WorkSafe AFL Victoria Country Record Article (NO.24)
Victoria shines in Youth Girls All Australian Team
Nine of Victoria’s top Youth Girls players have been rewarded for their outstanding performances this season with selection in the 2016 Youth Girls All Australian team.
The 22-player All Australian squad was officially announced following the Youth Girls All-Stars curtain-raiser match ahead of the AFL Women’s Exhibition Game on Saturday night.
A total of six states had at least one player selected in the squad with Victoria (nine), Western Australia (five) and Queensland (four) supplying the most representatives, while NSW (two), Tasmania and South Australia (both one) completed the team.
Of the nine Victorian players selected, Vic Country had four representatives while Vic Metro produced five selections following a successful AFL National Youth Girls Championships campaign which saw them claim its fifth national title.
Lining up in the back line is Dandenong Stingray and Vic Country captain Georgia Walker, who has had a football season to savour.
Leading her team to the inaugural Youth Girls Academy Challenge title earlier this year, Walker’s leadership in the Vic Country side saw her named as the 2016 Vic Country Eva Peers Medallist at the TAC Cup Morrish Medal on Sunday night.
North Geelong prodigy Lily Mithen has been named in the midfield following a solid national carnival performance, Youth Girls Academy Leading Goalkicker Isabella Arye claimed a spot in the forward line, while Murray Bushrangers captain Reni Hicks was selected on the interchange.
The 2016 All Australian Selectors panel included a host of AFL National Women’s and Swisse VFL Women’s stars including Daisy Pearce, Lauren Arnell, Aasta O’Connor and Alicia Eva, as well as commentator Julia Price and Chair Darren Flanigan.
The 2016 Youth Girls All Australian team is just the sixth national representative Youth Girls squad to have been named.
2016 Youth Girls All-Australian team
BACK:
Rachel ASHLEY (WA) Anne HATCHARD (SA) Arianna CLARKE (Qld)
HALF-BACK:
Georgia WALKER (Vic Country) Tahlia RANDALL (Qld) Ruby BLAIR (Qld)
CENTRE:
Lizzie STOKELY (Tas) Lily MITHEN (Vic Country) Alyce PARKER (NSW)
HALF FORWARD:
Jasmin STEWART (WA) Isabel HUNTINGTON (Vic Metro) Deanna BERRY (VM)
FORWARD:
Brooke STRUYLAART (Vic Metro) Isabella AYRE (Vic Country) Kate BARTLETT (WA)
RUCK:
Erin McKinnon (NSW) Madison PRESPAKIS (Vic Metro) Courtney HODDER (WA)
INTERCHANGE:
Reni HICKS (Vic Country) Sabreena DUFFY (WA) Charis ULU PENIATA (Vic Metro)
Shaleise LAW (QLD)