Western Australia atoned for a demoralising loss to Vic Metro in the final of last year’s national youth girls’ carnival by comfortably beating Metro by 27 points yesterday in the NAB AFL Women’s Under-18 Championships on the Gold Coast.

The girls from the west were noticeably better in the air, taking contested marks with confidence and spreading well across the ground. 

Tall forwards Kate Bartlett (13 disposals, two goals) and Emily McGuire (12 touches, one goal) were too strong for Metro's defence, while McKenzie Dowrick was excellent in the middle with 17 touches. 

Madison Prespakis ran her heart out for Metro, filling holes all over the ground and finishing with 22 disposals, seven marks and a bad cramp in her leg. 

Defender Georgia McPherson was steady under constant pressure from Western Australia, finishing with 12 touches and seven marks. 

Two of Western Australia’s best players, Kate Barlett and Courtney Hodder, featured on the cover of the West Coast Eagles AFLW 2019 expansion licence application.

VIC METRO     1.1       2.1       3.2       3.2    (20)          
WA                  2.3       4.6       5.8       6.11    (47)         

GOALS 
Vic Metro: Flanagan, Newton, Woods
WA: Bartlett 2, Deegan 2, McGuire, Yarran 

BEST
Vic Metro: Prespakis, Woods, Warburton, McLaren, Guerin, Ricardo
WA: Dowrick, Deegan, Hodder, Smith-Bin Omar, Ugle-Haywood, Dorizzi