REPORTS and results from day three of the 2016 AFL Youth Girls National Championships at Shepley Oval in Melbourne.
Match 1
Woomeras v Tasmania
Fresh from a rest day Tasmania claimed its first win of the carnival by 44 points.
Captain Ellyse Gamble showed plenty of dash, booting a goal from outside 50 in the first quarter and finishing one of the best on ground. Teammate Alice Robinson impressed onlookers with her agility and athleticism.
The Woomeras showed plenty of spirit with a goal from Allanah Phineasa and solid performances from Zania Rice, Moesha Morris and Wrylka Colburn.
Tasmania * 4.2 5.3 7.10 (52)
Woomeras 0.0 0.2 0.2 1.2 (8)
Goals: Tasmania – Gamble 2, Knight, Manix-Geeves, Smith, Spotswood, Webb. Woomeras – Phineasa.
Best
: Tasmania – Bannister, Gamble, Knight, Stokely, Stevenson, Collins.
Woomeras – Rice, Karadada, Morris, Colburn, Fauid, Cooper.
*One quarter not supplied
Match 2
Queensland v Western Australia
Western Australia hung on for a one-point victory over Queensland to book a spot in the pool A grand final against Vic Metro on Friday at the MCG.
A scrambled behind with a minute or so remaining was enough to get Western Australia over the line.
After trailing for much of the match Queensland hit the front after a clever Shaleise Law goal with only four minutes left.
But with its title hopes on the line Western Australia pushed the ball forward and scored consecutive behinds to secure a memorable victory.
Kate Bartlett was sensational for the winners with three goals while teammate McKenzie Dowrick added two. Skipper Jasmin Stewart shone through the middle and Rachel Ashley was like a wall across half-back.
Western Australia 2.4 5.4 6.5 7.7 (49)
Queensland 1.0 2.0 4.3 7.6 (48)
Goals: Western Australia – Bartlett 3, Dowrick 2, Adams, McGuire. Queensland – Groves-Little 2, Law, Howarth, Day, Mills, Bromage.
Best: Western Australia – Stewart, Ashley, McGuire, Hodder, Duffy, Bartlett. Queensland – Law, Collingwood, Howarth, White, Clarke, Bromage.
Match 3
Vic Metro v Vic Country
Vic Metro kept its unbeaten record intact by defeating state rival Vic Country by 29 points, setting up a pool A grand final clash against Western Australia.
With galeforce winds swirling around Shepley Oval, Vic Country drew first blood but Metro quickly gained the ascendancy, mainly through the work of Gemma Lagioia and Daisy Bateman.
With the breeze in its favour in the third term, Vic Country was fierce around the packs, keeping the ball in its forward 50 for most of the quarter before Georgia Walker kicked a captain’s goal to bring the margin back to one point.
However, Vic Metro’s link work through the middle and its clean hands enabled it to edge in front with goals from Anna Hayes capping off the great teamwork.
Vic Country defender Reni Hicks was impressive in holding the carnival’s leading scorer Brooke Struylaart goalless.
Vic Metro 0.2 2.5 4.5 6.9 (45)
Vic Country 1.1 1.1 2.4 2.4 (16)
Goals: Vic Metro – Hayes 3, Jones, Smith, Gee. Vic Country – Ayre, Walker.
Best: Vic Metro – Hayes, Grierson, McNiece, Lagioia, Ripari, Bateman. Vic Country – Walker, Hicks, Ayre, Kennedy, Mithen, Cochrane.
Match 4
NSW/ACT v Northern Territory
NSW/ACT scored an impressive 54-point win over Northern Territory.
The Thunder tried hard but NSW/ACT gained the early advantage with a strong breeze.
Captain Alyce Parker was in everything for the winners and Kate Stanton booted four goals. Alana Coombes and Tanisha Garling tried their best for the Thunder.
NSW/ACT 3.6 3.6 6.11 8.12 (60)
Northern Territory 0.0 0.0 0.6 0.6 (6)
Goals: NSW/ACT – Stanton 4, Joliffe, Stramandinoli, Friend, Arndt. Northern Territory – nil.
Best : NSW/ACT – Parker, Stanton, Miller-Hill, Priftis, Clegg, McKinnon . Northern Territory – Coombes, Garling, Thorn, Baird, May, White.