SOUTH Australia dominated the opening stage of the NAB AFL Women's Under-18 Championships, winning its two matches in a tri-series against Northern Territory and Tasmania in the first phase of the competition in Adelaide last weekend.
The Croweaters defeated Tasmania by 49 points and the Northern Territory by a mammoth 90 points, both times holding their opposition to just nine points.
Coach Bill Economou said his team put in two exciting performances.
"In the pre-game address of both games we reminded the girls it was an opportunity to make a statement through fast ball movement, playing attacking footy and using the entire oval as best we could," Economou said.
"We had areas of focus both offensively and defensively – fast ball movement, changing lanes across the ground and hitting targets by hand and foot.
"Defensively we wanted them to focus on not getting sucked in to the contest and then being accountable for their direct opponent on the turnover."
Tasmania did come away with a victory, defeating Northern Territory by 12 points.
The best players from the three teams will make up an 'Allies' team, which will take on other state representative sides in July.
Economou said standout players for South Australia included captain Jess Allan (sister of Adelaide's Sarah), vice-captain Tait Mackrill, Chloe Scheer, Brianna Walling and the team's MVP Eloise Jones.
Scheer is a highly decorated player at just 17, having won both the under-18 best and fairest medal and the Dutschke Medal (the senior league best and fairest award) in the SAWFL.
All are eligible to be selected in the NAB AFL Women's Draft in October.
Other South Australians to look for in the future include Nikki Gore, the sole South Australian representative in the NAB AFL Women's Academy, and Katelyn Rosenzweig.
Standout Tasmanians included Courtney Webb, Lauren Stevenson, Amy Halaby and Academy member Daria Bannister.
Maddie Gault, Calista Boyd and Arthurina Moreen were in the best for the Northern Territory across the weekend.
Remaining matches of round one will be played around the country over the following months, including this weekend in Blacktown.
Round two of the championships will take place in Queensland during July.
NAB AFLW UNDER-18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
Game 1
South Australia 2.1 2.2 5.3 9.4 (58)
Tasmania 0.2 1.2 1.3 1.3 (9)
GOALS
SA: C. Scheer 2, E. Boles 2, E. Jones 2, J. Tabb, B. Bosley, B. Walling
TAS: Z. Knight
BEST
SA: E. Jones, B. Walling, N. Gore, C. Scheer, K. Rosenzweig, J. Allan
TAS: D. Bannister, C. Webb, M. Cuthbertson, L. Stevenson, A. Halaby, M. King
At City Mazda Oval
Game 2
South Australia 6.0 8.4 13.6 15.9 (99)
Northern Territory 0.1 1.2 1.2 1.3 (9)
GOALS
SA: C. Scheer 4, B. Walling 4, E. Jones 2, J. Tabb, J. Allan, E. Boles, B. Maslen, M. Bennett
NT: J. Brock
BEST
SA: J. Allan, E. Jones, M. Bennett, J. Smith, T. Mackrill, B. Walling
NT: M. Gault, C. Boyd, A. Moreen, J. Baird, M. Breed
At Adelaide Oval
Game 3
Tasmania 3.1 3.4 6.4 6.5 (41)
Northern Territory 1.0 1.2 1.2 4.5 (29)
GOALS
TAS: C. Webb 2, C. Haines, K. Morey, G. Hill, D. Bannister
NT: M. Mungatopi, M. Gault, K. Warlapinni, D.Ponter
BEST
TAS: L. Stevenson, C. Webb, C. Haines, Z. Knight, A. Halaby, J. Farrow
NT: D.Ponter, M. Gault, C. Boyd, A. Moreen, J. Kantilla, A. Healy
At City Mazda Oval
