Statewide Super SA U18 Girls Defeat NT

By ZAC MILBANK

The Statewide Super SA U18 Girls Squad has backed up its double-win against the Northern Territory last year with another dual victory in 2019.

After powering to a 58-point win at Peter Motley Oval on Friday afternoon, the Croweaters backed up their success against the Top End with a commanding 69-point triumph on Sunday morning at Karen Rolton Oval.

Coached by Bill Economou, SA restricted its northern rivals to just two behinds in the second encounter as several girls pushed their claims for inclusion in the Central Allies team for the U18 Girls AFL National Championships on the Gold Coast in July.

South Adelaide premiership trio Teah Charlton, Hannah Munyard and Montana McKinnon displayed their class while also hitting the scoreboard.

Woodville-West Torrens’ Kiana Lee impressed in attack, kicking a team-high four goals in each victory while her Eagles team-mates Jaimi Tabb and Teagan Usher also played strongly.

South Australia will now join forces with the Northern Territory to form the Central Allies, the second year of the union which will see them tackle the Eastern Allies (NSW/Tasmania), Queensland and Western Australia in the space of five days from July 8-12 in south-east Queensland.

Earlier Preview

The Statewide Super SA U18 Girls Squad is gearing up for its annual two-game series against the Northern Territory on Friday and Sunday.

With a squad of 24 players now finalised, the Croweaters are aiming to repeat last year’s effort which yielded two wins from two starts against the Top End.

Speaking on SANFL Radio, SANFL Female Talent Manager Robbie Neill expressed his satisfaction with the squad’s strength, considering it includes six players from The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year and 2019 Statewide Super Women’s League Grand Final Best-on-Ground Medallist Indy Tahau.

Neill also noted that all players chosen have played at least one senior game in the Statewide Super Women’s League, as the depth in talent continues to blossom in South Australia.

To be coached by Bill Ecomomou, the SA team will play the NT at Peter Motley Oval on Friday before facing them again on Sunday at Karen Rolton Oval.

West Adelaide best-and-fairest Abbie Ballard has been ruled out for the two matches v NT with concussion but remains in the selection mix for the Central Allies.

Both games this weekend will again be used as a strong guide for the selection of the Central Allies squad, which will again include the best U18 girls from SA and NT joining forces for the 2018 AFL Girls National Championships on the Gold Coast from July 8-12.

South Adelaide trio Teah Charlton, Montana McKinnon and Hannah Munyard loom as important players through the midfield for SA while Central’s Kimberley Fry and North’s Amber Ward loom as the key planks in defence.

Exciting Eagles pair Tesharna Maher and Kiana Lee will look to use their speed and goal sense respectively while their Woodville-West Torrens team-mate Jaimi Tabb can be used in a variety of roles across the ground.

Friday May 31
SA v NT at Peter Motley Oval

SA 13.5 (83) d NT 4.1 (25)

BEST – Teah Charlton, Hannah Munyard, Montana McKinnon, Jaimi Tabb, Kiana Lee, Emma Smith.

GOALS – Kiana Lee 4, Alex Ballard, Teah Charlton 2, Julia Clark, Laitiah Hunyh, Lucy Griffith, Madisyn Freeman, Montana McKinnon.

Sunday June 2
SA v NT at Karen Rolton Oval

SA 10.11 (71) d NT 0.2 (2)

BEST – Teagan Usher, Maddie Newman, Jaimi Tabb, Julia Clark, Laitiah Huynh, Emma Smith.

GOALS – Kiana Lee 4, Hannah Munyard, Teah Charlton 2, Indy Tahau, Jaimi Tabb

Monday July 8
Central Allies v Eastern Allies (Metricon Stadium)

Wednesday July 10
Central Allies v Western Australia (Southport)

Friday July 12
Central Allies v Queensland (Bond University)