Another thriller for the NSW/ACT Youth Girls
The NSW/ACT Youth Girls have put in their best performance of the week, narrowly losing out to their heavily-fancied opponents, Vic Metro on the Gold Coast. The narrow seven point defeat wraps up the NAB AFLW U18 Championships for the NSW/ACT side, who will be pleased with their impressive display to finish the week.
The NSW/ACT Youth Girls put in a promising opening quarter, matching Vic Metro in every aspect but the scoreboard, going into the first break a goal down. The clearance work of Alexia Hamilton and Alyce Parker was particularly impressive in dry conditions on the Gold Coast.
In the second quarter, NSW/ACT managed to keep Vic Metro scoreless and went into the main break up by two-points. They put on some very nice running football and their strong defensive structure meant that at half-time they had all the momentum.
The third quarter saw a very evenly contested match still in the balance. Vic Metro controlled NSW/ACT but was only able to kick one-goal to seven behinds, keeping NSW/ACT only three points behind going into the final term. The quarter featured a lovely coast-to-coast goal from NSW/ACT, which was finished off through a set-shot to Jordyn Jolliffe from 35 metres out.
The NSW/ACT team seemed to have all the momentum in the final quarter, but were unable to put Vic Metro away. A well-kicked six-pointer from 50 metres out by Renee Friend brought NSW/ACT within a goal. The final three minutes saw the ball locked in the NSW/ACT forward-50, with a number of shots at goal just missing and bringing them within a point.
They tried desperately to find a way to get the goal that would put them in-front, but Vic Metro were able to hold on. They won possession back, countered up the field and kicked a goal with the last kick of the game, to take the final margin out to seven points.
Blaise Miller-Hill was a standout for the NSW/ACT, kicking two goals in the first half. Likewise, Georgia Breward and Paige Nash were also impressive against a talented Vic Metro side.
Five NSW/ACT players have been rewarded for their performances this week with Alyce Parker, Haneen Zreika, Jordyn Jolliffe, Georgia Breward and Ellie Delgarno-Fixter all selected for the AFLW U18 All-Australian side.
That wraps up the NAB AFLW U18 Championships for NSW/ACT. Eleven players in the side are eligible for the AFLW Draft later this year. Haneen Zrieka and Chloe Arndt in particular are ones to look out for after a strong week on the Gold Coast.
NSW/ACT – 2.1 3.3 4.5 5.7 (37)
Vic Metro – 3.1 3.1 4.8 6.8 (44)
NSW/ACT Goals: B Miller-Hill J Jolliffe (2); R Friend (1)
NSW/ACT Best: A Hamilton, A Parker, G Breward, J Jolliffe, P Nash, B Miller-Hill