BRISBANE Lions Academy finished on top of the AFL Women’s Under 16s Pool B after a second dominant performance on Friday. The Lions crushed Northern Territory by 85 points – thanks to a seven-goal first term – which followed on from a 110-point shellacking of GWS GIANTS Academy in their first and final game.

Brisbane Lions Academy raced out of the blocks against Northern Territory with the opening clearance, inside 50 and subsequent goal over the back to bottom-ager Molly Ferguson happening in just nine minutes. It was the beginning of one-way traffic for the home side in Queensland, as they had 42 more disposals (89-47) and kept the Territory scoreless en route to a 42-point lead.

Demi Braun broke the goal drought early in the second term for the Territory, as her side settled into the match a little better over the next two quarters. Poppi Gikas was a lone-hand in the ball-winning stakes, racking up 11 disposals – all kicks – in the opening half, while Marika Carlton had a seven-disposal second term to give her side a spark.

Mia Geere was becoming a problem for the Territory as the Lions Academy midfielder lead all-comers with 13 disposals in the first half, and numerous extractions from the stoppage. Up forward, Ferguson was providing a target, the beneficiary of a dominant first term with eight disposals, before booting two majors in the last term.

Leading up to the final break, Brisbane had only booted the 4.5 to 2.2 over the second and third terms to increase the lead to 57 after it looked like being a triple-digit win. The likes of Gikas, Carlton and Shakaila Gardiner-Dunn were starting to get their hands on the ball around the stoppages, with Gikas and Carlton particularly influential in each third of the ground.

To kick off the final term, Cate Twaddle slotted the visitors’ third goal of the match to cut the deficit back to 51 points, but it would be the only cause for celebration on the scoreboard in the last 20 minutes, as the Lions had nine scoring shorts and blew the margin out. Over the space of 10 minutes, Brisbane booted five consecutive goals which included two to Ferguson, and one each to Amelia Leigh, Stella Scott and Lataya De Pauw.

When the siren sounded, the Lions had triumphed by 85 points, 15.15 (105) to 3.2 (20) with bottom-ager Geere having a day out. She racked up 29 disposals, five marks, four tackles, six clearances, seven inside 50s and three rebound 50s in the win, running at 65.5 per cent efficiency despite winning more than half of her possessions in a contest.

Ferguson’s three goals came from 24 disposals and seven marks, while Billie Missen (22 disposals, five marks and one goal) and De Pauw (21 disposals, three marks and three goals also found plenty of the ball). Petrides – who was best on ground in game one – booted two goals from 18 disposals, four marks and four inside 50s, while Scott finished with the three majors as well. Sienna Ibrahim was influential in getting the ball forward with 17 touches and 11 inside 50s.

For Northern Territory, Gikas won 10 more disposals than anyone else with 27 disposals, as well as four marks, four tackles, three clearances, three inside 50s and four rebound 50s. Carlton (15 disposals, six tackles, three clearances, three inside 50s and two rebound 50s) and Gardiner-Dunn (13 disposals, five tackles, four clearances, three rebound 50s and a goal) all tried hard through midfield. Danika McDonald (17 disposals, five rebound 50s) did her best in defence.

BRISBANE LIONS ACADEMY 6.6 | 8.9 | 10.11 | 15.15 (105)
NORTHERN TERRITORY 0.0 | 1.2 | 2.2 | 3.2 (20)

GOALS:

Lions Academy: M. Ferguson 3, L. De Pauw 3, S. Scott 3, Z. Petrides 2, A. Leigh 2, B. Missen, Z. Stone
Northern Territory: S. Gardiner-Dunn, D. Braun, C. Twaddle

RMC BEST:

Lions Academy: M. Geere, M. Ferguson, L. De Pauw, Z. Petrides, S. Ibrahim
Northern Territory: P. Gikas, M. Carlton, S. Gardiner-Dunn, D. McDonald, R. Ryan

AROUND THE GROUNDS

Earlier that day, Gold Coast Suns Academy maintained their unbeaten streak as well in a great day for the Queensland teams, running out 110-point winners over Tasmania. The Suns kept the Tasmanians to just one goal in the first three quarters and lead by 82 points at the final break. They put the foot down in the last 20 minutes to boot five goals to two and run out 18.10 (118) to 3.0 (18) winners.

Ava Usher was again outstanding in midfield with 23 disposals, five clearances, six inside 50s, four tackles and two goals, teaming up well with captain Sienna Burnham (19 disposals, four marks, five tackles, three clearances, three inside 50s and a goal) and Bronte Parker (20 disposals, two marks, three clearances, seven inside 50s and a goal). Georja Davies also impressed again with 21 disposals, four marks, 19 hitouts, three clearances, four inside 50s and two goals. Dekota Baron (three goals) and Sunny Lappin (two) were also among the best in the win.

Harriet Bingley was among the best for Tasmania with 19 disposals, seven marks four tackles, three inside 50s and four rebound 50s, with Jorja Haberle (18 disposals, seven marks, four tackles, two clearances, three inside 50s and two rebound 50s) also providing an aerial presence. Mischa Barwin (14 disposals, six marks, four tackles, two inside 50s and a goal) worked hard, with skipper Priya Bowering (14 disposals, two marks, four tackles, four clearances and three inside 50s) subdued by her usual numbers but still working hard around the ground.

In the all-NSW/ACT clash, Sydney Swans Academy came from behind to get one up over the GWS GIANTS Academy. The GIANTS booted three goals to one in the opening term to race out to a 15-point lead, but the Swans hit back to draw within a 11 at half-time. A three goals to one third term resulted in the Swans hitting the front by three points, and they held on to win by four despite a late GIANTS goal to cut the final margin to within a kick, 8.4 (52) to 7.6 (48).

Madeleine Quinn stood up between the ruck and forward roles, collecting 16 disposals, three marks, 19 hitouts, two inside 50s, two goals and laying five tackles in the win. Kiera Yerbury and Lucinda Watson combined for 30 disposals and 22 tackles, with the latter also having a game-high six clearances. Aoife Berry (14 disposals, four tackles, three clearances, three inside 50s and two rebound 50s) was also among the best.

For the GIANTS, Katie Taylor collected a game-high 18 disposals, as well as two clearances, three inside 50s and two rebound 50s, while Morgan Stevens was steadfast in defence with 16 disposals and seven rebound 50s. Hannah Phillips (16 disposals, three marks, four tackles and three clearances) was also prominent, as Rose Bell slotted four of her side’s seven gaols from 10 disposals, two marks and four inside 50s.