SA U18 Girls Team defeat Victoria Country

By ZAC MILBANK

A sensational six-goal second term was the spark for South Australia’s eye-catching 92-point win in Game 2 of the NAB AFL U18 Girls Championship against Victoria Country.

Eager to put on a show in the Adelaide Oval curtain-raiser to the Adelaide v Richmond AFL clash, the Croweaters did exactly that after accounting for Western Australia by 84 points in Game 1.

With scores locked on 14 apiece at the first change, Tim Weatherald’s charges soon took control of the contest with an exciting, clean and efficient brand of football in the second stanza.

Sturt’s India Rasheed rolled her snap shot through nicely to start the positive momentum before Norwood’s Lana Schwerdt converted her strong mark at the top of the goal square.

Then Central District star Georgia McKee underlined her talent as a 15-year-old, kicking two of the next three majors, the second a massive 55m bomb which bounced through.

In between, Eagles midfielder Shineah Goody didn’t have a problem with her 35m set shot but it was her clinical third goal to start the third term which impressed as she didn’t break stride from the stoppage to win the clearance and goal on the run from 20m.

Defensively, the hosts – led by Glenelg’s Sarah Goodwin with 19 disposals and four rebound 50s – were also well on top considering they didn’t concede a goal after the third minute of the defining second stanza.

Goody finished with 16 disposals and seven marks to go with her three goals while Rasheed impressed with a game-high four goals, including some flawless set shot kicking.

Sachi Syme was SA’s leading disposal winner with 25 possessions and five marks while McKee also racked up 20 disposals, three marks and three clearances while looking in complete control with ball in hand despite being at least two years younger than most of her opponents.

SA will now aim to complete an undefeated NAB AFL Girls U18 Championship campaign by defeating the Allies at Avalon Airport Oval at Werribee on Friday April 22.

SA    2.2  8.4  12.8  17.12 (114)

Vic C   2.2  3.2  3.4  3.4 (22)

BEST – SA: Goodwin, Goody, Rasheed, Syme, McKee, Kustermann

GOALS – SA: Rasheed 4, Goody, McKee 3, Ewings 2, Grigg, Brooksby, Schwerdt, Boag, Walker

At Adelaide Oval