Pittsworth Power junior Hayley Torresan and Highfields Lions junior Tasha Grundon, over the past few years the duo have participated in the AFL Darling Downs Juniors competition, participating along side their male counterparts and never have had the opportunity to participate in "female only football".
During 2010, Development Officer Jeff Neumann got the region's first ever girls only program up and running, where over thirty keen AFL interested girls participated. Of that group, only two girls had a AFL background and this was Hayley and Tasha.
Mid-September trials were held for the Under 16 Youth Girls Darling Downs/Northern Rivers/Gold Coast representative side, where both girls just missed out on selection but were outstanding at the trials. Still being only 15 year of age, the two girls still had another shot in 2011 to make the Southern Region side, but after Development Officer Jeff Neumann had found out the Central Queensland Cobra's were short several players. Contact was made with Wide Bay Development Manager Rob Searle to see if the two girls that missed out on the selection for the Southern side, could step in and fill the positions vacant due to injury.
Both girls were then selected to represent the Darling Downs in the Central Queensland Cobra's Under 16 side at the Under 16 Youth Girls State Championships, both girls played very consistent carnivals and a credit to the girls to go into the side on such late notice.
The girls along with several other girls from the region will look forward to the many opportunities they have in 2011; with the introduction of the Under 18 Youth Girls Toowoomba Crows side and the ability to try out for the Under 16 and Under 18 Southern Stars Youth Girls representative sides.
(Southern Stars is a combined Darling Downs, Gold Coast and Northern Rivers side)
Photo: Central Queensland Cobra's team poses for a team photo in Cairns
Last Modified on 09/12/2010 17:31
