In the inaugural Youth Girls Under-18 Interstate Challenge, Victoria claimed a decisive win over Queensland in the two-match series.
The representative series win stamps Victoria as the nation's centre for youth girls excellence.
Played in glorious sunshine at Cooparoo, Victoria escaped with a seven-point victory in the first match, while the Vics class rose to the fore in the second, running out commanding 64-point winners.
AFL Victoria Female Football Development Manager Chyloe Kurdas was thrilled by the win over a tall, fast-running Queensland team.
They had some tremendous players who played with speed and confidence," Kurdas said.
They were very skilful in the air and by foot also. Most of their players are playing senior football and so they tackled strongly, which shocked our girls initially.
"They have strong knowledge of the game also, meaning that they used the ball well and really challenged both our players and coaching team."
Kurdas commended the Victorian girls on their grit and determination in searing 26 degree heat. She said the team could have easily wilted under the pressure but instead took on the challenge head first.
No doubt several gruelling training sessions helped enormously.
"The aim was to maximise our opportunity to work with them, but also to maximise the team bond," Kurdas explained.
"This bond was vital throughout the whole trip as it was tiring and quite intense.
"When we were pushed on the scoreboard and had to show character to come from behind, the bond amongst the girls and their leadership was telling. A number of girls were playing out of position, but their ability and character helped them adjust well. They were well supported and encouraged by their team mates.
"By the second game, the girls had a great understanding of how each other played and they gelled extraordinarily to play an exciting and attractive style of football."
Chloe Peers was a star on a wing for Victoria and was voted the player of the Challenge.
"She gave away a lot of height to her direct opponent, but ran her ragged with her pace and had confidence to run and carry the football," Kurdas said.
"Chloe always shows fierce determination to beat her opponent both in the air and at ground level and did so accordingly.
"She was the link between our back and forward lines more often than not, was consistent and reliable, tackled ferociously to give away no easy possessions, and used the football in a clever manner."
Kurdas said the futures for both Victorian and Queensland Youth Girls programs was exceptionally bright.
"It is fantastic to know that Queensland are really striving to be the national benchmark in Youth Girls football, giving Victoria great motivation to continue to create and drive new initiatives to stay the number one female football state," Kurdas said.
Kurdas said Victoria would host Queensland in next year's Interstate Challenge.
"We are also holding discussions with WA to involve a WA schoolgirls representative team as they don't yet have a Youth Girls competition," she said.
AFL Victoria/AFL Queensland Youth Girls Under 18 Interstate Challenge Results
Game 1
VICTORIA 1.2 2.7 7.8 7.9 (51)
QUEENSLAND 2.0 4.3 5.4 6.8 (44)
Goals
Victoria: K Donnellan 2, R Simmons, M Watts, C Smith, K Borg, J Plumb
Queensland: K Brennan 4, C Tenuyl, J Pregelj
Best
Victoria: C Peers, M Marshall, K Donnellan, M Watts, B Surgeon, E Champion, R Pearce
Queensland: J Pasfield, A Brathwaite, J Pregelj, M Stephen
Game 2
VICTORIA 2.4 5.9 5.10 11.14 (80)
QUEENSLAND 1.1 1.1 2.4 2.4 (16)
Goals:
Victoria: C Clarkson 3, A Heins 2, J Plumb 2, C Smith 2, S Wilson, R Carra
Queensland: K Brennan 2
Best:
Victoria: E Champion, K Donnellan, C Peers, S Catania, A Heins, A Stafford
Queensland: B Crawley, T Lyons, L Platt, K Henson, J Croft
At Coorparoo
Victorian Player of the Challenge: Chloe Peers
Victoria won the Challenge 2-0
Last Modified on 16/12/2008 23:30