VIC Country prevailed over Eastern Allies in the AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships in a 30-point victory that saw two completely different halves of footy.

It was a very offensive first term, with both sides finding plenty of the ball inside 50 but a great defensive effort kept both sides off the board. The Eastern Allies opened the scoring for the afternoon, with Jayde Hamilton kicking a beautiful goal from right in front after finding her way out of congestion. However, Country were not to be outplayed, getting one back almost immediately thanks to Olivia Barber on the run, using the ball well out of stoppages credit to clean handballs and movement out of the pack. The Allies’ tackling pressure was impressive, doing their best to dominate every stoppage with physicality and pressure on both the ball and player. Country finished the first term well, stealing the momentum and going into the second with an eight point lead.

The Allies started strong once more, getting an early goal on the board credit to some great movement down the wing, rarely moving through the guts unless turning it over from Country. But Country once again got two goals back, with entries finding good space over the back to the forward line in prime position credit to the side’s ability to clear the ball effectively. The Allies showed some good intent, finding their way out of congestion well and doing a good job to limit Country moving downfield, cutting them off inside 50 and creating two-on-one contests. It was not enough, however, as Country continued to hold onto momentum despite an even quarter.

Both sides tightened up in the third, with only the one minor score to Country to speak for a quarter chock full of massive defensive efforts across the board. Country tightened up across half-back, blocking up entries via the pocket and effectively stopping the Allies at their main access point, however had difficulty getting ball back out once it came inside 50 credit to the offensive pressure from the Allies. The Allies’ defensive unit worked overtime locking the ball in their forward half, with tackling pressure key as Country continued to fight for dominance.

Both sides came into the final term hungry and raring to go after a mostly uneventful third quarter, attacking the ball and fighting for dominance with plenty of time to close the margin. Despite some scrappiness early, Country had no shortage of entries inside 50, finding plenty of it but being cut off by the Allies once more. What was an impressive attacking battle eventuated in a solid defensive contest, seeing Country outlast Eastern Allies with two final quarter goals all but sealing the deal for a 30-point victory.

The victory saw Lucy McEvoy dominate possession, racking up 24 disposals, three marks and three tackles, aided across the field by the likes of Paige Sheppard (17 disposals, one goal) and Molly McDonald (14 touches, eight tackles, four inside 50s). For the losing side, Mia King found plenty of the ball with 18 touches and 14 tackles, joined by Olivia O’Donnell (15 disposals, four clearances) and Hamilton (10 disposals, 11 tackles, one goal).

VIC COUNTRY 2.2 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 6.6 (42)
EASTERN ALLIES 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 (12)

GOALS:

VC: P. Sheppard, M. McDonald, S. Molan, O. Barber, B. Hards, S. Notman.
EA: Z. Hurrell, J. Hamilton.

ADC BEST:

VC: L. McEvoy, M. McDonald, P. Sheppard, S. Molan, S. Notman, T. Smith
EA: M. King, B. Tarrant, J. Hamilton, O. O’Donnell, A. Favell, S. Phillips