DESPITE conceding the first five scoring shots of the match, Vic Country punished the Allies for not putting one of them through the big sticks with a response of four consecutive goals – and nine of the next 10 majors – to run away with the first AFLW Under 18 Championships match, 10.6 (66) to 2.8 (20).

The Allies looked to have all the momentum early with fantastic forward half ascendancy but their efforts only yielded five behinds, three off the boot of Mischa Barwin as she and fellow first round prospect Alex Neyland looked the game-breakers for the combined side. Instead the second half of the first term belonged to Country as Abby Hobson – returning from injury for the first time in a few weeks – banged through her state’s first of the day to hand the home side the lead.

From there, GWV Rebels duo Jovie Skewes-Clinton and Maggie Johnstone and Murray Bushrangers’ Nikhita Spiteri also added their names to the goalkickers list before her teammate yet opposition on the day Majella Day finally gave the Allies some relief on the scoreboard right before the first break. That would be a rare cause of celebration, with a similar goal right on the three quarter time siren – to another Coates Talent League Girls-linked player in Oakleigh’s Zoe Curry – was the sole Allies major for the rest of the match.

In between, Country piled on five goals and put an end to the game, as Skewes-Clinton finished with three, and Spiteri and Hobson both kicked another major. To the Allies’ credit from the fifth minute of the third term, they outscored Country with Stingrays forward Nalu Brothwell‘s over-the-back goal running in to point blank range 18 minutes into the final stanza the winning side’s only six-pointer in the last 35 minutes of play.

As has so often been the case with the Allies, it takes a little while for the players to gel compared to other states, and it looked like in the second half that had happened. Unfortunately, by that stage the Allies were eight goals down and it was game over. But they still had their moments of brilliance with Swans Academy pair Neyland (14 disposals, two marks, four tackles, three inside 50s and three rebound 50s) playing at both ends and Madeleine Quinn (10 disposals, four marks, three tackles and 20 hitouts) looking strong around the ground.

The inside group of Isla Wiencke (19 disposals, nine tackles, three clearances and four inside 50s), Zoe Curry (14 disposals, three marks, three tackles, five clearances and four inside 50s) alongside the trio of Tasmanians in Barwin, Priya Bowering and Mia Anderson all played their role, while bottom-age jet Charlotte Tidemann tried her trademark linebreaking runs.

Vic Country was just too consistent across the part though, lead by fierce inside duo Johnstone (20 disposals, seven tackles, three clearances, three inside 50s and a goal) and Stella Huxtable (18 disposals, four tackles and eight clearances), while Skewes-Clinton (eight disposals, three goals) looked a class above up forward. Ella Stoddart and Brisbane father-daughter prospect Meg Lappin provided rebound out of the back 50, while twins Nalu and Mizuki Brothwell were both among the better players.

Somewhat of a draft bolter, Gippsland Power’s Baia Pugh also looked very busy in attack, while Geelong Falcons skipper Georgia Tyrrell laid a whopping 15 tackles to go with her 16 disposals, three marks, four clearances and two rebound 50s.

Vic Country has a six-day turnaround before heading to Ipswich on Saturday where they take on fellow first round winners Queensland at Brighton Homes Arena. The Allies will have plenty more time to gel when they meet at the same venue against Vic Metro, but three weeks away on Sunday, July 13.

VIC COUNTRY 4.2 | 7.5 | 9.6 | 10.6 (66)
ALLIES 1.5 | 1.5 | 2.8 | 2.8 (20)

GOALS:
Vic Country: J. Skewes-Clinton 3, A. Hobson 2, N. Spiteri 2, M. Johnstone, N. Brothwell, G. McKeegan
Allies: M. Day, Z. Curry

RMC BEST:
Vic Country: M. Johnstone, J. Skewes-Clinton, S. Huxtable, E. Stoddart, M. Brothwell
Allies: M. Barwin, A. Neyland, M. Quinn, P. Bowering, Z. Curry