A COUPLE of 2007-born stars set Brighton Homes Arena alight, as Queensland midfielder Ava Usher and forward Dekota Baron proved too much to handle for a gallant Vic Country side, running out 30-point winners on Sunday.

Usher was everywhere across four quarters, roaming up and down the ground, winning the ball with ease and causing plenty of headaches for the Vic Country side while Baron was a worry inside 50, as their team won 10.12 (72) to 6.6 (42).

The double bottom-age midfielder finished with 21 disposals, three marks, five tackles, three clearances, six inside 50s and 1.2, but her influence transcended the stats sheet with a metres gained tally that would have been through the roof. Fellow young gun Baron kicked 3.4 from 16 disposals and took four marks up forward.

AFLW Academy winger Sienna McMullen (16 disposals, seven marks, three inside 50s and five rebound 50s) was also among the best, while Havana Harris had a great battle with fellow bottom-ager Elli Symonds in what will be one to watch over the next 18 months.

Queensland had the early ascendancy in the match, but it was the returning Lila Keck who got into the right spot and snapped the opening goal of the game, of course accompanied by a worthy celebration. Unfortunately for the visiting side, Queensland would kick the next four goals as the Milne’s – Nyalli and then Ebony – and then Baron with back-to-back goals either side of the quarter time break – stretched the lead out to 20 points.

It grew to as much as 23 points, before Ash Centra came to the party. Missing a couple of chances playing full-forward, Centra would kick back-to-back goals to spark her side and cut the deficit to just nine points. Up the other end, Baron had similar chances and missed a couple of shots before nailing a third goal after the half-time siren to give the Maroons an 18-point buffer at the main break.

The third term is where the home side shut the door on the result, with Rania Crozier converting off the opening inside 50, and then Laura Roy kicked one from a clever kick on the goalline. That followed double 50m penalties to both Josie McCabe and Usher, as the visiting crowd was getting frustrated with the extra metreage.

Regardless, by the final break, Queensland had piled on five goals to one, and had ultimately won the game with a seven-goal lead. To Vic Country’s credit, they fought until the final siren with Lily Jordan and Sara Howley both kicking goals in the final term. Howley racked up 12 disposals in the last 20 minutes to finish with 23, the most in the match.

Harris (15 disposals, two marks, 14 hitouts, two clearances, six inside 50s and three rebound 50s) went toe-for-toe with Symonds (13 disposals, three tackles, 16 hitouts, five clearances and three inside 50s), while McCabe and defender Kiara Bischa were also impressive. For Vic Country, Tyla Crabtree and Mikayla Williamson battled on all day, as did Chloe Adams, while Amber Schutte tried hard in defence.

QUEENSLAND 3.3 | 5.9 | 10.10 | 10.12 (72)
VIC COUNTRY 1.1 | 3.3 | 4.3 | 6.6 (42)

GOALS:
Queensland: D. Baron 3, A. Usher, J. McCabe, L. Roy, R. Crozier, N. Milne, E. Long, E. Milne
Vic Country: A. Centra 2, S. Howley, C. Mason, L. Jordan, L. Keck

RMC BEST:
Queensland: A. Usher, D. Baron, S. McMullen, K. Bischa, H. Harris
Vic Country: E. Symonds, A. Schutte, S. Howley, M. Williamson, C. Adams