NSW/ACT women take on Victoria
By Isabelle O’Brien
The inaugural NSW/ACT representative team took on Victoria 2 to a crowd of almost 400 people at Punt Road Oval in Melbourne, going down, not without a fight, to the Victorian outfit 8.10 58 to 2.2 14.
The team was selected based on the performance in the recent AFL Sydney vs. AFL Canberra clash and included 22 talented athletes from across NSW and ACT.
NSW/ACT assistant coach Stuart Newman described the experience the girls had and how the team fared against the experienced Victorians.
“Overall, from where the NSW/ACT girls have come, their development has been excellent,” Newman said.
“It was great exposure for them to that level of competition. The Victorian style of game is a bit different, so it was a good experience for them from the typical Sydney or Canberra style club footy.”
Competing well in the first half, the NSW/ACT girls took the lead in the first term to head into the first break ahead 1.1 7 to 0.2 2.
The Victorian’s came back with the wind however, booting 4 goals and 3 behinds to take the lead.
The NSW/ACT girls fought hard in the third quarter to keep Victoria goalless, with Kristy De Pellegrini’s sterling defensive display particularly eye-catching.
By the final siren however, the NSW/ACT girls had only managed one more goal, leaving the Victorians triumphant.
Mai Nguyen, of the UNSW-ES Stingrays, enjoyed her second time in the NSW/ACT representative team, playing in the forward line.
“Playing against Victoria is always such a great experience,” Nguyen said of the game.
The blend of talent for the NSW/ACT team was clear this year, with experience and youth a key factor in how the team meshed together.
“The dynamic of the team was different this year, with the inclusion of the ACT girls,” Nguyen said of the new format.
“It was really great though, to include those skills from other competitions and implement the different playing styles in the team. Being able to play with new faces, such as Head’s (Heather Anderson) who also played in the Women’s draft match for the Bulldogs was awesome.”
Libby Sadler, AFL NSW/ACT Female Programs Manager, said the future is bright for AFL in Sydney.
“Sunday was a landmark day for female football in the region, and I’m really looking forward to seeing the team showcase its talent further,” Sadler said.
“The side had a great mix of different types of players, and the Melbourne game was an important step in the careers of a lot of the girls. It’s been a really big positive as female football continues to progress in the region.”
The NSW/ACT representative women’s team is looking to secure a game against Queensland on the 19th of July.
The NSW/ACT team and Victorian team after Sundays match.
NSW/ACT Women’s team photo
The ACT girls together before Sunday’s match
