Locals star in state win

By Stuart Teather
A NUMBER of local footballers starred for the Victorian Under-18 Youth Girls’ team in the side’s series against Queensland.
The team included six players from Berwick, five from Hallam and two from Narre Warren South out of a total of 27 players, including emergencies.
In the first game, held on Saturday at Sandringham, the Victorian players dominated their Queensland counterparts, winning 15.11.101 to 2.5.17.
Queensland got the ball rolling with a clearance and goal inside the first minute of play, but Victoria settled and kicked four unanswered goals to take a 21-point lead into the first break.
Another three goals to one in the second term pushed the lead out to 33 points at the main break, and the Victorian unit looked poised to take control.
The match turned into a slaughter in the second half, with the home team putting on a defensive masterpiece, holding the Queenslanders to two behinds after halftime, while the Victorian side piled on 8.5.
The crushing win ensured the home side took a commanding lead heading into game two.
The second match was played at Bendigo on Monday, and while it was a closer affair the end result was the same, with Victoria’s depth helping them to a 55-point victory.
Berwick gun Kara Donnellan was named player of the series, collecting 10 out of a possible 12 votes on the back of two stunning performances.
Victorian coach Chyloe Kurdas said Donnellan was a standout for her side.
“She’s a real talent and a real star, she’s an up-and-coming champion, she’s only 16 and she plays like Chris Judd,” she said. “Her closing pace and her finishing are fantastic, both on her left and right side, and if she was a boy she’d be draftable – that’s for sure.”
Kurdas said the series was about more than beating the opposition.
“It’s always a good thing to win, but it’s always good for the girls to experience a good challenge and learn more about the way they play the game.”