By JARROD POTTER
THE south east has proved a happy recruiting zone for Victoria Metro Youth Girls, with a sea of South East Juniors set to don the Big V.
Players from Beaconsfield, Lyndhurst, Cranbourne and Parkmore have been picked for state duties at the upcoming 2016 AFL Youth Girls National Championships, held this year in Melbourne from 2-6 May.
Vic Metro coach Wayne Siekman said the allure of coaching in front of friends and families played a big part in going around for a third campaign as coach.
“That’s one of the big reasons I wanted to go again for one more year – the opportunity to coach these girls in front of their families in our home state and showcase the Metro academy,” Siekman said.
“It’s one of the most important and key things this year to be able to do that with this playing group.
“It’s going to be a great opportunity to coach them and help them through these situations.”
The selected Stingrays players all featured in the Youth Girls Academy Challenge grand final, with the Dandenong contingent holding aloft the inaugural premiership.
“Following on from last year, where we had a lot of success from the running side in Perth, we’ve built a very good foundation to continue the same trend this year,” Vic Metro coach Wayne Siekman said.
“But saying that we’ve got a really good injection of a lot of tall, athletics players as well.”
Beaconsfield midfielders Georgia Gee, Tyla Hanks and debuting Victorian representative Brooke Struylaart were rewarded for their stellar Stingrays campaigns as were Eagles midfielder Kayla Ripari and 2015 schoolgirls All Australians – Lyndhurst’s Emily Browning and Cranbourne’s Courtney Jones.
Getting a second chance at Vic Metro duties, Cranbourne midfielder Georgia Gourlay will get a chance to put to rest her difficult campaign in 2015.
Gourlay sustained a serious knee injury only 13 minutes into the championships, held last year in Perth, and is on the mend in preparation for a return to Vic Metro colours.
While Gourlay hasn’t been able to play since the injury, Siekman said her hard-work and tenacity off the field and during training made her a prime candidate for selection.
“We picked the girls with the best credentials and the best players that deserve an opportunity to represent the Vic Metro team,” Siekman said.
“Although she hasn’t been doing it on the field, she’s been doing everything on and more off the field, rehab and ticking all the boxes of an ACL recovery.
“She’s one of the best kicks I’ve seen at Youth Girls level, and she’s gone straight back to hitting targets and has plenty of confidence.”
Dandenong Stingrays captain Georgia Walker has been picked for the Vic Country team by her Stingrays coach Scott Gowans, alongside premiership team-mates Suede Croad, Bridie Kennedy, Zoe Mitchell, Emily Rylance and Sam Ryan.
YOUTH GIRLS STATE REPRESENTATIVES
VIC METRO: Dandenong – Jordyn Allen, Emily Browning (Lyndhurst), Georgia Gee, Tyla Hanks, Brooke Struylaart (Beaconsfield), Courtney Jones, Kayla Ripari, Georgia Gourlay (Cranbourne), Jasmine Grierson, Jess Provan, Jess Smith. Sandringham – Charis Ulu Peniata (Parkmore).
VIC COUNTRY: Georgia Walker, Suede Croad, Bridie Kennedy, Emily Rylance, Sam Ryan, Zoe Mitchell, Parris Stahl (emergency).
