Vics, SA take out Women's Nationals

VICTORIA won the Grand Final of the AFL Women’s National Championship by 38 points at Subiaco Oval on Sunday after an entertaining clash with hosts Western Australia.

WA made a strong start with Krystle Rivers and Nikki Harwood each kicking goals to take a narrow lead at quarter time. With the crowd behind them, WA grabbed an early point in the second term before a goal-square scramble saw Victoria kick their second goal to level the scores.

Good defence from WA kept Victoria at bay for much of the second quarter though the pressure finally told and Victoria kicked another major before half-time and went into the break with a three-point lead.
 
During the half-time break, Geelong players entered the oval for a kick before their match with the West Coast Eagles. Asked for his comments on the match between Victoria and WA, Geelong's Gary Ablett Jnr said: “The boys are enjoying the game. There's been some good play and the players have some really good skills. We're looking forward to the second half.”
 
As the third quarter resumed Victoria took the initiative, kicking an early goal to extend their lead before adding another three to stamp their authority on the game and take a 26-point advantage into the last quarter.
 
WA managed to stay with the Vics for much of the last quarter and scored another goal through youngster Leah Mascall. But they fell away as Victoria kicked another three goals for a final score of 10.0 (60) to 3.4 (22).

WA head coach Nicole Graves said she was proud that her players had shown what they could do when they believed in themselves.

“Although it's not reflected on the scoreboard we had a small victory today because we bounced back from Thursday,” Graves said. 
 
“We lacked in our finishing but the crowd was fantastic today and really got behind us. Victoria got it right.”
 
South Australia took the spoils in Division Two, defeating New South Wales in the Grand Final at Fremantle Oval.

The tournament was backed by the AFL and West Australian Football Commission, with Graves saying everyone involved appreciated the support.
 
“I'm really happy that the AFL and West Australian Football Commission backed us the way they did leading up to and throughout this tournament. It’s been great,” she said.

The next AFL Women’s National Championship will be played in 2011.

AFL WOMEN’S NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

Day 1 – Wednesday 3 June

Division One

Victoria 17.10 (112) defeated ACT 2.2 (14)
Goals – Victoria: Stacey Cross 6, Phoebe McWilliams, Cecilia McIntosh, Lauren Arnell 2, Amy Catterall. ACT: Holly Cogel, Courtney Horan.

Western Australia 14.9 (93) defeated Queensland 2.2 (14)
Goals – Western Australia 1: Stephanie Walding 2, Aimee Venn, Krystle Rivers, Chelsea Randall, Angela Doyle, Karen Cowley, Kiara Bowers, Martine Pearman, Shelley Matcham, Rheanne Lugg. QLD: Tamara Thorogood, Sarah Sailor

Division Two

South Australia 12.11 (83) defeated Western Australia Host 3.3 (21)
Goals – South Australia: J Turner 5, L Fry, C Hartley, D Varnhagen 2, K Degabriele. Western Australia 2: Megan Boddington 3

NSW 10.5 (65) defeated Northern Territory 6.6 (42)
Goals – NSW: Cassi Bell 4, Marie Keating 3, Roxy McGee, Cynthia Dufaut, Kath Kobzan. NT: Sonya Knapp 2, Edith Boundry, Kristy Irvine, Ta'Lannah O'Reeri, Natasha Puautjimi

Day 2 – Thursday 4 June

Division One

Victoria 15.10 (100) defeated Western Australia 0.4 (4)
Goals – Victoria: Stacey Cross 7, Anna Schwager, Pheobe McWilliams 2, Amy Catterall, Stephanie Chiocci, Lou Wotton, Cecilia McIntosh.

Queensland 7.9 (51) defeated ACT 6.7 (43)
Goals – Queensland: Katie Brennan 6, Jo Butland. ACT: Holly Cogle 2, Kristin Ireland, Elise O'Dea, Melissa Hurley, Angela Ballerini

Division Two

South Australia 6.3 (39) defeated New South Wales 5.4 (35)
Goals – South Australia: J Opernshaw 3, S Masiero 2, D Varnhagen, J Turner
New South Wales: Cassi Bell 2, Katie Fitzsimmons, Marie Keating, Roxy McGee.

Western Australia 6.10 (46) defeated Northern Territory 6.6 (42)
Goals – WA: Megan Boddington 3, Lauren Austin, Ellie Kempe, Katika Adams NT: Danielle Chisholm 3, Phillippa Cox, Bo Dela Cruz, Brigetta Puautjimi.

Day 3 - Friday 5 June - Rest Day

Day 4 - Saturday 6 June

Division One

Western Australia 15.12 (102) defeated ACT 0.1 (1)
Goals – WA: Nikki Harwood, Angela Doyle 3, Sarah Noga, Steph Walding 2, Larissa Kazakoff, Kiara Bowers, Leah Mascall, Kareen Blachford.

Victoria 7.6 (48) defeated QLD 1.1 (7)
Goals – VIC: Stacey Cross 2, Sarah D'aarcy, Hateley, Lauren Tesoribro, Schwager, Bazeley. QLD: Sarah Sailor.

Division Two

NSW 8.6 (54) defeated Host WA 4.7 (31)
Goals – NSW: Keating 3, Bell, Kobzan 2, McGee. WA: Adams 2, Boddington, Barclay.

South Australia 8.4 (52) defeated Northern Territory 4.7 (31)
Goals – SA: Hartley 2, Masiero, Cooper, Degabriele, Woods, Openshaw, Cramey. NT: Puautjimi 2, Irvine, Chisolm.

Day 5 – GRAND FINALS – Sunday 7 June

Division One

Victoria  1.0  3.0  7.0  10.0 (60)
WA  2.1  2.3  2.4  3.4 (22)
Goals – VIC: Stacey Cross 3, Stephanie Chiocci, Amy Catterall 2, Daisy Pearce, Phoebe McWilliams, Lauren Arnell. WA: Krystle Rivers, Nikki Harwood, Leah Mascall.

Debbie Lee Medal (Best on Ground) – Shannon McFerran (Victoria)

Division Two

South Australia 12.10 (82) defeated NSW 4.5 (29)

Goals – SA: J Turner 3, E Woods, K Degabriele, C Hartley, S Masiero 2, J Openshaw. NSW: Kath Kobzan, Cassi Bell, Marie Keating, Kate Fitzsimmons.
Best – SA: Cass Hartley, Amber Cooper, Meg Wilsdon. NSW: Kate Fitzsimmons, Marie Keating.