Inaugural NSW/ACT women’s side named
In previous years either NSW or the ACT have fielded individual sides for National Championships carnivals, but following a women’s representative football restructure this year the teams will combine for the first time at senior level, to play as NSW/ACT.
At 1pm on Sunday the side will take on a Victorian outfit comprised predominantly of players from the state’s Division 1 competition, at the Richmond Tigers’ base – Punt Road Oval.
The side, to be coached by AFL Sydney stalwart Chris Hughes, was selected based on the form of players in April’s AFL Sydney vs. AFL Canberra clash, with players set to travel from far and wide to front up for NSW/ACT.
12 local women’s club sides will be represented, from as south as the Riverina Lions, to Canberra’s Queanbeyan and Belconnen, western Sydney’s wolves, and Gosford on the Central Coast.
Arguably the strongest women’s team ever assembled from the region, NSW/ACT will go into Sunday confident of matching it with their Victorian counterparts, buoyed by the inclusion of Heather Anderson, named among the Western Bulldogs’ best in last month’s draft game against Melbourne.
The other local drafted by the Bulldogs, Southern NSW’s Jodie Hicks, will also feature, along with AFL Sydney youngsters Steph Walker (pictured) and Maddy Collier, both considered a little unlucky to miss selection on draft night.
2014 National Youth Girls All-Australian Rebecca Beeson will make her long-awaited return from an elbow injury on Sunday, set to lead the attack alongside Lani Watson and Laura Holdsworth.
In an outfit with a good blend of youth and experience, one player stands out as a particularly unlikely success story.
Newtown Breakaways midfielder Tayla Stahl is set to debut amidst just her first year of female football, the representative clash by far the biggest of only a handful of senior games thus far.
Another noteworthy inclusion is a woman instrumental in the formative years of the Auburn GIANTS, Lael Kassem, rewarded for her strong form in the Division 1 Western Wolves side this year.
AFL NSW/ACT Female Programs Manager Libby Sadler is excited by the challenge of the trip into traditional AFL heartland.
“Sunday will be a landmark day for female football in the region, and I’m really looking forward to seeing this very strong women’s team showcase its talent in Melbourne,” Sadler said.
“The side has a great mix of different types of players, and this game will be an important step in the careers of a lot of the girls, and I am sure we will see some players really put their names up in lights, which is a big positive as female football continues to progress in the region.”
Audio of the match will be broadcast live on www.girlsplayfooty.com from 1pm.
NSW/ACT TEAM TO PLAY VICTORIA
Heather Anderson Belconnen Magpies
Jacinda Barclay UNSW-ES
Rebecca Beeson UNSW-ES
Susan Cadman Gungahlin Jets
Holly Cogle UNSW-ES
Maddy Collier UNSW-ES
Kristy De Pellegrini Southern Power
Amy Hessell Gosford Wildcats
Jodie Hicks Riverina Lions
Laura Holdsworth Newtown Breakaways
Kathryn Hull Southern Power
Lael Kassem Western Wolves
Jennifer Lew Sydney Uni
Mai Nguyen UNSW-ES
Alison Parkin Newtown Breakaways
Talia Radan Belconnen Magpies
Cassie Reid Queanbeyan Tigers
Jess Sibley Belconnen Magpies
Tayla Stahl Newtown Breakaways
Britt Tully Gungahlin Jets
Stephanie Walker Sydney Uni
Lani Watson Queanbeyan Tigers
Res. Nikki Perrett Penrith Ramettes
COACHING PANEL
Chris Hughes – Head Coach
Abraham Caroca – Assistant Coach (Backline)
Stuart Newman – Assistant Coach (Midfield)
Tracey Kick – Assistant Coach (Forwards)
