Footy girls deliver knockout blow

By Gavin Staindl
THE Hallam Senior College schoolgirls are talking about going back-to-back after taking out the AFL Girls State School final against Northcote on Tuesday.
Enrolled in the sporting academy section of Hallam Senior College, the Years 10 to 12 girls played seven-knockout games en-route to the grand final held at the Collingwood Magpies old hunting ground, Victoria Park. After coach Brett Alexander used a power-point presentation pre-game to motivate the girls, Hallam raced out to a six goal lead by half time and by the final siren they had rolled Northcote by 56-points to claim the championship.
“They were extremely excited afterwards.
“There were heaps of girls crying and tears everywhere and all the parents had come down as well,” Alexander said.
“It was a great feeling,” he said
Mikaela Greer finished best on ground for her work in the ruck while the Blackburn sisters and on-ballers Madison and Ellie also finished in the best.
Alexander said the girls relished the opportunity to play at one of the more historic venues in Victoria.
“They were arriving on the bus and all of them couldn’t believe they were playing here … they were just blown away by the size of it,” Alexander said.
To reach the final Hallam had to advance through the seven knockout rounds that featured 350 schools.
After an early stumble that nearly saw them knocked out to Mentone in the third round, the Hallam girls began to assert their dominance with a 56-0 win over last year’s premiers that earned them a place in the final.
Although eight Year 12 girls will move on from the college at the end of this year, the remaining squad of 25 are determined to do it all again next year.
“They are already talking about back-to-backs,” a tired but clearly content Alexander said.