We asked Lisa 'Kiwi' Roper to give us her thoughts on the recent series between the Breeze (Under 16 Australian Girls Australian Football team) and the first ever female team in New Zealand - the Kahus. Living in NSW and playing and coaching the Australian form of football for many years (including playing over 200 games, and being in 10 grand finals in 12 years including two for NSW) she will always be a proud Kiwi. The greatest shame of this story is that womens footy only comes to NZ now. But looking on from the sidelines on this tour it seems Kiwi is happy to be looking forward to what the future holds for the Kiwi girls of today and tomorrow.
My perspective of the history making Trans-Tasman female tour. By Lisa ‘Kiwi’ Roper
Something special happened in New Zealand last week. Those that know will tell you there is always something special happening in NZ. Whatever they say, history was created and the “AFL is no longer a male game”, slogan was proudly announced at the opening ceremony. I was lucky enough to be there and get the best view in the Waka to witness the evolution of the sport as the first ever female New Zealand team took to the field.
Given the Maori name for Hawks, the Kahus were selected after mostly only picking the Sherrin up 6 weeks prior. This U18 team went through a High performance programme and completed the combine programme to get them as quick up to speed on the game as was possible in that time, before they took on the might of Australia.
This was no ordinary club team making the trip across the Tasman, this was the Australian Breeze, an U16 schoolgirls representative side selected through the Schoolgirls National championships or U18 championships, and containing some of the brightest talent the code has seen, as they are targeted and developed through the High Performance Academy working towards the professional women’s league in 2020.
And I can vouch first hand, a few of these Breeze players would dominate games right now in the Womens leagues, such is their talent and skill. As I near retirement myself, I say thank goodness as I shudder to think how good they will get as they leave their teenage years behind.
So what chance did the Kahus have against such a formidable opponent? Well firstly, winning this three match test series was not the only aim. Both teams were operating to a plan to grow the sport in New Zealand, and especially these players, ensure they enjoy it and want to come back as they had all been recruited from other codes.
The Breeze and Kahus trained together the day before the first match, and there the new friendships were born, as anyone coaching teenage girls will know, there’s always something more to it than the game. A solid crowd gathered for Game 1, and both the U18 Hawks and touring VAFA side were there to support the female teams. From the bounce the Aussies dominated, and as the game went on you could see the Kahus improvement as they got a taste for how the game rolls in what was for the majority of the team, their first match of AFL.
Game lingo that we are accustomed to in Australia was met with confused looks on the young Kiwis, though one area they proved their strength was in the tackling. With many converts from rugby union or rugby league, their physical aspect of the game was unmatched, the timing however needed a little more work, as they quickly learnt AFL tackling is very different from tackling in a rugby match.
Seeing a fist pump and smile on one Kahu face as she finally timed it to perfection, bought more cheers from a very supportive crowd, who between cheers were busy asking about the rules as well. Conceding goals was a given, but to see the Kahus work the ball forward with some nice hand-passing and marks to score their own goal only highlighted their potential.
Pic 1 – Firth Bidois about to be tackled
Pic 2 – First ever Guernsey Presentation for a Female NZ AFL Team
Pic 3 - High Fives at combined training session.
Pic 4 - First team to take the field, Game 1.
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