IT TOOK until the final 10 minutes of the match, but the Allies secured the all-important first-up win, defeating Vic Country by 18 points on a wet day at Blacktown International Sportspark. In challenging conditions, the Allies trailed midway through the fourth quarter, before kicking the last three goals of the game to win, 8.8 (56) to 5.8 (38).

Tasmanian bottom-age gun and pick one favourite for next year Matilda Lange was absolutely enormous, picking up 28 disposals, four marks, eight tackles, 12 clearances, eight inside 50s, three rebound 50s and a goal in the win. She had game-highs in disposals, clearances and inside 50s, which summed up her performance, leading from the front with strength, speed and skill.

While the Allies were favourites heading into the match and had fortunately been able to play some trial games in the lead-up to the AFLW Under 18 Championships, it was Geelong Falcons jet Ava Bilyk who snapped a ripping goal after combining with Dandenong Stingrays ruck and National Academy member Sophie White at a forward stoppage.

Up the other end, Majella Day would respond, and kick the first of her four goals in a game that was brilliant, but also left some chances out there as she missed a couple of shots she would normally nail. Her presence inside 50 was the difference between the sides, with the Allies having experienced marking targets, while Vic Country had developing, raw talls.

The teams could hardly be split through the first three quarters as the Allies lead by a point at quarter time, Vic Country went three points up at the main break, then were cut back to a point by the final change. Scoring was at a premium given the conditions, and when Greea McKeegan got to the right spot on the goalline and made no mistake to boot a goal in the opening minute and put her side seven points clear, there as a feeling an upset was brewing.

But the Allies kept pushing and it was the classy running of Aurelia Russell who responded, being instrumental in the final term alongside Lange to drive her team to a memorable victory. Country still lead midway through the final stanza as the likes of Bilyk and Olivia Holmes were busy around the ball. However after Ava Horneman put the home team back in front by six points, it was an uphill battle.

Vic Country was not without its chances to equalise as Amelia Hamod had a chance late with her team six points down, but it drifted across the face, while Hannah Griffiths – who kickwd a goal earlier in the day was running into an open goal in the dying minutes before being mowed down by Rose Bell. The pressure from the Allies was relentless and after Lange hit a pinpoint pass to Day’s advantage deep inside 50 in the last few minutes, it was game over. Marika Carlton stretched the margin to 18 points just before the siren, but it had been a real nail-biting contest.

There was little doubt Lange was best on ground with her performance, though the plethora of Swans Academy members including the two MVPs from last week’s National Academy match in Frances Walsh (22 disposals, five marks, four tackles, three inside 50s and three rebound 50s) and Charlotte Tidemann (21 disposals, three marks, six tackles, four inside 50s and five rebound 50s).

Evie Bowie and Russell were also amongst the best, while Day’s four goals from 12 touches and four marks made her the dominant target up front. Bell’s work behind the ball to finish with 17 disposals, four marks and seven tackles was crucial too.

For Vic Country, Bilyk managed 20 disposals, four tackles, seven clearances and two goals, while White was unstoppable in the ruck, notching up 38 hitouts – including 17 in the opening quarter – to accompany 10 disposals and three tackles. Her Stingrays teammate Shiloh Little had 20 hitouts as the visitors finished with 64 hitouts to 11.

They lost the clearances though despite the best efforts of Bilyk and Carmela Perri (21 disposals, nine tackles, six clearances and five inside 50s), while Georgia Garlick and Grace Dillow caught the eye up respective ends, and McKeegan was a threat in the front half.

ALLIES 2.2 | 3.3 | 4.5 | 8.8 (56)
VIC COUNTRY 2.1 | 3.6 | 4.6 | 5.8 (38)

GOALS:
Allies: M. Day 4, M. Lange, A. Russell, A. Horneman, M. Carlton
Vic Country: A. Bilyk 2, G. Dillow, G. McKeegan, H. Griffiths

RMC BEST:
Allies: M. Lange, F. Walsh, C. Tidemann, E. Bowie A. Russell
Vic Country: A. Bilyk, G. Dillow, G. McKeegan, G. Garlick, C. Perri