This Friday 24th July marks a significant moment in the history of the AFL Darling Downs with the first ever Grand Final for the newly formed U17 Youth Girls competition to be played at Rockville Park 4:50pm. In what will be a battle of the schools, St Joseph’s College and St Saviours College will fight it out for the right to be named the inaugural U17 youth girls champions.
Both teams had played some tremendously exciting football throughout this year’s modified competition with St Joseph’s dropping only 1 game through the regular season and finishing a top the table while St Saviours are hitting form at the right time with a convincing win over South Toowoomba in last week’s semi-final.
On paper there are some mouth-watering match ups for both sides. Queensland representative and 2015 all Australian Shaleise Law has returned to the line-up for St Saviours over the past month and played a big part in their recent success. She is a player that will be need to be closely marked and St Joseph’s midfielders Becky Rodgers and Shonnie Skeahan may get this job on the day. Both Becky and Shonnie have had fantastic seasons in their own right and have the ability to hurt St Saviours on the rebound.
Up front Erin Richardson has been in outstanding goal kicking form all season for St Josephs. Who will get this matchup is unsure but the likes of hard hitting defenders Juanita Guise or Shakera Tarpencha may be good options for St Saviours.
For St Saviours Cassandra Mooka has been their go to player up forward and along with Guise are the only 2 players to play every in every game for their team this season. Add the skill of Rachel Yarrow and Toni Sagiba to the mix and you have a team capable of matching it with St Joseph’s hardness.
One of the big question marks for this game is the health of playmaker Savanna Ranford. Savanna was injured back in her round 4 clash and has not played since, her inclusion would be a great boost to an already star studded St Joseph’s line up.
In all this game looms as a genuine blockbuster and will provide a fitting showcase final to one of the fastest growing components of the game in women’s AFL. Best of luck goes out to all involved. Get along and witness the future of the womens game.
Last Modified on 28/06/2016 14:35
