World Footy News

Last weekend, the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, hosted the first annual Canadian National Championships for Women and Youth.

Forty-seven women from Calgary and Edmonton travelled from Alberta to contest the Nationals, which were played in a round-robin format against the Vancouver-based West Coast Wildcats. It is believed to be the first matches of 18-a-side women's club football played in North America.

In damp conditions, Canada's newest women's clubs took to the field for the morning's first match. The Edmonton Emu's team were boosted by a contingent of Calgary reserves players and they took a while to settle into their playing positions across the oval. A majority of West Coast’s players had played several seasons in the North Delta Junior AFL and exhibited better structure early. Marlena Ginocchio and Jenna Jakes were dominant in the forward line for the Wildcats, while Kate Ross dominated in the ruck for an Emus side struggling to keep up with their fitter opponents. The Emus settled in during the second half, conceding fewer free kicks and registering a goal courtesy of Rachel Mrdeza. Amy Wynne dominated in the midfield for West Coast, and drifted forward to kick two goals that sealed a 50-point win.

With the wet weather clearing, Edmonton next took on Calgary in front of several-hundred spectators. The reigning US Champions (having travelled down to the States in 2008) got out to an early lead by creating space around the packs to allow effective clearances and to shutting down the Emus' attack with heavy tackling. Marie Galick laid some brutal tackles for the Emus and Carissa Glasier and Kyla Fisher battled in defence, but the midfield foursome of Kathryn Zakus, Lesley Zmurchuk, Caity Kidd and Amanda O'Rae gave no quarter as the Kookaburras piled on the goals. Char Olm and Erin MacDonald kicked six goals between them as Calgary went on to post an 89-point victory.

The final match of the day was a cracking contest between Calgary and West Coast. The Wildcats started strongly, posting two behinds before the Kookaburras seemed to know the game was underway. Booming clearances and a handful of free kicks kept the ball in West Coast’s forward line, before Holly Greatwich goaled to put Calgary in front. Marlena Ginocchio answered for West Coast minutes later, but Alicia Scanlon regained the lead for Calgary with a beautifully crumbed goal going into half-time.

Calgary exploited their deeper bench by running the ball down the wings in the second-half, relying on their strong half-back line to beat their younger opponents. Lori Bossert goaled to put Calgary further in front, before Amy Wynne showed her class with a beauty on the run. There was to be no fairytale ending for the Wildcats however, with Calgary running out the game 15-point winners.

Calgary coach Jake Anson and captain Kathryn Zakus accepted the cup from AFL Canada President Darrel Perry. Amy Wynne (West Coast) was named player-of-the-tournament after showing everybody why she has twice been picked to represent Victoria at the Australian Championships. Seven Kookaburras and six Wildcats were selected in the initial intake for the Team Canada Northern Lights squad, which will play the USA Freedom in two matches in 2010. Next year Toronto is expected to compete in the championships, as women's footy goes from strength-to-strength across Canada.

Match Results:

Saturday, June 20th 2009

WestCoast Wildcats 8.9.57 def. Edmonton/Calgary Reserves Emus 1.1.7
Goals WestCoast: Wynne 2, Brooks, Dibb, Ginocchio, Hackwell, Jakes, L. Moore.
Goals Edmonton/Calgary Reserves: Mrdeza.
Best WestCoast: Wynne, Ginocchio, Nanka, Brooks, Randhawa.
Best Edmonton/Calgary Reserves: Mrdeza, Ross, Galick, Glasier, Snaith.

Calgary Kookaburras 13.11.89 def. Edmonton/Calgary Reserves Emus 0.0.0
Goals Calgary: MacDonald 3, Olm 3, Zmurchuk 3, Jones 2, Greatwich, Scanlon.
Goals Edmonton/Calgary Reserves: None.
Best Calgary: Zmurchuk, Kidd, Zakus, Olm, MacDonald.
Best Edmonton/Calgary Reserves: Ross, Mrdeza, Galick, Fisher, Ouellette.

Calgary Kookaburras 4.5.29 def. WestCoast Wildcats 2.2.14
Goals Calgary: Greatwich 2, Bossert, Scanlon.
Goals WestCoast: Ginocchio, Wynne.
Best Calgary: Greatwich, Zmurchuk, McLean, Smith, Kidd.
Best WestCoast: Wynne, Ginocchio, Nanka, Jakes, Mantei.

The champions - the Calgary Kookaburras

West Coast Saints

Edmonton Emus / Calgary Reserves