FOR the first time in history, the Wilderness School has claimed an Independent Girls Schools Sports Association (IGSSA) Australian rules football shield, defeating Seymour College by three goals in a thrilling upset win in the grand final last Tuesday.

Seymour College had gone through the season undefeated, and in their previous two matches had accounted for Wilderness. In fact, the second clash between the pair was just three days prior to the grand final as part of the school’s annual Intercol fixture.

However a week is a long time in football, and in this case so is three days. Led by South Australian Under 18s coach Brad Snell – who is a deputy principal at the school – and supported by current Port Adelaide AFLW player Sachi Syme, Norwood SANFLW utility Sarah Branford as well as Thomas Grech, Wilderness turned the result around to get up 5.3 (33) to 2.3 (15) at Bundeys Road.

In a wind-swept match, Wilderness had kept the unbeaten Seymour to two goals to the final break and led by a solitary point with a quarter to play. However with the breeze, the underdogs converted three goals to charge home and win their first IGSSA Shield.

North Adelaide’s Sasha Hardin – who was also co-captain of the Wilderness side – won best on ground in the premiership, playing a crucial role through midfield both in winning her own ball and negating the effect of damaging Sturt and State Under 18s talent Sophie Thredgold in the match.

Alongside Hardin was her younger sister Caitlin Hardin, a member of the State Academy Under 16s program and Year 10 pupil, who slotted three of her side’s five goals in the victory. Iris Newman was also fantastic around midfield and impacted through the stoppages. In defence, Year 10 student Anastasia McMullen and Year 11 Bella Browning were also outstanding in defence.

For Seymour College – coached by current Port Adelaide AFLW player Ange Foley – the likes of Thredgold and South Australian teammate and fellow bottom-ager Imogen Trengove were still able to have big moments. Despite being a bottom-ager, Thredgold will close out her schooling this year ahead of her draft-eligible year in 2025. Also in the side was graduating Eagles and Allies representative Popi Gikas.

The win was of extra significance for the Wilderness School who wore orange ribbons in support of the late Ashleigh Young. Heavily involved in the Norwood and State Academy programs as well, Young worked as the school’s Director of Sport and Recreation last year. The school is also actively supporting the Marjorie Jackson-Nelson Centre for Women’s Sport – Ashleigh Young Scholarships, which will aim to support professional learning opportunities for women in sport.