The AFLNT Women’s Academy lost to the AFL VIC Women’s Academy 7.5.47 to 2.3.15 in a solid first showing for the team at Holden Park on Friday night.
Despite not scoring in the second half, coach Beckie Taylor said there were plenty of positives to take out of the game.
“The girls had the right intensity in the chase and on the tackle, they certainly weren’t lacking in intent.
“The little things we’ve been working on, the one percenters like nudging players under the ball, that was all there,” Taylor said.
VIC Academy was quick out of the blocks, scoring the opening goal in the first minute of play before Abbey Holmes showed just why she is one of the most exciting prospects in women’s football.
A mark to Holmes from a VIC kick-out and a pinpoint pass to Sally Riley lead to NT’s first goal.
The rest of the opening quarter saw a tussle through the midfield as the Victorian girls used hard-body tactics to slowly work their way on top.
An Ang Folely mark from a defensive turnover and a subsequent 15 metre penalty had the captain shooting straight through the middle.
Going into the first break AFL VIC lead AFLNT 2.2.14 to 2.1.13.
In the second quarter not much separated the two teams initially but the forward pressure applied by AFL VIC had AFLNT working overtime in ball smothers and spoils.
It wasn’t enough to hold the hosts back as they went into the major break 4.3.27 to NT’s 2.3.15.
The third quarter saw both teams scrambling for the ball and pressure-driven turnovers in the midfield switching the play regularly.
AFLNT were left to rue missed opportunities, after having the ball in its forward 50 for long periods of the play.
Neither team scored a goal for the quarter and AFL VIC lead 4.5.29 to AFLNT’s 2.3.15 going into the last quarter.
A quick collect and run into goal was the first of Victoria’s three goals for the final term.
The tireless efforts of Lauren Motlop in defence weren’t enough to half the experience of the locals, as they finished with a clinical display expected of a well-drilled team.
In the rooms after the game AFL VIC presented Ang Folely with a “Big V” jumper for being the best on ground and Morgan Johnston was given the match ball for her hard-ball gets.
AFLNT State Academy Development Coach, Andrew Hodges, told the NT girls they put in a super effort.
“You girls when you were one-on-one in a 50-50 situation were winning your contests, take pride in that,” Hodges said.
The team will spend Saturday reviewing their efforts and working on a quick recovery so they are ready to face Tasmania in the AFL Women’s Exhibition Series on Sunday.
That match will be played at 12pm Melbourne time at Peanut Farm Reserve in St Kilda and will be live streamed on this page: http://aflcommunity.com.au/index.php?id=495
Goals: AFL VIC E. Grant 2, Z.Alston, H.Trevean, A.Cameron, B. Lochland, J. Van Dyk AFLNT S. Riley, A. Folely
Best: AFL VIC B Lochland, S. Livingstone, L. French, S. Last, E. Grant, H. Trevean AFLNT A. Folely, M. Johnston, L. Motlop, T. Talford