Norwood Girls pull on the State colours

By ZAC MILBANK

South Australia begin its U16 AFL Girls National Championship defence in ominous fashion with a comfortable 63-point win against Victoria Metro at Prospect Oval.

Leading at every change, the Croweaters – coached by last year’s title-winning mentor Bek McMahon – only conceded one goal for the entire match such was their dominance.

Forwards Polly Turner (four goals) and Charlee Brooksby (three goals) did plenty of damage on the scoreboard for the hosts but it was West Adelaide’s Emily Mableson wh0 made a strong impression.

Mableson, who made her Hostplus SANFLW debut this season, was the best player afield as Central tall Miyu Endersby and Norwood ruck Kate Alexander lent valuable support.

South Australia will now turn its attention towards tackle Western Australia in Game 2 at Thebarton Oval on Sunday April 14.

South Australia  3.3  7.3  9.8  10.12 (72)

Victoria Metro  0.1  0.3  1.3  1.3 (9)

BEST – SA: Emily Mableson (West), Charlee Brooksby (Norwood), Polly Turner (North), Miyu Endersby (Central), Kate Alexander (Norwood), Demi Holloway (Central)

GOALS – SA: Polly Turner (North) 4, Charlee Brooksby (Norwood) 3, Jyearah Newchurch (Central) 2, Lucy Reddaway (North).

At Prospect Oval

By WARREN PARTLAND

The Hostplus SANFLW’s finest showcased the league’s incredible depth of talent in an historic All-Star encounter at Prospect Oval on Sunday.

Club loyalty was shunted aside as the two sides, comprising a mixture of players from all eight state league clubs, went to work in a bid to impress the state selectors.

For the record, the Yellow Team conquered the Blue Team by 13 points, bagging six goals to four and leading for the entire contest.

But this encounter was more about players advertising talents and testing abilities against the best in the SANFLW league, with the game being used as a key guide to selection for the inaugural state clash against the WAFLW in Perth on May 4.

Norwood’s Jade Halfpenny kicked the only goal of the first quarter in the opening minutes to give Yellow the front running on the scoreboard.

Sturt onballer Alisha Gepp had a significant influence for Yellow, Lana Schwerdt (Norwood) was reliable across half-back and Latitah Huynh (Central District) and Tahlita Buethke (Norwood) were damaging on the wings, providing plenty of drive.

Yellow’s Laquoiya Cockatoo-Collins (South Adelaide) was lively as always in attack and down back Julia Clark (North Adelaide) repelled many Blue raids.

Blue’s Soriah Moon (South) was on the bench for the start of the first and second quarters, before being on the ground from the outset for the third and fourth terms, either in ruck or as a forward weapon.

After being kept scoreless in the first term, Blue closed to within a point at halftime following goals to Sam Franson (Glenelg) and Norwood’s Kiana Lee, who nailed a terrific goal on the run.

But Yellow seemingly had all the answers in the third quarter, adding three goals without answer as the Blue attack struggled for cohesion.

Olivia Evans toed through a goal only two minutes into the term and Halfpenny kicked her second goal eight minutes later. Both were set up by Cockatoo-Collins, who no doubt enhanced her claims for a trip to Western Australia.

McKenzie Dowrick (Eagles), who nailed a goal for Yellow in the second quarter, had an intriguing tussle with Georgie Pater (West Adelaide).

Yellow Team   1.3   2.3   5.5   6.5 (41)

Blue Team   0.0   2.2   2.4   4.4 (28)

GOALS – Yellow: Jade Halfpenny 2, McKenzie Dowrick, Olivia Evans, Mel Anderson, Laquoiya Cockatoo-Collins.

Blue: Sam Franson, Kiana Lee, Soriah Moon, Zoe Venning.

At Prospect Oval