World Footy News

Women's football has been growing strongly in Australia in recent years, and statistics have indicated especially so in Victoria and Queensland. The bi-annual national championships were staged in Perth in early June, with all of Australia's states and mainland territories spread across two divisions, with the exception of Tasmania, and with WA fielding sides in both divisions. Victoria showed once again their dominence of women's footy, going through undefeated and accounting comfortably for the host state in the Division One grand final. The following report is courtesy of Leesa Catto from the VWFL.

The Big V claimed the AFL Women's National Championships today (Sunday June 7th) with a hard fought thirty-eight point win over Western Australia in perfect conditions at Subiaco Oval.

In a very tight opening term the Victorian backline was placed under enormous pressure as the WA team pushed forward relentlessly. WA led by seven points at quarter-time, the first time Victoria had trailed at any break in the championships. It proved to be the only time. Victoria grabbed a slim lead in the second quarter and went into the main break three points up. The third quarter is called the premiership quarter for good reason and the Victorian girls really hit their straps kicking four third quarter goals. They restricted the Sandgropers to one point and went into the last change with a handy twenty-six point lead.

The start of the last quarter was scrappy as the WA team fought tooth and nail to challenge the Victorians on the big stage. The Vics withstood the pressure and piled on three final quarter goals to run out thirty-eight point winners. Make no mistake about it the West Australian team took the game right up to the Big V and Victoria had to work very hard to earn this championship. In the end the Victorians' skill and class across the ground under enormous pressure was telling and the Victorian team was deserving of it's hard fought win.

VIC: 1.0 3.0 7.0 10.0 (60)
WA: 2.1 2.3 2.4 3.4 (22)

DEBBIE LEE MEDALLIST: Congratulations to Shannon McFerran on being named the Debbie Lee medallist as the best player of the championships.

Division One

Round 1 - Wednesday June 3rd

Victoria 17.10 (112) defeated ACT 2.2 (14)
Western Australia 14.9 (93) defeated Queensland 2.2 (14)

Round 2 - Thursday June 4th

Victoria 15.10 (100) defeated Western Australia 0.4 (4)
Queensland 7.9 (51) defeated ACT 6.7 (43)

Round 3 - Saturday June 6th

Western Australia 15.12 (102) defeated ACT 0.1 (1)
Victoria 7.6 (48) defeated QLD 1.1 (7)

Grand final - Sunday June 7th

Victoria 10.0 (60)
WA 3.4 (22)

Division Two

Round 1 - Wednesday June 3rd

South Australia 12.11 (83) defeated WA Host 3.3 (21)
NSW 10.5 (65) defeated Northern Territory 6.6 (42)

Round 2 - Thursday June 4th

South Australia 6.3 (39) defeated New South Wales 5.4 (35)
WA Host 6.10 (46) defeated Northern Territory 6.6 (42)

Round 3 - Saturday June 6th

NSW 8.6 (54) defeated WA Host 4.7 (31)
South Australia 8.4 (52) defeated Northern Territory 4.7 (31)

Grand final - Sunday June 7th

South Australia 12.10 (82) defeated NSW 4.5 (29)