WITH ROUND three of the men's AFL International Cup competition completed on Saturday – amid great support from the women –Sunday was set aside for the women's competition, and it was the men's turn to get behind their compatriots.
Two unbeaten teams went toe-to-toe in pool A, with 2014 winners Canada Northern Lights defeating plucky newcomer Great Britain Swans.
Experience prevailed as the reigning champions kicked four goals to nil at Plenty War Memorial Park in Diamond Creek.
Northern Lights skipper Aimee Legault won the toss and elected to kick with a stiff breeze in the first quarter, when the major damage was done. Valerie Moreau bagged an early goal and Hilary Perry soccered a second, with Canada's defence mopping up British forays forward and transitioning quickly.
Legault added a crucial captain's goal into the wind in the final quarter to seal a classy performance. The reward for victory is a semi-final against pool B runner-up and fierce rival, USA Freedom.
Great Britain will face Ireland, after the Banshees kicked nine goals on the way to an impressive victory over Papua New Guinea.
"It was a great win," said Irish forward Christine McCutcheon, who kicked three goals.
"PNG provided a really tough physical test, but we moved the ball well and put in a great performance.
"We've improved with each match and we are looking to continue that momentum in the semi-finals. Ireland versus GB is always a big game. It was great to have the support of the boys – they were in fine voice."
The Banshees were singing their own victory song, We're On The Road Again, after finishing on top of pool B to book the semi-final clash with the Swans on Tuesday.
The Royal Australian Air Force Roulettes opened proceedings with a surprise flyover at Melbourne University Oval, where the European Crusaders faced the USA Freedom.
With the Victorian buildings of Melbourne University to the north and the city's CBD to the south, it was a grand setting for the Freedom to belt out the Star Spangled Banner and the Crusaders to hum the European anthem – a sign of respect to the seven different languages spoken around the team.
The Freedom got off to a flying start with an eight-goal first term that included a spectacular effort from Lindsay Kastanek, in front of Collingwood AFL Women's star, Moana Hope. Hope and her teammates were warming up for Melbourne University's VFL Women's clash with Cranbourne.
The Americans were too strong in keeping the Crusaders scoreless. The combined team from Europe is running low on squad numbers, but remains strong-spirited ahead of its match against Fiji on Tuesday at Royal Park.
Fiji recorded the biggest score in the three-edition history of the women's competition on Sunday, with a 194-point win over Pakistan. Both teams sang together and posed for photos after the final siren, despite the landslide victory.
Go to AFL.com.au/internationalcup for scores, live streams of selected matches, feature stories and news from the tournament, and worldfootynews.com for reports on all matches.
