In sunny conditions at Blacktown International Sportspark, The Assumption School defeated Coogee South Public School 3.4 (22) to 1.2 (8).
It is a fantastic achievement for the team from Bathurst with a number of the girls playing in their first ever AFL school competition.
“I never thought we would win [the Paul Kelly Cup],” coach Karen Smith said.
“I was hoping we’d come down and not be humiliated and that we’d give the teams a good run for their money.
“We won the first two games and we felt quite confident and the day progressed from there.
“We played fantastically today.”
Last month, the GWS GIANTS visited the Central West where they ran school clinics, tested talented locals at AFL Combines and met their supporters.
Smith said the visit has helped to grow interest in the game at the school and community level.
“Kevin Sheedy actually came to our school and the kids are now a lot more involved in AFL because of that,” she said.
“AFL’s becoming a lot stronger in the Central West. There are a lot of sports competing but increasingly you’ll find that there are kids at the primary school level who will now play AFL.
“We’ll be very excited going to school tomorrow. We have a group of very competitive year 6 boys coming tomorrow to play in the boys competition and they quite fancy themselves as footballers. So for us to go back as winners is very exciting.
“I’m sure the girls will have bragging rights for a few weeks now.”
This year’s Paul Kelly Cup has included over 15,000 participants from 980 teams as they battled it out to progress through to the state girls and boys finals.
The event has quickly become one of the largest primary school based competitions in Australia and has even been used as a potential talent pool for AFL clubs with Sydney Swans midfielder Kieren Jack being discovered playing in the competition.
Grand Final
The Assumption School 22 def Coogee South 8
