The AFLNT Thunder Youth Girls team fell to a well-drilled NSW/ACT team 8.12.60 to 0.6.6 in game two of the AFL National Youth Girls Championships in Melbourne.
NSW managed to keep the Territorians scoreless in the first quarter and again after half time as they dominated with cleaner possession and rode the pressure that Thunder kept applying.
Going into the second quarter, trailing 3.6.24 to 0.0.0, NT had plenty of possession and during the term the ball barely travelled outside of its half of the ground.
However, Thunder was left to rue missed opportunities in front of goal and went into halftime 18 points behind.
The high pressure and strong tackles didn’t drop off in the second half but NSW/ACT had better use of the ball to advance to a 6.11.47 to 0.6.6 lead by the end of the third quarter.
In some good news for NT, co-captain Tayla Thorn, who received an injury to her right leg during Tuesday’s game, and Nakita Long, who also missed game 1 with a bad right ankle, both played out the game against NSW/ACT in full.
Thorn said the team would get better for the experience.
“Given it’s only the first week we’ve all come together we have jelled as a team and today each of us played our best but unfortunately they were a team unit that was too strong for us.
“Our pressure, tackles and the fact we played as a team were the real positives,” Thorn said.
She also said she was pleased to get back on the field.
“A recovery day yesterday helped me prepare for the game and motivated me to rest and listen to the medical staff so I could get out there.
“I’m hoping we get a win tomorrow and we play our NT brand of footy that we know we can all play so we can end this week on the right note,” Thorn said.
NT will play its final game for the 2016 Championships at Punt Road Oval against the Woomeras at 10:30am (Melbourne time) Friday 6 May.
Goals: NSW/ACT K. Stanton 4, J.Jolliffe, J.Stramandinoli, R.Friend, C.Arndt NT -
Best: NSW/ACT A.Parker, K.Stanton, B.Miller-Hill, A.Priftis, P.Clegg, E. McKinnon NT A. Coombes, T. Garling, T. Thorn, J. Baird, T. May, K. White