PORT ADELAIDE has exacted revenge on the Crows for Saturday’s summer Showdown loss by taking out the first ever female Showdown.
Port’s female Under 16 Next Generation Academy side kept Adelaide goalless until the last quarter to win the game on Wednesday night at Football Park by 56-points.
The best under-16 female elite players from each of the eight SANFL Clubs were nominated late last year for the Power and Crows academy programs, which have held training sessions since November.
West Adelaide, South Adelaide, Norwood and Eagles’ best young talent represented Port Adelaide’s Female Talent Next Generation Academy while Sturt, North Adelaide, Glenelg and Central District prospects formed the Crows Academies Girls Elite Talent Squad.
Players were nominated for the Academy programs following the Statewide Super Shield U15 competition held in September 2018.
The game on Wednesday was the first of three scheduled for the next six weeks.
“It’s hIstory here in the making”. @PAFC def Crows in the first ever female (U16) Showdown.
— Vicki Schwarz (@VSchwarz9) March 6, 2019
11-8 (74) to 2-6 (18) at Football Park pic.twitter.com/wVO3Vvmw7J
Port Adelaide Coach Naomi Maidment was pleased with her side’s performance.
“Heading to Football Park on Wednesday night there was a lot of the unknown, we hadn't played together and we had never seen the opposition play,” she said.
“However, what I was sure of is the players were ready to play having been together since November.
“These girls are on a rapid learning curve into the elite environment and I cannot fault their aptitude and enthusiasm for the game.”
On a windy night, the Power girls started strongly, booting seven first quarter goals and then keeping Adelaide goalless to half time despite kicking into the wind in the second term.
They had a ten goal lead going into the last quarter and held on for a 56-point victory after some late scoring from the home side.
“What was evident from this group is a willingness to play as a team, be clean under pressure and enjoy the small wins along the way,” Maidment remarked after the game.
“The coaching group asked the girls to play to a game plan, and they executed, running away with the game.
“I was impressed with the entire squad however thought on the night there were some standout performances from Keeley Kustermann and our Captain, Gypsy Schirmer.”
Port Adelaide’s Next Generation Academy Manager Shane Grimm said the program was helping the club continue its commitment to female football pathways.
“The Port Adelaide Football Club has had a long history of developing talented footballers within South Australia and the Next Generation Academies continues to allow us to be a major part of the talent pathway within the SANFL and our Aligned NGA Clubs,” he said.
“It is exciting for the Club to expand our programs to involve talented female footballers who are now able to be involved in a pathway from community football through to the AFLW.
“It is also important that we are providing a pathway for female coaches to gain experience and move into AFLW and we are proud to have Naomi Maidment as coach of our under 16 NGA girls.”
SANFL Female Talent Manager Robbie Neill said the Academy programs replaced the previous State Academy format in 2018 to provide an elite environment for emerging female talent on a pathway to the Statewide Super Women’s League and AFLW.
“The AFL-based Academy Programs is a collaborative approach with SANFL to developing female talent pathways in SA,” Neill said.
“The program also provides the best under-age talent with a unique opportunity to experience AFL facilities and training, and to match up against the best players of the same age.”
Three matches will be played between the Crows and Power Academies, with a State U16s squad to be selected following the final game on April 18.
The SA U16 State Team, coached by SANFL’s Jason Rivett, will play Vic Country on June 9 in Mt Gambier.
SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 11 8 74
ADELAIDE 2 6 18
Goals: Indianna Flynn (SAFC) , Sachi Syme (NFC) & Zoe Venning (WAFC) 2, Madison Schwarz (WWTFC), Alicia Gaffney (WWTFC), Kiahni Russell (SAFC) , Teliya Hetaraka (SAFC) and Jorja Hooper (SAFC)
Best Players: Keeley Kustermann (WAFC) , Gypsy Schirmer (SAFC) , Jamie Parish (WWTFC), Madisson Schwarz (WWTFC) , Teliya Hetaraka (SAFC) , Brie Nye (SAFC)
THE TEAMS
AFC PAFC
Darcie Brown Centrals Emily Smith South Adelaide
Zoe Perry Centrals Ella Radbone South Adelaide
Nikki Cullen Centrals Jorja Hooper South Adelaide
Libby Fiebiger Centrals Indiana Flynn South Adelaide
Taliyah Uncle Centrals Lauren Clifton South Adelaide
Cooper Hyde Centrals Teliya Hetaraka South Adelaide
Molly Fiebiger Centrals Callie Wilson South Adelaide
Brooke Tonon Glenelg Gypsy Schirmer South Adelaide
Hattie Cox Glenelg Bridie Nye South Adelaide
Ella Little Glenelg Kiahni Russell South Adelaide
Sarah Goodwin Glenelg Alana Cleary Norwood
Neave Delaney Glenelg Jess Williams Norwood
Matilda Scholz Glenelg Hayley Taheny Norwood
Natasha Christophers Glenelg Sachi Syme Norwood
Natasha Allison Glenelg Alana Lischmund Norwood
Hannah Ewings North Adelaide Cherylee Waters Eagles
Chelsea Rundle North Adelaide Avah Topp Eagles
Kate Case North Adelaide Jamie Parish Eagles
Amelie Borg North Adelaide Kelliah Maher Eagles
April Kerrison North Adelaide Alicia Gaffney Eagles
Zoe Prowse Sturt Lauren Young West Adelaide
Georgia Swan Sturt Zoe Venning West Adelaide
Holly Temby Sturt Keeley Kustermann West Adelaide
Charlotte Hurn Sturt Taylah Jane West Adelaide
Grace Powell Sturt Scarlett Griffiths West Adelaide
Taylor Lucey Sturt Chloe Schwarz Eagles
Kiera Mueller Sturt Madison Schwarz Eagles
