Berwick Junior Football Club players Amy Decker, left, and Courtney Clarkson, right, with coach Cherie Charles at Saturday’s AFL Victoria Youth Girls presentation night.By Marc McGowan
THREE local clubs are represented in the 2009 AFL Victoria Youth Girls Academy squad that was announced at the Youth Girls presentation night on Saturday.
South-East league grand finalists Berwick and Hallam, as well as the Narre South Lions, made up 10 of the 43-strong squad.
The Academy is based at Essendon’s Windy Hill and was developed last year to nurture the state’s best 14 to 18-year-old female footballers.
Berwick midfielder Amy Decker, 18, received two awards on the night – South-East league best-and-fairest and the Wickers’ best team player – to complete a stunning season.
Decker, from Narre Warren, also won Berwick’s best-and-fairest and was named her club’s best player in the finals, including its four-point grand final loss to Hallam.
Her 2008 performances are even more noteworthy considering she tore a ligament in her left ankle last season and doubted whether she would be ready to play this year.
Decker also suffered a knee injury in her first senior game this season after landing heavily.
But the state representative’s toughness shone through and she played through the injury and finished what she called the best of her three years in the game.
“I’m very happy. I love the game and have a passion for it,” Decker said.
“It makes me forget about everything else and, of course, I love playing with my mates.”
Decker has had stints at senior level in each of the last two years, but will step up full-time next year as she is no longer eligible for Youth Girls football.
“I played in the premiership division – the best of the best – (last year) and it was a lot tougher,” the Beaconhills College student said.
“The seniors actually play kick-to-kick football, whereas in Youth Girls you just kick and run.”
Seventeen-year-olds Rebecca Pearce and Courtney Clarkson and 16-year-old pair Tess Butler and Kara Donnellan are Berwick’s Academy squad representatives.
Clarkson was also the South-East league’s leading goalkicker with a state-best 58 goals.
Hallam mentor Shane Bloxidge, who will coach the side again next year after initially stepping down, was thrilled to see 17-year-olds Mariah Marshall and Chloe Peers and 16-year-old Lauren Chalkey make the elite program.
“I’m very pleased because the girls have worked very hard to achieve that and it was great to see,” he said.
“I actually expected a couple more, but they were definitely three I did expect to make it.”
Bloxidge named rookie half-forward Ashleigh Gorsuch, 17 next Tuesday, as Hallam’s best team player and said she was a worthy winner.
“Ashleigh worked hard during the pre-season, but got a bit concerned about some of the physical aspects of the game and doubted whether she’d be able to cope,” he said.
“But my assistant Brett Alexander had a good chat with her … and it was just great to see her continue and then become an important part of our side.”
First-year Narre South Lions coach Kerry McLachlan was equally as chuffed with her three players’ selections.
Fifteen-year-old duo Michelle Donnelly and Bianca Jacobsson and 14-year-old Riplee McLachlan – who was also named as the Narre South Lions’ best team player – were the Lions’ Academy invitees.
“We were rapt. It was awesome. They just love their footy and they’re the three girls everyone looks up to,” coach McLachlan said.
“There were also a couple there who were unlucky to miss out – Sam Dobson and Chloe McMillan – but they just need to keep playing and keep focused.”
McLachlan hopes more girls join her club and that its success will boost the numbers at AusKick level.
Other local victors on the night were Eberney Kelly (Cranbourne’s best team player) and Maddy Dickson (Narre Warren’s best team player).
