2016 Female Diversity Championships
DAY 1 Match Report
While torrential rain forced the transfer of grounds for the
Kickstart and All Nations Carnival, Shepparton turned on a bright,
sunshine filled day for the day one of action.
More than 200 players of Indigenous and multicultural
backgrounds took the field to showcase their skills and proudly
represent their state.
Kickstart NT 5.8 (38) d SA 0.0 (0)
The Kickstart carnival kicked off at Rumbalara with a brilliant
display of pace from last year’s premiers in the Northern
TerritoryThunder. The field at Rumbalara was in brilliant condition
despite heavy rain during the week, with the ground well primed
for the first day of the Championships.
The ball was rarely seen by the South Australia attack as the
Northern Territory’s class kept possession in their forward fifty.
Northern Territory’s Gerrica Heenan showed blistering pace and
assisted her side in chasing down her opponents when they even
got a sniff of transitioning the ball from defence.
At half-time the team from up north had kicked 1.4, keeping the
South Australians scoreless and a blitz after the break was to
ensue.
Madeline Agius fought hard for the South Australian side but she
was powerless to the charge of the Thunder.
Led by a stellar performance from Heenan Northern Territory
secured the first match of the day, 5.8. (38), keeping South
Australia scoreless.
Kickstart QLD 1.5 (11) d NSW/ACT 1.0 (6)
A stoppage filled contest ensued in a tight struggle between
Queensland and NSW/ACT.
Getting the first score proved a painstaking process with the game
played largely between the fifties.
The Queenslanders scored the first behind, but struggled to put on
a major for the majority of the game
NSW’s Chenoa Lyons-Montga made her presence felt across the
ground, with Charlize Anderson great for the Queensland side
The joint NSW/ACT team scored the only goal of the first half, as
QLD began to dominate the contest after the main break.
Despite their continuous pushes, the team piled on the behinds,
until Shantel Ripia found herself on the end of a beautiful pass,
taking a set shot from directly in front.
Ripia converted and the Queenslanders took the game by the total
of their points, winning 1.5 (11) to NSW/ACT’s sole goal.
All Nations QLD 11.10 (76) d NT 0.0 (0)
The first ever game of female All Nations competition was played
in Shepparton with the Northern Territory going up against
Queensland.
The nine a side competition saw Queensland exceptional in the
format producing a brilliant team performance to keep Northern
Territory goalless for the match’s entirety.
The Queenslander’s silky skills and pin point passing saw them
impress spectators, as selectors eagerly watch the side for players
to include in the inaugural female Australian All Nations side.
The Queenslanders staked their claim as a title contender for the
tournament, kicking an astounding 11 goals in the 30 minute
match to win their first game of the tournament 11.10 (76) to
Northern Territory 0.0 (0).
All Nations SA 5.5 (35) d NSW/ACT 0.6 (6)
If Northern Territory is to win the tournament, they will have to
get past a determined South Australian unit.
The girls in the red and black were smooth with their passing, with
their decision making under pressure an asset that will see the
side go far in the competition.
SA dominated the match in the first half as the NSW/ACT girls
spurred their side on from the bench.
The encouragement saw an improved line up take the field after
the break with a great tackle from NSW/ACT’s Daniella Rustom
sending the ball close to goals.
But they were unable to convert finishing the day with six behinds,
as they look to improve their accuracy for remaining games.
The South Australian’s transition down the field was exemplary
with a beautiful kick from Tamieka Anderson kick to Emily
Kschammer passed on to Hannah Ewings who marked but her set
shot fell short.
Regardless South Australia cleaned up their mistakes via Christy
Burrows who marked on the rebound in a outstanding play that
summed up the game perfectly as the South Australians recorded
a comfortable victory.
Kickstart WA 9.4 (58) d Tas 1.0 (6)
The Tasmanians were under a barrage of pressure from a strong
Western Australian attack but they still managed to keep the team
to the West to just three goals in the first half.
The team in green kicked their sole gone for the game in the first
half, via a beautiful passage of play in the final minutes before the
break.
A stoic performance from the Tasmanian defenders looked like it
would be able to withhold everything the Western Australians
threw at it in the second half.
Led by Elsie Watts, Lela Spotswood and Maighan
SingletonTasmania kept clearing the ball from the defensive fifty
but the persistent attack from Western Australia soon broke down
the best efforts of the team’s defence.
Everything went right for the Western Australian team, when even
a miss-kick from Shakeeda Pickett was picked up by Nakeesha
Miniter who sent it home.
Western Australia gained all the momentum and opened up the
game to kick six second half goals and take an outstanding win by
52 points.
All Nations QLD 6-2 (38) d NSW/ACT 0.1 (1)
Put Queensland’s Zimmorlei Farquharson on the list as a potential
player to take up one of the spots on an AFL women’s list in the
future.
She made her presence felt from the opening bounce, alternating
between the ruck and centre half back.
At times she pressed up the ground with her long balls dropping
into team mates hands on the reduced field size that the nine a
side competition played on.
One of her goal assist was finished off by Kamala Cemeljic as her
own mammoth kick fell just short due to an unlucky bounce.
After the Queenslander’s scored a quick two opening goals, the
scoring dried up as the ball travelled from end to end , forcing
several boundary throw ins.
With the continued influence of Farquaharson the Queenslander’s
remained prevalent to dominate the opposition in their second
match of the day, keeping the NSW/ACT team goalless.
All Nations Vic 3.4 (22) d WA 3.1 (19)
The whole Victorian squad ran to congratulate their on field team
mates at the conclusion of the match, after a late goal propelled
the Vics to victory.
With the Western Australians six points ahead the Victorians’
came out a new team after the break.
Victoria were in control for the majority of the second half but
struggled to put a score on the board until Stephanie Elias rose to
prominence.
Hailing from a Lebanese background her snap closed the gap to
just three points spurring the team on.
Minutes later Elias was again in the thick of the action sending a
pin point pass to Amren Abrahim who converted a set shot with
just minutes to go.
The Victorians held on to win their first game of the tournament
as the Western Australians put in a gallant fight.
Kickstart QLD 4.7 (31) d Vic 1-2 (8)
At the main break the scene was set for a grand stand finish with
just one point separating the two states.
The Victorians led by a point but Queensland was not willing to let
the game go down to the wire.
Their strong defence kept the Victorian side scoreless as the goals
were dominated by one leading light in the Queensland line up.
Shantey RIpia scored in the side’s match against NSW/ACT and she
again let loose inside the forward fifty.
The star attacker wears the number 3 on her back and she finished
with just as many goals in the second term as the Queenslanders
soared to a 23-point victory, making it two from two on the
opening day’s play.
Kickstart NSW/ACT 5.5 (35) d SA 2.0 (12)
The NSW/ACT team produced an outstanding defensive game in
the second half to gain their first win of the Kickstart
Championships.
Having gone down to Queensland earlier in the morning they were
determined not to let another game slip.
Ahead by a sole point at half time, the attacking pressure of the
NSW/ACT team saw them maintain the ball in their fifty for the
majority of the second half.
While the South Australian team had the height, NSW/ACT had
the pace and the skills to combat the tall timbre.
Erin Naden spotted a team mate in Dekota Martin with the latter’s
safe hands holding on to a brilliant pack mark.
While she could not convert, they kept the ball in their possession
to kick two late goals that brought the final margin out to 23
points.
Kickstart NT 5-4 (41) d Tas 1-0 (6)
The pace of the Northern Territory side continued to be
exceptional despite playing in their second game of the day.
Freda Purantatameri spectacularly dodged three opponents to
send the ball inside fifty as her side streamed to a 16-point
half-time lead.
But the Tasmanians were fired up after an address from Coach
Guy Grey gaining the centre clearance to score the first goal of the
second-half within a minute.
Norther Territory regrouped after the early goal and nailed a
major shortly after to stall their opposition’s momentum.
Ursula Tipungwuti produced a commendable performance full of
superb tackles and shepherds to help her side to a 35-point
victory.
Kickstart WA 2.2 (15) d Vic 2.2 (14)
Victorian and Western Australia played out a desperate final five
minutes in their twilight contest.
With the Victorians accurate kicking in the first half seeing them
2.0 (12) and keeping Western Australia scoreless the home side
looked in the box seat to win the match.
But the team from the west pinched the game with just over a
minute left on the clock.
Scoring two goals early in the second half it was tense struggle as
neither side could gain the ascendancy.
The Victorians went close to scoring but despite the ball entering
their goal square, the Western Australians held it up.
On the charge the ball was delivered into Western Australia’s
forward fifty where Hope Ugle-Hayword lined up for a set shot.
Any score would do the job, and while her kick swayed left the
behind was enough to secure victory for Western Australia as the
team belted out their theme song following the win.
All Nations WA 6.3 (39) d SA 5.4 (34)
South Australia might have needed some time to warm into the
match played under lights but once they got on a roll, the red and
black team was firing.
Down by 13 points at half time, the side quicker three goals in
quick succession to build their confidence.
But the Western Australians had already lost a close one against
Victoria early in the day and were eager for the feeling of victory.
Scovia Anzoa kicked a spectacular goal to draw the scores level
and give her side the best hope of taking home the chocolates.
But South Australia once again showed their determination, with a
point from a free kick propelling them into the lead.
Minutes later the South Australians would score the full six points
giving them a seven point lead.
While Akoor Dhelbai could score a late goal for the Western
Australian’s time was not on their side creating frantic scenes.
But they made something out of nothing with a goal on the final
kick of the day seeing jubilant scenes from the Western Australian
side.
*images not all in conjunction with match reports