By JARROD POTTER
AFL YOUTH GIRLS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS – ROUND 1
STARTING with a bang, Vic Metro set the Youth Girls Championships bar pretty high with an emphatic 50-point triumph over Queensland.
Making sure last year’s grand finalists didn’t get off to a good start, Vic Metro shut down everything the top end talent could muster.
Queensland’s forward opportunities were negated expertly as Charis Ulu Peniata (Parkmore) among many in the defensive end shone.
Such was the Victorian strength in the back half that the northerners didn’t score anything through the first three terms.
On the other side of the goal-kicking equation, Vic Metro’s had the ball on lace-out reception as captain Katherine Smith and Brooke Struylaart (Beaconsfield) found the uprights with ease.
Struylaart was particularly impressive in her Vic Metro debut as she booted four goals to continue her phenomenal start to 2016.
All told it was a staggering display of Victorian strength and Vic Metro coach Wayne Siekman couldn’t have been happier with the start.
“It was probably above expectations given the fact that Queensland has come hard this year,” Siekman said.
“They have improved in the off season and really wanted to beat us in our back yard.
“But our girls were pumped up and wanted to bring a lot of pressure in the game and they executed our game plan perfectly.
“The girls played to their structures and the pressure inside every time we got the footy was immense, didn’t let them have too many uncontested possessions, but we also created a lot of turnovers.”
Siekman praised Ulu Peniata’s performance and was also impressed with South East Juniors trio Courtney Jones, Georgia Gee and inside-midfield cannonball Tyla Hanks – who smashed apart any Queensland resistance.
“Our defence stood up – Charis was our best player on the ground,” Siekman said. “She took a heap of contested marks and didn’t get beaten – which was important as she played mostly deep and was occasionally coming up the ground.”
But Siekman wouldn’t get ahead of himself; the allure of Friday’s grand final – a curtain raiser to the Richmond v Hawthorn match at the MCG – wasn’t on the radar yet for Vic Metro as Tuesday’s battle with West Australia was all that currently matters.
“We’ve come out and showcased that footy on the big stage and to put in that performance it really shows the quality of our program,” Siekman said. “Saying all that, the old clich¨¦, one game down, three to go.
“We’ve got WA tomorrow who are a great side and won’t be easy to beat.”
Vic Metro will clash with Western Australia tomorrow at 10.40am, while Vic Country narrowly lost to WA today and will face Queensland tomorrow at Trevor Barker Reserve, Sandringham.
YOUTH GIRLS SCOREBOARD
VIC METRO 7.6 9.9 10.10 (70)
QUEENSLAND 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.2 (20)
