Chloe without peer in Queensland

By Marc McGowan
ELEVEN of the region’s finest junior female Australian Rules footballers helped Victoria sweep Queensland in the inaugural Youth Girls Under 18 Interstate Challenge last week.
The two-match battle was played at Giffin Park in Coorparoo, Queensland, and saw the Victorians triumph by seven points in the opener and 64 points in game two.
Star Hallam wingman Chloe Peers was awarded the player of the series after two outstanding displays.
Peers was one of four Hallam players in the state squad, along with Chantelle Hawkins, who was vice-captain, Kristy Borg and Alicia Heins.
Pearcedale-Baxter, which defeated Hallam by three points in August’s Footy Pak Youth Girls grand final, also had four representatives in Courtney Clarkson, Mariah Marshall, Rebecca Pearce and Romy Timmins.
The local contingent was rounded out by Narre Warren’s Emma Champion, who captained the side, and Kara Donnellan and Narre South Lion Nicole Cicciari.
Rowville assistant coach Leeann Gill stepped up to the main job for the Victorians and was impressed with her first foray into women’s football.
“They were fantastic. I’d never coached girls before, so it was a bit of an unknown, but I was astounded with their skill and the way they played footy to be quite honest,” the 14-year mentor said.
“I got a phone call from AFL Victoria because I’m the only female with level two accreditation and they wanted to see whether I was interested in coaching them.
“I knew some girls had good skills, but my expectations were exceeded and I found they were much better about thinking about the game and were really keen to learn.”
While Peers shone, it was gun midfielder Donnellan who had Gill’s attention.
“She is an exception. If she was a male she’d definitely be in a TAC Cup squad right now,” Gill said.
“She’s just got beautiful balance and beautiful skills and was actually one of the ones I looked at and thought, ‘my God, can she play football’.”
Marshall was the other stand-out for Gill, but she praised all of the south east players’ contributions.
Champion assumed the tough role of quelling talented Queensland midfielder Jade Pregelj in the return bout and claimed best-on-ground honours for her brilliant stopping job.
The event was the culmination of 23 hours’ worth of trials and training over the past few months.
It has been a big year for the Youth Girls, with the inaugural Victorian Youth Girls Championship held at Casey Fields in June.
The Victorian Youth Girls’ program began in 2004 and there are now three associations in the South East, the Western Suburbs and Bendigo.
“From what I can see, women’s football has a really bright future,” Gill said.
“There needs to be a cultural shift towards more females in coaching, and as far as pathways and that go, I think it’s great that they’re trying to say to girls come play youth footy.
“I think it is heading in the right direction.”