The AFLNT Thunder Youth Girls team took the lead in the last quarter to beat Tasmania 3.11.29 to 3.7.25 in the team’s opening game of the 2016 Youth Girls National Championships.
It is the first time in the history of these Championships that both Northern Territory and Tasmania have had standalone teams. In previous years the two formed a combined team.
Strong winds at Sandringham Oval made movement with the ball and disposal unpredictable at times, with a clear advantage going Tasmania’s way in the opening quarter.
NT captain Amy Chittick got the first clearance for the day but co-captain Tayla Thorn left the field immediately after the opening ruck contest as she received a knock to her right shin which resulted in some bone swelling.
Thorn sat out the rest of the game, along with Julieanna Kerinaiua who had to have her right hand strapped and put on ice.
With only two on the NT bench, Tasmania was first to goal from a turnover in defence but a quick reply came from Tia Paterson-Dunn as forward pressure and relentless tackling resulted in a free kick to the Territorians.
Before the first break Tasmania scored two more and went into quarter time with a 13-point lead – 3.1.19 to 1.0.6.
In the second term the wind worked more in Thunder’s favour and the ball never crossed into Tasmania’s half of the ground.
Arthurina Moreen goaled for the NT, the only major for the term, while Tasmania was kept scoreless.
Thunder had more chances to close the gap by the major break but only managed minor scores. At halftime Tasmania held a slender 3.1.19 to 2.5.17 lead.
Tasmania looked dangerous at the start of the third quarter, once again using the advantage of the wind to propel the ball forward.
Their wayward shots on goal left the door open for Thunder, who did well to fight the natural elements and take enough possession of the ball to go into the final break with some momentum.
At the start of the fourth quarter Tasmania led 3.6.24 to 2.6.18 and got out to a seven-point lead early in the term.
It didn’t take long though for NT to apply its pressure and for Jess Stassie to goal on the run and tie the scores up at 3.7-apiece.
Inspired by Stassie’s efforts, speedster Evelyn Rapark also collected the ball on the run near the top of the 50 and threw it onto her boot, the wind pushing it through for a minor score.
Azra Cooper also added a minor to the tally before the final siren sounded and NT celebrated.
Coach Bryan Ah Mat said it was tough-going but he was proud of the effort shown by his team.
“It was hard work but they really pushed themselves. They had great intensity around the ball all game and had a real will to win.
“After a couple of early injuries we had to rework things and change positions, which is never an easy thing to do but the girls listened well and got on with the job,” Ah Mat said.
He said some missed opportunities seemed beyond the team’s immediate control.
“They brought themselves back into the game in that second quarter and probably could’ve run away with it had the weather played nice.”
“We set ourselves the goal to win game one and we’ve done that but we have two more to go so now it’s about how we reset and focus for Thursday’s game against NSW/ACT,” Ah Mat said.
Game 2 for will be at 1:30pm NT time on Thursday 5 May.
Both Thorn and Kerinaiua will receive a proper medical assessment before it is determined whether they are able to take any further part in the Championships.
Goals: TAS D. Bannister, E.Mannix-Geeves, L. Stokely NT A.Moreen, T. Paterson-Dunn, J. Stassie
Best: TAS L. Stokely, D. Bannister, C. Kenny, Z. Manjerovic, E. Gamble. L. Ochayi NT A. Chittick, T. Patterson-Dunn. C. Boyd, E. Rapark, J. Stassi, D. Ponter