WESTERN Australia proved too strong for Vic Country in Pool A of the AFL Women’s Under 16 Championships, storming to a 60-point win at Arden Street today. Aside from an arm-wrestle first 10 minutes, the visitors took control and won each of the four quarters with the additional senior experience at WAFL Women’s level paying dividends, 10.15 (75) to 2.3 (15).

West Perth midfielder Mia Russo took control in the second half after a strong start from the West Australian talls to ensure the visitors went home with the win. Though Vic Country battled on throughout the match, the Sandgropers won each of the four quarters en route to an impressive 10-goal victory.

Winning the midfield was crucial for the sides, with Western Australia taking control around the clearances 11-1 in the opening quarter. That helped the Black Ducks record 12 inside 50s to four and ensure the forward half possession was well in their favour. Subiaco young gun Olivia Wolmarans was flying for everything, and while her kicking was not working out, she still looked lively.

Despite the best efforts of Gippsland Power’s Ella Stoddart and Geelong Falcons’ Stella Huxtable, Country found themselves trailing by 15 points at the first break. The first goal off the boot of bottom-ager India Bonadeo who was not overawed by her older opponents, before Lucy Greenwood also delivered a clever goal via a snap. If Wolmarans had converted her few chances from close range, the margin could have been greater.

The second term saw Western Australia put the foot down further as they booted three goals to one. Mia Carlshausen and Renee Morgan both converted majors to stretch the lead out to four goals, before Stoddart drifted forward and hit the scoreboard off her impressive left boot. Wolmarans and Bonadeo were finding plenty of the footy throughout the term, as Huxtable was a lone hand around the clearances for Vic Country, amassing three of her side’s seven first half clearances.

At half-time, the clearances were still in favour of the visiting team but Country had broken back even in that area, while closed in by on in terms of the inside 50s. Western Australia was still winning plenty of the ball which allowed it to open up a 30-point lead at half-time.

Both teams were battling it hard in the third quarter but Western Australia still managed to stretch its lead, booting 2.4 to 1.0. The sole goal for Country came in the opening four minutes via Addison Howe, but that would be a rare forward venture as the Sandgropers again controlled forward half possession.

Peppering the goals at times, the West Australians were providing plenty of highlights as Sienna Gerardi danced around opponents and responded to Howe’s major quickly up the other end. She would miss a couple of chances she had on goal with just that last bit of composure stopping her having a massive day, but it would not matter for the end result.

With Russo dominating out of the middle in the third term – collecting eight disposals, four clearances and three inside 50s for the quarter – the West Perth midfielder lead the charge brilliantly. Along with Wolmarans, Bonadeo, Peel Thunder’s Evie Cowcher and Black Ducks’ skipper Olivia Crane, they were far too strong.

Vic Country never gave up and kept trying to push forward, but ultimately they were overwhelmed, with a shoulder injury to defender Evelyn Connolly not helping matters. By the final break, the lead was out to 40, and had it not been for the visitors’ inaccuracy of 7.11 to 2.1, it might have been a greater gap.

The final term was more of one-way traffic after an early Stoddart attempt that narrowly missed, with Western Australia having repeat inside 50s and finishing off strongly. By the final siren, the Sandgropers had got up 9.15 (69) to 2.3 (15) coming away with a very impressive win ahead of a clash with South Australia in Perth next Sunday.

Russo finished on top with 24 disposals, eight clearances, seven inside 50s, six tackles and a goal, while Bonadeo (23 disposals, three marks, six clearances, five tackles, five inside 50s and a goal) and Wolmarans (23 disposals, seven marks and 10 hitouts) also found a stack of it. Cowcher was busy in defence with skipper Crane and Morgan working hard in midfield.

For Country, Huxtable racked up 10 more disposals than any other Victorian player with 27, as well as three marks, six clearances and three inside 50s, while Harris and Connolly both had the 17 disposals. Stoddart was again impressive, particularly in the first half, finishing with 16 disposals, four marks, five rebound 50s and a goal, while Jovie Skewes-Clinton also battled hard in defence.

VIC COUNTRY 0.1 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 2.3 (15)
WESTERN AUSTRALIA 2.4 | 5.7 | 7.11 | 10.15 (75)

GOALS:

VC: E. Stoddart, A. Howe
WA: L. Greenwood 2, M. Carlshausen 2, I. Bonadeo, R, Morgan, S. Gerardi, G. Filardi, S. Fisher, M. Russo

RMC BEST:

VC: S. Huxtable, E. Stoddart, N. Harris, E. Connolly, J. Skewes-Clinton
WA: M. Russo, I. Bonadeo, O. Wolmarans, E. Cowcher. R. Morgan, S. Gerardi