s next goal.

Under siege in the second term, Sophie Lavendar of ACT/NSW battled hard taking some good marks and making a real contest at ground level. However the forward surges from WA were relentless and Sarah Noga booted her seventh goal.

Captain for the combined side Heather Anderson took on the “black ducks” in the third term. With a strong breeze in the combined side’s favour they capitalised on this and were able to score their first goal after dominating play for the first 12 minutes. Through good play from their midfielders they kept WA scoreless for the quarter.

In an impressive final term ACT/NSW went against the breeze and scored a goal after a series of undefended passes. WA were let down by some inaccurate passes by foot inside their 50 and didn’t get reward for their forward pushes.

Despite the easy victory, WA coach Megan O’Mara wouldn’t have been happy with the ‘black ducks’ second half where WA dropped their intensity and pressure. Rebecca Goddard coach of ACT/NSW on the other hand would have been ecstatic with her team’s efforts.

The umpire panel for this game consisted of three members from the Estcourt family from Dandenong Junior Football League. Emily was selected as one of the emerging field umpires as part of the AFL’s live in program for umpires. She officiated in this game along with brother Brady and sister Hollie. A great contribution from a keen football family.

ACT/NSW: 3.3.21
WA: 16.9.105

Goal kickers:
ACT/NSW – Natalie Lameur, Jessie Mulholland, Kahli Abbott
WA – Noga 7, Philipa Seth 3, Alex Williams 2, Sabrina Federick , Tiah Haynes , Shanelle Carn, Levi McCulloch

Best players:
ACT/NSW – Sophie O’Dea, Sophie Lavender, April Maciejowski, , Kahli Abbott, Casey Byrne, Heather Anderson
WA – Sarah Noga, Alex Williams, Shanelle Carn, Grace Dempster, Sabrina Federick