West Australian Football

Western Australia has narrowly missed out on making the Grand Final of the Youth Girls National Championships in Adelaide despite a 97-point win over Victoria Development in their third game of the tournament.

After a win and a loss in their first two games, Team WA was focused on booting a huge score in their third game to build much needed percentage in order to gain a grand final berth.

Unfortunately for WA, it came down to less than a goal, with Queensland having five less points scored against them for the Championships to secure a place in tomorrow's Grand Final on percentage.

Last Sunday’s AFL curtain raiser between one of the youngest teams in the WAWFL, Peel Thunderbirds, and the more experienced Swan Districts side was a wonderful showcase of women’s football and a great promotion for the development that has occurred over the last 25 years.

The game, which was played as the curtain-raiser to the West Coast Eagles v North Melbourne game at Patersons Stadium, saw the Thunderbirds bring the crowd to life in the third quarter with a terrific fight-back, before Swans’ experience shone through to claim a 34-point win.

Officiated by an all-female umpiring team, the game promised to be a great contest and neither team disappointed the crowd of nearly 3000 who came early to support them.

Current title holders Victoria held on to claim a win over Western Australia in today's Youth Girls National Championship game, despite being outscored in the second half.

A torrid first quarter included some brutal tackles from WA and good transition by Victoria into their forward line.

A vocal crowd spurred on the umpires to reward the tackling from WA and were appreciative of the wonderful marking and long kicking ability of the Vics.

In particular Michaela Perceval repelled numerous WA attacks and ran well off the half back line to provide her team mates with plenty of the ball.

WA defeated Queensland by 13 points in the opening game of the 2012 National Youth Girls Championships in Adelaide.

Queensland burst out of the centre and quickly put a score on the board to open their account but for the next half the contest was fierce and an arm wrestle between the 50s with neither team able to get flow into their forward 50.

Half time scores were Queensland 2.2 (14) to WA 1.1 (7).

Team WA must have received a rev up from coach Michelle Harris during half time because they scored two quick goals in the first minutes of the third quarter.

The Black Ducks had three times as many inside 50s as QLD but couldn't take advantage due to the resolute defence from the QLD backline.

Girls aged 9-12 have been enjoying themselves at the Morley Junior Football Club each Sunday morning for the past six weeks.

The East Perth Football District introduced a six-week program for Primary-School aged girls and the group has been practising the skills of footy and then displaying those skills in hard-fought games.

The highlight for the girls has definitely been the tackling practise. The tackle bags were given a pounding, as the girls loved to practise the hard physical components of our great game.

This new-found ability was then demonstrated in the games, with many forward thrusts being thwarted by great tackles.