A JAW-DROPPING 56-0 head start for Vic Country before Western Australia came to play after the main break helped lead the side to its first win of the AFLW Under 18 Championships in its final game. Country piled on 8.2 (50) to 0.0 (0) in the first half and kicked the opening goal of the third term to lead 56-0, before Western Australia kicked five consecutive majors which made the score 10.3 (63) to 5.1 (31).

Fittingly, Vic Country’s only goal after the first minute of the third term came off the state’s MVP winner Sara Howley‘s boot post-final siren. Howley was enormous throughout the game and collected what was yet another best on ground, arguably best on for her state in all three matches to be an easy choice for the MVP.

The Geelong Falcons start finished with game-highs in disposals (32), clearances (six) and inside 50s (eight), and was phenomenal in her work both around the stoppages and in transition. She along with fellow starting on-ballers Lou Painter and Jemma Reynolds helped Country race to a disproportionate 11-3 clearance differential.

Western Australia’s starting midfield of Zippy Fish, Lily Paterson and Renee Morgan had just the two clearances between them to half-time, after Paterson had six by herself in the loss to Queensland at the same stage. Firmly on top in the hitouts 27-7 thanks to 19 from Kate Newson, AFLW Academy ruck/forward Elli Symonds was winning around the ground, picking up the second most disposals on the ground with 12, and sharing Howley’s four clearances as well as a goal.

That set shot – which was the first of the second term came via a sizzling, well-weighted pass from Ash Centra who was a class above around the forward half of the ground. In her first five touches she had kicked a goal and set up two more, then kicked a second major to bring up the half century for Country at the main break.

To Western Australia’s credit, despite conceding the first goal of the second half to Sienna Hobbs – her second and what could have been three had her bouncing dribble snap not being touched on the line – the Sandgropers managed to reel off four third quarter goals to roar to life and put some respect back on the scoreboard.

Bottom-age talent Olivia Wolmarans broke her side’s drought a minute after Hobbs and finally released the shackles, then kicked a second major six minutes later. East Fremantle’s Alicia Blizard would get in on the party and finish with two goals for the third term, before a third major early in the fourth quarter.

After being well contained in the first half, Western Australia’s midfielders got their hands on the ball more in the third term. Fish (10 disposals) and Paterson (seven) quickly raced up to 15 and 16 disposals respectively, having had a combined 14 disposals and two clearances the first half.

It was no surprise that when they, along with the spark in Noa McNaughton got going, the Sandgropers side many expected to see, started to get going. With Evie Cowcher, Natasha Entwistle and Taya Chambers intercepting in defence, and Holly Britton and Morgan working hard, the tide began to turn.

Unfortunately for the visitors, it was a case of too little, too late. When Blizard kicked her third goal just 48 seconds into the final quarter, there was a sense of ‘surely not?’ about a comeback, but that was quickly put to bed, as the Vic Country defence stepped up to hold the Sandgropers at bay for the remaining 19 minutes.

Millie Lang and Alexis Gregor were huge in clearing the ball from the defensive 50, while Jemmika Douglas and Holly Egan were also sensational behind the ball. Repelling attack after attack, the Country back six ensured that the win would remain in Victoria’s hands. When the first siren sounded, there were celebrations, but they really erupted when Howley put through her side’s 10th goal of the match with a deadeye set shot.

Howley was clearly best on ground, though had plenty of support from the likes of Painter, Reynolds and Centra, with the latter playing almost exclusively forward but pushing up the ground regularly. Gregor, Douglas and Lang provided rebound as Symonds looked good around the ground.

For the West Australians, McNaughton was the best across four quarters with 20 touches, three marks, five clearances and seven inside 50s, while Fish and Paterson found plenty of it in the second half to join her on the 20-plus count with 21 and 20 respectively. Cowcher (16 disposals, three marks, three tackles and four rebound 50s) worked hard alongside Entwistle (16 disposals, four marks and four rebound 50s), while Britton had 18 disposals and four marks off a wing.

Vic Country’s carnival has now come to an end, but the West Australians still have another match to play, taking on South Australia on August 24 at Thebarton Oval.

VIC COUNTRY 4.2 | 8.2 | 9.3 | 10.3 (63)
WESTERN AUSTRALIA 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.1 | 5.1 (31)

GOALS:
Vic Country: A. Centra 2, S. Hobbs 2, O. Wolter, S. White, E. Symonds, E. Stoddart, L. Painter, S. Howley
Western Australia: A. Blizard 3, O. Wolmarans 2

RMC BEST:
Vic Country: S. Howley, L. Painter, A. Gregor, E. Douglas, J. Reynolds, A. Centra
Western Australia: N. McNaughton, E. Cowcher, N. Entwistle, O. Wolmarans, H. Britton