{"id":137929,"date":"2023-07-30T15:28:17","date_gmt":"2023-07-30T05:28:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=137929"},"modified":"2023-07-30T15:28:18","modified_gmt":"2023-07-30T05:28:18","slug":"queensland-completes-country-crusade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2023\/07\/30\/queensland-completes-country-crusade\/","title":{"rendered":"Queensland completes Country crusade"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A COUPLE of 2007-born stars set Brighton Homes Arena alight, as Queensland midfielder Ava Usher<\/a> and forward Dekota Baron<\/a> proved too much to handle for a gallant Vic Country side, running out 30-point winners on Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Usher was everywhere across four quarters, roaming up and down the ground, winning the ball with ease and causing plenty of headaches for the Vic Country side while Baron was a worry inside 50, as their team won 10.12 (72) to 6.6 (42).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The double bottom-age midfielder finished with 21 disposals, three marks, five tackles, three clearances, six inside 50s and 1.2, but her influence transcended the stats sheet with a metres gained tally that would have been through the roof. Fellow young gun Baron kicked 3.4 from 16 disposals and took four marks up forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AFLW Academy winger Sienna McMullen<\/a> (16 disposals, seven marks, three inside 50s and five rebound 50s) was also among the best, while Havana Harris<\/a> had a great battle with fellow bottom-ager Elli Symonds<\/a> in what will be one to watch over the next 18 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Queensland had the early ascendancy in the match, but it was the returning Lila Keck<\/a> who got into the right spot and snapped the opening goal of the game, of course accompanied by a worthy celebration. Unfortunately for the visiting side, Queensland would kick the next four goals as the Milne’s<\/strong> – Nyalli<\/a> and then Ebony<\/a> – and then Baron with back-to-back goals either side of the quarter time break – stretched the lead out to 20 points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It grew to as much as 23 points, before Ash Centra<\/a> came to the party. Missing a couple of chances playing full-forward, Centra would kick back-to-back goals to spark her side and cut the deficit to just nine points. Up the other end, Baron had similar chances and missed a couple of shots before nailing a third goal after the half-time siren to give the Maroons an 18-point buffer at the main break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The third term is where the home side shut the door on the result, with Rania Crozier<\/a> converting off the opening inside 50, and then Laura Roy<\/a> kicked one from a clever kick on the goalline. That followed double 50m penalties to both Josie McCabe<\/a> and Usher, as the visiting crowd was getting frustrated with the extra metreage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regardless, by the final break, Queensland had piled on five goals to one, and had ultimately won the game with a seven-goal lead. To Vic Country’s credit, they fought until the final siren with Lily Jordan<\/a> and Sara Howley<\/a> both kicking goals in the final term. Howley racked up 12 disposals in the last 20 minutes to finish with 23, the most in the match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Harris (15 disposals, two marks, 14 hitouts, two clearances, six inside 50s and three rebound 50s) went toe-for-toe with Symonds (13 disposals, three tackles, 16 hitouts, five clearances and three inside 50s), while McCabe and defender Kiara Bischa<\/a> were also impressive. For Vic Country, Tyla Crabtree<\/a> and Mikayla Williamson<\/a> battled on all day, as did Chloe Adams<\/a>, while Amber Schutte<\/a> tried hard in defence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

QUEENSLAND 3.3 | 5.9 | 10.10 | 10.12 (72)
VIC COUNTRY 1.1 | 3.3 | 4.3 | 6.6 (42)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

GOALS:
Queensland: <\/strong>D. Baron 3, A. Usher, J. McCabe, L. Roy, R. Crozier, N. Milne, E. Long, E. Milne
Vic Country:<\/strong> A. Centra 2, S. Howley, C. Mason, L. Jordan, L. Keck<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RMC BEST:
Queensland:<\/strong> A. Usher, D. Baron, S. McMullen, K. Bischa, H. Harris
Vic Country: <\/strong>E. Symonds, A. Schutte, S. Howley, M. Williamson, C. Adams<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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