Highs and lows at Women’s National Champs

After four days of tough matches at Cazalys Stadium in Cairns, ACT have taken out the 2013 AFL Women’s National Championships Division 2 title.

The final, played on Saturday between the ACT and South Australia, was a tight affair throughout the first half with neither side able to break away in a low scoring game.

The scores were level going into the main break but after half time it was all about the team from the nation’s capital – the dominant side in Division 2 throughout the Championships.

The second half opened up, with the ACT going on to win 54-17.

ACT scored a spot in the final after an undefeated run through the group games, winning their clashes with Division 2 counterparts South Australia, Tasmania and Arafura (a combination of northern Queensland, Papua New Guinea and Northern Territory).

The ACT’s Heather Anderson was named Best on Ground in the Grand Final with Karina Demant taking out Division 2 Leading Goal Kicker.

The Championships are a bi-annual event which sees every state and territory represented. The event in Cairns was the first time the Championships were hosted outside a capital city in its 20 year history.

After winning Division 2 in 2011, NSW played in Division 1 against Western Australia, Victoria and Queensland.

It was a tough week for NSW, who were unable to score a victory against the other three sides in their group.

Co-captain Courtney Gum was impressive for the Blues and was named Division 1 Best and Fairest for the Championships and named in the All-Australian team alongside the ACT’s Demant and Anderson.

Victoria took out the Division 1 title with a 50-13 win over Western Australia.

All 11 National titles have been won by Victoria and like their male counterparts, Victoria will be introducing a second team into this competition soon.

The Nationals are currently held biennially but it is hoped that they will become annual during the next three years and eventually become a home and away series.

2013 All Australian Women’s Team

B: Fiona Boucher (WA), Megan Hutchins (Vic), Heather Anderson (ACT)
HB: Kara Dollellan (WA), Kirby Bentley (WA), Karen Paxman (Vic)
C: Rheanne Lugg (WA), Daisy Pearce (Vic), Stephanie Chiocci (Vic)
HF: Shelley Matcham (WA), Katie Brennan (Vic), Karina Demant (ACT)
F: Aasta O’Connor (Vic), Chelsea Randall (WA), Ellie Blackburn (Vic)
Rucks: Louise Wotton (Vic), Emma Kearney (Vic), Dana Hooker (WA)

Inter: Countney Gum (NSW), Kate Lutkins (Qld), Michelle Reid (SA), Jasmine Garner (Vic)