The AFL New Zealand Youth Girls have created history once again as they have won back to back series against the Mornington Peninsula Youth Girls in Wellington over ANZAC weekend.
Following on from their two wins in 2017, the New Zealand Youth Girls displayed great skills, athleticism and courage to win both games against the visiting side from Melbourne’s South East for the second year running.
Both games were played in brilliant conditions and the standard of footy was very high from both teams.
Game 1:
The New Zealand Youth Girls picked up where they left off from the 2017 campaign as they were the first to score through Kingsway School student Abigail Cotton.
Captain Killarney Morey (Epsom Girls Grammar) led from the front as the 2018 Female player of the year burst through tackles to set up the forward line.
New Zealand’s first ever female representative from Otago Petra Milne had a strong game along with fellow debutant Kylie McGahan from Westtlake Girls High School who was very impressive.
The New Zealand defence managed to hold the visitors scoreless for three quarters, while on attack Chelsea Young (Pukekohe High School) and Shaiah Te Paiho (Tawa Collge) both kicked a goal each in the final term to seal a 27 point victory.
Paige Stone and Jemma Radford were named best for the visitors.
Goals:
NZ Youth Girls: Chelsea Young 1, Abigail Cotton 1, Kylie McGahan 1, Shaiah Te Paiho 1.
Mornington Peninsula Youth Girls: Isabella Misitkas 1
Best on Ground Awards:
NZ Youth Girls: Jaimee Wyatt and Killarney Morey
Mornington Peninsula Youth Girls: Paige Stone and Jemma Radford
Game 2:
The second game was played at Westpac Stadium and the girls created history being the first ever AFL Women’s match to be played at the ground.
It was a tight tussle early on as both sides were getting use to the ground conditions.
Kirsten Amedeo got the visitors on the board early but two goals from best on ground Chelsea Young and Sam Lightfoot (Sacred Heart) saw New Zealand in front at halftime.
Shaiah Te Paiho, playing in only her second game was strong for New Zealand all game with speedy Valentina Serrano (Baradene College) also performing well.
With only a seven point lead heading into the final quarter, NZ midfielder Chelsea Young produced a stunning goal with five minutes to go into the game and seal it for the home side. Young gathered the ball inside the centre square, evaded one defender, had a bounce and put on the after burners to kick it straight through the middle from 20 metres out.
Chelsea Young from NZ has just kicked a fantastic goal to extend our lead to 2 goals with 5 mins to go in the game.
— AFL New Zealand (@AFLNZ) April 23, 2018
The final margin being 12 points as New Zealand wrapped up the ANZAC series for the second year running.
AFL New Zealand would like to congratulate the whole side on a terrific achievement.
Goals:
NZ Youth Girls: Chelsea Young 2, Sam Lightfoot 1.
Mornington Peninsula Youth Girls: Kirsten Amedeo 1.
Best on Ground Awards:
NZ Kahu: Chelsea Young Kylie McGahan
Mornington Peninsula Youth Girls: Amelia Congrieve and Paris Wilden.
AFL New Zealand would like to thank Andrew Souter, Paul Lonsdale and Bec Mantell along with their team from Mornington Peninsula Junior Football League for making this trip possible and giving their side an opportunity to experience something special in playing International footy.
