SOUTH Australia has maintained its unbeaten start to the 2022 AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships with a comprehensive 92-point win over Vic Country. Three minutes into the second term, Country kicked their third goal to draw level with the Croweaters at 20-apiece. From that point on, South Australia piled on 14.10 (94) to 0.2 (2) in a one-sided contest. Under 16 talent India Rasheed (four goals) and Georgia McKee (three) were too good for their older opponents, whilst bottom-age AFLW Academy member Shineah Goody also slotted three majors.

The first term looked like both sides were up for the fight at Adelaide Oval, with Goody slotting the first goal of the day from a tight angle set shot, continuing on her form from the week before. Up the other end, Tegan Williams had a belter with two first quarter goals, and looked lively every time she went near it. Vic Country had more inside 50s throughout the first term, but after a South Australian surge forward, Hannah Ewings found Rasheed inside 50. She launched off the left boot towards goal, and Elaine Grigg used her pace to get back and make it a certainty.

Williams kicked her second off a well-placed Paige Scott kick, whilst NAB League best and fairest winner Amber Clarke – who had been one of the best in the first term – had a late snap that just missed to level the scores at 14 apiece at quarter time. Norwood ball-winner Sachi Syme was racking up the ball with ease, collecting nine disposals, four more than the next highest teammate in Kiera Mueller, while Goody had kicked 1.1 from four touches and three marks. Clarke (six disposals, three inside 50s) and Keeley Skepper (five disposals, two marks, two inside 50s) were both busy, whilst Williams took three marks from four disposals and converted both set shots.

South Australia came out of the first break with a great first goal thanks to Rasheed snapping it off her left from 40 metres to bounce away from the desperate grasp of Mackenzie Eardley. In response – and as a repayment of faith from the first term when the pair combined – Williams found Scott inside 50 who marked 30 out on the lead. She made no mistake to level the scores once again. From that point though, it was a sea of red, blue and gold with the South Australians taking complete control.

It started with Lana Schwerdt taking a good mark inside 50 and converting, then McKee had some trademark magic from roving the pack, and then would later repeat the effort from the top of 50 with clean pick up, spin and launch from long-range to sail home to make it two in the term. It would not be the last though, as the South Australians feasted in the second term, slamming home five consecutive goals. To symbolise just how dominant the home side was, Glenelg’s Ella Boag kicked an old fashioned floating sausage roll that some how sailed home from the tightest of angles. In a rare chance forward, Geelong’s Mia Van Dyke had a set shot but it drifted to the right and fell short, for the margin to be 32 points at the main break.

Vic Country needed a response, with Ewings, Syme, Schwerdt, McKee and Goody all on top, and as the side’s best ball users, it was making the most of their chances. In possibly the most remarkable aspect, both teams had 16 inside 50s, with South Australia scoring 75 per cent of the time (12) whilst Vic Country was below 30 per cent (five). Despite Eardley (nine disposals) trying hard in defence, it was an uphill battle for the Country team.

An early snap from Williams showed Country was up for it early in the third, but South Australia marked the wide floating attempt and would hardly give up possession. Ewings almost slotted one with a long-range shot and McKee unselfishly left it to bounce through in the goalsquare but it took a right angle turn and only registered a behind. It mattered little though as Goody slammed home her third goal, and then Rasheed converted with her lovely left foot technique after a fierce forward 50 tackle. When Ewings slotted her first from a dribble attempt one on one, it was party time for SA, with the margin extending beyond 50 points.

Aside from a couple of late behinds to Clarke, Country struggled to get it inside 50, and the last quarter was nothing short of perfection for the home side. They had 12 inside 50s to three and limited Country to just 32 disposals in 20 minutes, slotting 5.4 to 0.0 to run away with the game by a massive 92 points, 17.12 (114) to 3.4 (22). McKee kicked her third from a clever soccer in the goalsquare, Rasheed added two more for four to overtake Country’s score, whilst Ewings and Molly Brooksby also kicked goals.

Syme lead all-comers with 25 disposals, five marks and three tackles whilst Ewings (20 disposals, five marks, four inside 50s and 2.2) got to work particularly after quarter time with more disposals in the last three quarters than anyone else on the field. McKee (20 disposals, three marks, three clearances, two inside 50s and three goals) could arguably lay claim to best on ground, whilst Rasheed slotted four goals from 17 touches, five marks and six inside 50s to further showcase the strength of the South Australian Under 16s. Sarah Goodwin (19 disposals, four marks and four rebound 50s) was lively out of defence, whilst Goody and Schwerdt were also amongst the best.

There was not a lot to smile about for Country, but Eardley tried incredibly hard in defence to be the losing side’s best with 17 disposals, three marks and eight rebound 50s. Charlotte Simpson (!6 disposals, five clearances) was the most prolific clearance player on the field, whilst Clarke (13 disposals, three marks, four tackles, three clearances and three inside 50s) had moments, but also kicked the three behinds. Williams made the most of her chances inside 50, with Skepper busy in the first half.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA 2.2 | 8.4 | 12.8 | 17.12 (114)
VIC COUNTRY 2.2 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 3.4 (22)

GOALS:

South Australia: I. Rasheed 4, S. Goody 3, G. McKee 3, H. Ewings 2, E. Boag, E. Grigg, L. Schwerdt, T. Walker, M. Brooksby
Vic Country: T. Williams 2, P. Scott

RMC BEST:

South Australia: G. McKee, I. Rasheed, H. Ewings, S. Goody, S. Syme
Vic Country: M. Eardley, C. Simpson, A. Clarke, T. Williams, K. Skepper