THIS WEEKS GAMES

STATE OF AFFAIRS | State Women’s Football Team – Tasmania
For the first time in the history of Tasmanian football a women’s team has worn the “Map”.
The football pioneers of the TASWAFL performed on the biggest stage in women’s football at
the 12th AFL Women’s National Championships held in Adelaide last week.
26 players from across the state, comprised
of 15 from the north (Yeoman, Spreyton and
Launceston) and 11 from the south (Hobart, North
Hobart and Clarence) were chosen to represent
our great state. Sandra Eaton from the North
Hobart Football Club was selected as Tasmania’s
first female football Captain.
One of the key objectives was to put
a competitive side on the park at the
Championships. Given the TASWAFL has only
been in existence for 4 seasons we were not
entirely sure what to expect from our own players,
let alone from the other states and territories.
Tasmania’s first game was against the Northern
Territory and our focus was our own game plan –
win the ball, protect the ball carries and run and
carry. Within 2 minutes we had our first goal!
Northern Territory kicked the next two as the girls
settled into the game, but as the quarter wore
on the girls gained more confidence and finished
the quarter off with 3 more goals. We went on to
kick another 8 goals for the game and won by 42
points. There certainly is no better way to start the
Nationals than with a win!
Although the girls were soundly beaten by NSW
and ACT our girls never gave up and held their
heads high. No one ever expected Tasmania to be
even the slightest bit competitive let alone win a
game. The Championships provided not only our
best players in the state the opportunity to play the
best in the nation, but gave us a great insight into
where we need to improve and where we currently
sit in women’s football. And it’s looking very bright.
So girls get out there and have a go – it’s only two
more years until the next National Championships!
Game 1 - Tasmania defeated Northern Territory
Goal Kickers: Kieran Hutchinson 6, Jessica
Wuetschner 3, Stephanie Shaw 2, Letita Johnston.
Best Players: Jessica Wuetschner, Kieran
Hutchinson, Maddison Smith, Sandra Eaton,
Rachael Moore, Debra Allen.
Game 2 - Tasmanian lost to NSW
Goal Kickers: Nikki Ellis. Best Players: Jessica
Wuetschner, Krystal Chugg, Nietta Lynch, Debra
Allen, Rachael Moore, Cara Brooke.
Game 3 - Tasmania lost to ACT
Goal Kickers: Kate McCreadie, Stephanie Shaw.
Best Players: Maddison Smith, Sandra Eaton,
Jessica Wuetschner, Debra Allen, Nietta Lynch,
Sarah Holland.
If you would like to get involved in women’s football
contact a club in your area:
Clarence Roos – 0439 610 935; Hobart Tigers – 0400
690 877; Launceston Blues – 0418 430 542; North
Hobart Demons – 0438 049 068; Spreyton Ea-girls –
0407 272 149; Yeoman – 6435 1546
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