DARREN MONCRIEFF
Friday, August 19, 2011
THE Australian women's team has suffered three heavy defeats at the AFL International Cup and may go through the tournament without a win.
The side, in which there are several Indigenous women and whose captain is Aboriginal, have been trounced in all their games in the first week of competition, twice failing to register major scores in Sydney this week.
In their three games, the Australian Indigenous/Multicultural team has an aggregate total of just eight points, or 1.2.
The Aussies were held scoreless against the US side, which kicked 10.12 (72), on Wednesday, and managed just one behind against Ireland (19.13-127) yesterday.
In their opening game against Papua New Guinea on Monday, the Australian women registered their best score, 1.1 (7), over the four quarters against the Flames' 9.3 (57).
The results already mean they will finish at the foot of the five-team women’s division.
Brett Northey, co-founder of WorldFootyNews.com which covers football overseas, said the results may have caught the AFL by surprise.
"The main focus for the tournament is to provide international competition for the women's sides from around the world, so the AFL didn't want to crush them with an elite All-Australian side," he said.
"The (Australian team) selection panel excluded State champions and, in order to promote the development of football in Sydney and in Indigenous communities, the majority of girls were chosen from there, many of whom had limited football experience.
"Unfortunately, it seems like they may have under-estimated the strength of the international women's teams, and the results have been very lopsided which has certainly upset a few of our readers who would like to see the Aussies winning.
"No doubt there are some very good Indigenous women out there not selected that could have strengthened the side considerably. Maybe next time."
PARADE OF NATIONS: Captain of the Australian Indigenous/Multicultural team, Shanell Dargan (second from left, front row), with the skippers from the other competing teams at the AFL International Cup launch in Sydney. Picture: WorldFootyNews.com
On the bright side for the hosts, Chereta and Natalee Daylight, who we featured pre-tournament, have led the way.
Both Natalee and Chereta were named as best players twice -- against PNG, in which Natalee kicked Australia's solitary goal, and against Ireland -- and Natalee secured votes for her game against the Americans.
The Aussie girls' next, and final, game is against Canada in Melbourne next week.
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Last Modified on 19/08/2011 21:59