A CROSS-state ride to raise awareness for mental health issues, the conclusion of an inaugural school girls’ competition, and the NEAFL pre-season kicking off, were the key news items for NSW/ACT this week.

Independent Girls Schools Grand Final

After a successful inaugural competition, the Sydney Independent Girls Schools held its grand final day over the weekend following four weeks of round robin matches. Pymble Ladies’ College won each age group’s trophy in an impressive overall performance in the 13-team competition.

GWS Giants star Nicola Barr helped coach some of the school girls this season, with Pymble Ladies College competing against Barr’s Ravenswood high school, as well as Abbotsleigh, Brigidine College St Ives, Mont Sant’ Angelo Mercy College and St Catherine’s School Waverley.

Puka Up community forums

Five former-AFL players will pedal 1433km from Sydney to Etihad Stadium in Melbourne in a bid to put mental health issues on the national agenda. Wayne Schwass, Danny Frawley, Paul Licuria, Scott Cummings and Justin Koschitzke will pedal 500 metres for every Australian lost to suicide over the eight-day event.

A total of 30 cyclists will take part in the ride, with the goal to break down the stigma on mental health issues. Across the ride, community forums will be held in regional areas, with Wollongong (March 16), Goulburn (March 17), Wagga Wagga (March 19) and Albury (March 20) the New South Wales based community forums.

The term ‘Puka’ is a Hindi word meaning authentic and genuine, to learn more head to the Puka Up website. For more information on the community forums, head to the AFL NSW/ACT Facebook page.

Contact Lifeline for 24/7 crisis help on 13 11 14 or at lifeline.org.au.

NEAFL Practice Matches

North East Australian Football League (NEAFL) clubs had their first hit-outs on the weebekend, with plenty of young stars standing out for their respective clubs. Brisbane’s reserves had a commanding 78-point victory over Aspley, with Tom Cutler booting four goals and new recruit, Toby Wooller, booting two. Fellow draftees Connor Ballenden (one goal) and Zac Bailey also impressed, while the Lions had eight academy players take part in the match.

The Gold Coast Suns reserves had an even more imposing victory, smashing Broadbeach by 170 points. Brayden Crossley booted four goals for the Suns, while Tom Nicholls finished with three. It was a huge win considering the opposition with Broadbeach making the Queensland Australian Football League (QAFL) preliminary final last year.

Redland got the job done against Southport in an eight-point win at Scottsdale Park. The scores were level at half-time in the wet, but it was the Bombers’ new recruit Matt Hammelman who handed his team the 9.5 (59) to 7.9 (51) victory. Canberra Demons also had an impressive 122-point victory over Albury Tigers, the dominant Ovens and Murray side.