By JARROD POTTER
AFL YOUTH GIRLS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS – ROUND 2
FIGHTING tooth-and-nail in the driving rain, Vic Country did it the country way to win its first ever Youth Girls nationals match.
On a brutal day at Sandringham, the Country girls were battered by the wind and the supremely tall and physical Queensland outfit. Then the skies decided to open part way through the third term as Vic Country was mounting a comeback.
But despite the challenges set before them, Vic Country ruggedly endured the best the Queenslanders could throw at them to take the 6.7 (43) to 5.4 (34) triumph.
The first half was a tale of pinpointing against the breeze and ramming home some monster kicks with it. Vic Country’s Georgia Walker and Lily Mithen hit up targets all day – giving a chance to the Country forwards to compete against the likes of Tahlia Randall and Gabby Collingwood.
The best effort from Vic Country was a three-goal run on in the first term as Julia Harvey, Sam Ryan and Tiahna Cochrane found a ton of possession up forward.
Queensland fought back through the second stanza, leaving the affair fairly level at the main break despite some gutsy work from Vic Country against the wind to boot a goal and earn back one.
Vic Country shone in the third term, with Bridie Kennedy in particular earning a free kick late in the term, before she drilled what was a very important goal in the context of the game right on the siren.
The monsoonal rains would’ve reminded the Queenslanders of home, but it did the visitors no favours in the end as it became an in-and-under tackle-for-tackle contest.
The midfield grunt became crucial through the final stanza, via Isabella Ayre, Mithen and Walker, so much so that Vic Country was able to out-grind the Maroons through the middle.
Bit by bit Vic Country got the clearances and set up a couple of inside-50s and behinds.
Most importantly those possessions chewed up the clock, leaving the visitors unable to bridge the gap.
It made Tuesday two-from-two for the Victorians as the Big V anthem rang around Trevor Barker Beach Reserve as the last word heard from round two.
“It was really tough the last quarter there, against the wind, rain pelting down, was good Victorian hard footy,” Vic Country coach Scott Gowans said.
“It meant a lot to them and they were prepared to put their bodies on the line and I think they did that well.
“Message was to kick the ball off the ground, keep the ball moving, 15 minutes of hard footy and no time on – so the longer we controlled the ball and it went on, the better.”
Gowans praised Ayre – for a tall making her impact even in the horrible conditions – while Mithen and Walker were elite as per usual in his eyes.
The win keeps Vic Country’s chances of playing on the MCG alive, needing victory over premiership favourites Vic Metro on Thursday at Shepley Oval, plus other results to fall their way.
“The Metro game on Thursday is so important now,” Gowans said.
“They’re still in the hunt for the MCG game and I just can’t wait.
“We’ll let them enjoy the night, do their recovery and there’s a day off tomorrow.
“Few sore bodies and that, but we’re still alive in these championships and that’s the main thing.”
YOUTH GIRLS SCOREBOARD
VIC COUNTRY 3.2 4.2 6.4 6.7 (43)
QUEENSLAND 1.0 3.1 3.2 5.4 (34)
