Women's All Star GameThursday, April 2, 2015 - 5:02 PM

Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School was the premier venue for the 2015 Women’s All Stars Match on Sunday 29^th March.  A weekend of female football clinics featuring numerous primary, secondary and elite female players, state and AFL Coaches, a historical presentation entitled Bunbury Bounce Down!, which celebrated 100 years of Female Football in the South West, was followed by the resurrection of the Gary Johnston Cup between BCGS and PLC with the highlight a hard fought match of 50 of the best female footballers WA has to offer, when the Senior Women’s Talent Academy played the All Stars.

All players were vying for selection in the 2015 AFL Female Exhibition Match held on May 24 at the MCG when Melbourne FC play the Western Bulldogs FC. The players were from the current Women’s Talent Academy, the Junior Talent Academy and a selection of the best female players from the WAWFL. Congratulations to all the players on a highly skilled, fast paced game in very hot conditions.

The Talent Academy jumped out to an early lead but the All Stars were never far away. Best for the Talent Academy were; new ruck sensation, Emma King who won most of the taps and demonstrated outstanding agility around the ground, assisting and scoring with a far reaching kick numerous times, Courtney Ugle who finished strongly and was very creative in the forward line, along with Kellie Gibson and Brianna Green who worked hard consistently through the midfield. Ugle, Green and Gibson were elevated to senior ranks in 2015 having been with the U18 Youth Girls last year.

Kiara Bowers worked hard all day in and under the packs for the All Stars, together with Ebony Antonio, a basketballer by trade, who demonstrated her superb fitness by running hard all day, and Zoe Huggett in the ruck.  Leading goal kickers were; Wuetschner – 3 goals, and Antonio – 3 goals. The Talent Academy were eventual winners, final scores; TA 9.5 (59 points) defeated All Stars 6.6 (42 points).

Demons Head Coach, Michelle Cowan was on hand to open the historical exhibition and also stayed for the entire match, keen to witness several key match ups for positional players she has had her eye on for selection. Cowan has kept 3 WA girls in her squad; Chelsea Randall, Kirby Bentley and Kara Donnellan. The female AFL Draft will occur on the 20^th April at Domain Stadium from 4.00pm. In 2014, 15 WA women were chosen for the AFL Draft. In 2015 we are hoping for a few more.

Special thanks to the South West Regional Manager Glenn Omodei, Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School, Lomax Media, GWN and WIN, Bunbury Mail, South Bunbury JFC and the Department of Sport and Recreation as one of the key supporters of the event commemorating the 100 years of female football in the South West.