Exciting youth girl’s players Kailah Rogers (Darling Downs) and Erin McNamara (Northern Rivers) have made the 2010 Under 16 Youth Girls All Stars squad. Their selection comes after both had impressive carnivals for the Gold Coast/Northern Rivers/Darling Downs under 16 Youth Girls representative squad. Both were named in the team’s best players for four out of the five games and showed excellent poise and talent for two players that come from non-Australian Rules backgrounds.
McNamara from the Northern Rivers region comes from a strong soccer background and proved the code change was no challenge for her. Erin was outstanding with her outside play and speed, playing a pivotal role for the GCNRDD side. Darling Downs’s Rogers converts over from another code of football, Touch football. Rogers played an important role as the side’s go to girl out of defence and her smarts when the footy was at ground level also was very important. Both girls were very deserving with their selection into the squad and a few of their team mates were unlucky to miss out;
The Gold Coast/ Northern Rivers/ Darling Downs under 16 youth girls squad were unlucky to come away with only the one win for the championships, but the side was able to produce something far greater than winning a game of football and that was the bond the side built over the 3 days.
Over the course of the three days, the squad had mixed results; the campaign got off to a shaky start and the GCNRDD side went down to the international entrant of the PNG side. PNG were out of the blocks early and were able to slot home two majors to nothing in the first term. The second and third terms, saw the PNG build momentum but were erratic in front of goal kicking 3.5 (23) for the first three quarters. GCNRDD started to gel as a team in the final term and were able to play with some confidence and the support of each other.
RESULT: GC–NR–DD 0.0 (0) defeated by Papua New Guinea 3.6 (24)
GCNRDD Best: E.McNamara, N.Simpson, K.Rogers
One hour later the girls had to line up again and this time it was against the speedy Cape York Crusader girls. The first term was an arm wrestle with both sides unable to break free and going into the first break with scores level 1.1 (7) to 1.1 (7). The Southern Queensland girls were able to break free and show that they also were able to play an exciting brand of football. In the next two quarters, the GCNRDD girls were able to kick away and take a twenty-two point lead into the final quarter. By the time the final siren sounded on game 2 of the carnival, the girls had won their first game as a squad and were able to hold Cape York to just one behind after quarter time.
RESULT: GC-NR-DD 6.6 (42) defeated Cape York 1.2 (8)
GCNRDD Best: A.Rolphe, E.Love, R.Murray, T.Barham, H.Simpson, N.Simpson
GCNRDD Goals: T.Barham 2, E.Love 2, R.Marron 1, K.McClelland 1;
Game three and the GCNRDD girls were up against the eventual winners of the Championships the Brisbane-Sunshine Coast Flames and the Flames flexed their muscles. The Flames were always going to be tough opponent and the Southern Queensland girls were up for the challenge. The GCNRDD side took a slender one point lead into the first term, leading 1.0 (6) to 0.5 (5) but from here on in it was always one way traffic. With the Cairns humidity taking its toll on our girls and with two girls rushed to hospital, one with suspected neck injuries and another with dehydration, the odds were against the Southern Queensland girls. Both girls were later released from hospital; with both cleared of serious injuries and sickness. With this the Flames were able to run away with a convincing 44 point victory.
RESULT: GCNRDD 1.0 (6) defeated by BSC Flames 7.8 (50)
GCNRDD Best: E.McNamara, K.Rogers, Z.Lattanzi
GCNRDD Goals: E.McNamara 1;
With a depleted touring party and the Cairns weather taking its toll, the GCNRDD side took to the field against the other new entrants into the competition the Central Coast Cobra’s. For the first two quarters and midway through the third term, both sides were going behind for behind. During the third term the Cobra’s were able to weave and evade the impressive GCNRDD defence and slot home the first and only major for the game. Unfortunately for the Southern Queensland side, another player was rushed off to hospital with a suspected broken ankle; fortunately she was cleared of a broken leg, though unfortunately she had torn a ligament off her ankle bone. GCNRDD were now struggling with only 17 girls fully fit. The Cobras were able to run out victors and take the honours over the GCNRDD squad.
RESULT: GCNRDD 0.2 (2) defeated by Central Coast Cobras 1.5 (11)
GCNRDD Best: K.Rogers, M.McGorm, E.McNamara, Z.Lattanzi
The final game of the championships saw the GCNRDD side come up against the local side and well drilled North Queensland Lions. With no rotations available and the sides 5th game in three days, the Gold Coast-Northern Rivers-Darling Downs girls looked tired, to the side’s credit they finished the game off with hard running and exciting in and under work. A few girls were sent off from both sides after a melee in the third term, though the Lions were able to hold onto a 24 point victory and finish as runners-up for the championships.
RESULT: GCNRDD 0.2 (2) defeated by North Qld Lions 3.8 (26)
GCNRDD Best: K.Rogers, E.McNamara, M.McGorm
The final championship ladder;
1st Brisbane Sunshine Coast Flames
2nd North Queensland Lions
3rd Papua New Guinea Kurukums
4th Central Coast Cobra’s
5th Gold Coast – Northern Rivers – Darling Downs
6th Cape York Crusaders
A big thank you to all of the parents and supporters that travelled to Cairns from the Gold Coast, Northern Rivers and Darling Downs regions to cheer on the girls, a massive thank you to Cam and CMR Prestige Developments for their sponsorship. A big thank you to the Cairns Juniors First Aid trainers and Cairns base hospital for looking after our girls in the time of need. Congratulations once again to Erin and Kailah on making the Under 16 Youth girls All Star squad, also the trip would not of been possible without David ‘Macca’ Mackenzie, Nat Barnett, Ally Kenwood and Brent ‘BK” Kelly, of whom all did a fantastic job over the 8 weeks of the program.
Stay tuned for more information regarding the 2011 Under 16 Youth Girls State Championships and Under 18 Youth Girls State Championships
PHOTO: GCNRDD side posing for a photo at the Cairns airport
Released: Tuesday 9th November 2010, by;
Jeff Neumann - Development Officer - AFL Queensland
Darling Downs Region
Ph: (07) 4632 2994 | Em: jneumann@aflq.com.au | Mob: 0420 310 501
Last Modified on 30/11/2010 12:11
