THERE was not a great deal of separation between the AFL Women’s National Academy and the All Stars at a wet and icy Whitten Oval today with the former continuing its unbeaten streak at the level thanks to a 30-point win. It was by far the toughest encounter thus far though, with the All Stars having the Academy on the back foot at different points, but the polish and class of the top-end talents saw the elite pathwatu program home, 7.11 (53) to 3.5 (23).

There was little doubt the Academy deserved the win, after all the side had 42 more disposals (271-229) and 19 more inside 50s (43-24) in challenging conditions that started with light rain before clearing up later in the game. However the All Stars – lead by the likes of Sunny Lappin and Carys D’Addario in midfield, broke even with the Academy, while hard-running south Australian Imogen Trengove found plenty of the ball as well.

Swans Academy tall Grace Parsons opened her side’s account from close range just three minutes into the match and the underdogs held the opposition to just one behind through the first 20 minutes of play. However it was the second term – once the National Academy had the wind – that changed the course of the game.

They had 68 disposals to 39 and 11 inside 50s to six, booting 4.3 to 0.1 to take a 21-point lead into the main break. Alicia Blizard got on the board first to put her side in front, and it sparked a run of three goals in six minutes as Mischa Barwin and Alannah Welsh also added their name to the goalkickers list. Even late inclusion, Northern Territorian Shakaila Gardiner-Dunn got on the board with a classy running finish to make it a 21-point buffer at the main break.

Leading the counter punch was Tasmanian onballer Priya Bowering, who had six disposals and a couple of clearances in the term, running tandem with the MVP of last match, Chloe Bown who was the other player (11 disposals) into double-digits for the Academy by the main break. When 187cm ruck Madeleine Quinn kicked a ridiculous goal in the pocket from a tight angle in the opening minute of the third term to make it a 27-point ball game, it looked like the margin might blow out.

However to the All Stars credit, they responded through Evelyn Connolly who scored against the flow, and then the Dandenong Stingrays forward had another dribble attempt that unfortunately hit the post which would have brought the margin back to 16 points. A couple of behinds for the Academy later though, and defender/midfielder Chloe Thorn pounced on a chance out of nothing, getting ball to boot in the final minute to cut the final break deficit to that 16-point difference.

Eastern Ranges ball magnets Tayla McMillan and Jordyn Allen turned it on in the second and third terms respectively, with Subiaco tall and one of last year’s Under 17 Futures MVPs, Olivia Wolmarans also looking dangerous. The latter would kick two fourth quarter goals – and just miss a third to be the only multiple goalkicker in the game, though she was far from alone.

Bowering was consistent throughout the four quarters, notching up 21 disposals, two marks, five clearances, five inside 50s and two rebound 50s, only behind Bown (25 disposals, five marks, four tackles, five clearances and eight inside 50s. Wolmarans (14 disposals, four marks, three inside 50s and two goals) was fantastic up forward, while the toughness of McMillan and Mischa Barwin, and class of Allen and Monique Bessen were also evident on the day.

Tatyana Perry was awarded best on ground for the All Stars after 13 disposals, two marks, two tackles and five rebound 50s, while it was an even spread across the board with Lappin (20 disposals, four marks, six tackles and five inside 50s very good early, while Maggie Johnstone had a day out too with 17 disposals, 10 tackles and six clearances. Scarlett Johnson, Thorn and D’Addario were also very good.

AFLW ACADEMY 0.1 | 4.4 | 5.8 | 7.11 (53)
ALL STARS 1.0 | 1.1 | 3.4 | 3.5 (23)

GOALS:
AFLW Academy: O. Wolmarans 2, M. Barwin, A. Welsh, S. Gardiner-Dunn, M. Quinn, A. Blizard
All Stars: C. Thorn, E. Connolly, G. Parsons

RMC BEST:
AFLW Academy: P. Bowering, C. Bown, O. Wolmarans, T. McMillan, M. Barwin
All Stars: T. Perry, M. Johnstone, S. Johnson, S. Lappin, C. Thorn