World Footy News

The Western Australian Women’s Football League, currently the second strongest women’s league in Australia after Victoria, recently held the second ever ‘Yorga’s Koodjal Kadadjiny’ or ‘Women’s Two Way Learning’ match to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the WAWFL and the rising talent of both indigenous and non indigenous female players in the state.

As well as the cultural and sporting significance, the match is also a tribute game for two indigenous female footballers: Sharon Woods and Elizabeth ‘Lil’ Kickett, who unfortunately has since passed away from breast cancer.

This years Yorga Match featured the Indigenous All Stars playing against the WAWFL All Stars. The winning team, the Indigenous All Stars, received the Lil Kickett Memorial Shield for defeating the WAWFL All Stars by a convincing 14.12 (96) to 2.3 (15).
 

Kira Phillips, number 11 for the Indigenous All Stars, received the Sharon Woods Medallion for Best on Ground. Phillips was one of the Western Australian Under 18s players who represented her state at the recent AFL Youth Girls National Championships in Adelaide, and was also selected as one of the All Australian players.

The Yorga match celebrates the passion and skill of Western Australia’s female indigenous footballers and aims to highlight the reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous women through football, encouraging a positive and respectful relationship between all Australians.

In addition, donations were collected in the memory of Lil Kickett and presented to the Australian Breast Cancer Foundation.

Goal kickers:

Indigenous All Stars - 4 Kira Philips 2 Nadyne Cornwall. 1 Courtney Michael, Kirby Bentley, Rhonda Williams, Simone Cornwall, Rikki Ryder, Melissa Headland, Courtney Ugle, Tiah Haynes

WAWFL All Stars - Alicia Duncan and Aimee Schmidt