TWO Kerang teenagers took centre stage at last week’s AFL Youth Girls National Championships, held at venues across Melbourne.
Bella Ayre was Victoria Country most valuable player during the five-day tournament, whilst boundary umpire, Melissa Sambrooks officiated the grand final, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground last Friday night.
Going into the tournament yet to win a match in its history, Victoria Country pushed eventual grand finalists, Western Australia in the opening day of the competition, held next to the Glasshouse.
The 17-year-old kicked two goals for Vic Country and was named amongst the side’s best players in the nine-point loss last Monday.
Victoria Country broke through for its first tournament win the next day against Queensland, recording a nine-point win at Sandringham.
Although not kicking any goals, Ayre was named best on ground in the match, which saw Queensland produce a final quarter comeback.
Victoria Country pushed eventual champions, Victoria Metro in last Thursday’s 29-point loss at Dandenong.
Ayre kicked one of Victoria Country’s two goals for the match and was one of the best on ground for her team, with the result setting up a second meeting with Queensland.
Victoria Country ended its tournament with a two-point win last Friday at Punt Road Oval.
Ayre kicked two of her side’s six goals and was named as one of the best players on the ground for a fourth consecutive match.
Meanwhile, there was a local link to the tournament’s grand final, with Sambrooks officiating as a boundary umpire.
The 18-year-old former Northern District Football Umpires Association member was picked to officiate the tournament as a result of being on the Victorian Football League boundary umpire panel.
