THE South East was unlucky in its 2018 Statewide Super Women’s Country Championships campaign in Renmark over the weekend, but the side did not return home completely empty handed.
The side boasted three players in the team-of-the-championships at the end of the carnival, while a win in its first game set the scene for a successful event.
However, this was the only victory for the weekend, with some close losses resulting in an eventual fourth-place finish.
Held in conjunction with the men’s South Australian Country Football Championships, the event had plenty of spectators and support in its inaugural year, with five of the six zones represented.
South East coach Reece Duncan said his team was unlucky not to fair better in the carnival, but he was impressed with the performances and spirits shown on the day.
“They were really good,” he said.
“They took it up to girls and teams who had played a lot more footy together.
“The girls can hold their heads high, we were definitely one of the best teams there, but unfortunately sometimes you are unlucky in footy.”
With strong winds wreaking havoc on all footballer’s skills over the weekend, both the men and women were affected by the conditions.
“There was a strong icy wind blowing straight across the ground, so the football stayed down one side of the oval,” Duncan said.
“Kicking was hard and scoring was hard – it definitely had an impact.”
In the first game, the South East claimed an 18-point win over Central, which saw Kaylene Nuske named as best-on-ground, while Georgia Irvine, Kendell Saffin and Susannah Maber scored a goal each.
The win sparked some fire for the team, but unfortunately it could not find the same result in the remaining matches.
“They started off really well, kicked three goals and they were up and about,” Duncan said.
“Then our second game was against one of the toughest teams.”
Up against eventual runners-up Southern Districts, the South East was unable to hit the scoreboard, but in a credit to the group, held its opponent to just two behinds.
“The upsetting thing was we probably had 75pc of the ball all game and were just not able to capitalise,” Duncan said.
“That was pretty well every game, we had a lot of the ball, but just could not score, while defensively we were good all day.”
The next match was against the Northern zone, which saw another two-point loss.
With scores level on nil-all at half time, the South East managed a goal and a behind to take the lead at the final change.
However, Northern took advantage of the wind in the final stanza to bang through two majors and a minor to claim a 13-9 victory.
Bo Creek was named best-on-ground for the match, while Tess Andrews, Madi Turner and Saffin were also mentioned, with Kristie Rowe scoring the goal.
Eager for a win, the South East went into its final game with a task on its hands, as it took to the field against the undefeated and eventual championship-winning Eastern zone.
Again the scoreboard was untouched at the long break, but it was Eastern which capitalised in the third term to convert a major and a minor, before scoring three more behinds in the fourth.
South East managed just one behind for the match to lose by nine points, despite best efforts.
There were a number of standouts for the South East throughout the carnival and Andrews, Casey McElroy and Olivia Fuller were all chosen in the team-of-the-championships.
Andrews was also named as the South East zone player-of-the-carnival.
“Tess (Andrews) was great,” Duncan said.
“Madi Turner was also really good, she is a hard midfielder and is very strong.”
Nuske was another one to watch over the carnival and Duncan said she was unlucky to not be recognised for her impressive efforts.
“Myself and the other coaches agreed she was very unlucky to miss out on being picked for the team of the carnival,” he said.
“I thought she was the best centre-half back in the carnival.
“Casey McElroy from Kyby was also good, she made the team of the carnival and Olivia Fuller was one of the strongest rucks in the competition.
“Overall I was pretty happy, we had a pretty even performance and there were not really any passengers.”
Duncan said all the girls are raring to go for next year and look forward to keep developing their football.
“I have spoken to a lot of them and they are all keen and excited for next year,” he said.
“They are looking forward to the next season locally and a lot of them are hoping to get the chance to represent our zone again.”
Player of the championships: Jiarna Zerella (Eastern).
Team of the championships
B: Hannah Muscat (Northern), Abbey Stevens (Northern), Katja Boese (Central).
HB: Casey Fraser (Eastern), Lauren Smith (Central), Natalie Gibbs (Southern Districts).
R: Olivia Fuller (South East), Caitlin Radbone (Southern Districts), Jiarna Zerella (Eastern).
C: Casey McElroy (South East), Tess Andrews (South East), Shelby Raven (Northern).
HF: Emma Keys (Central), Emma Gryczewski (Southern Districts), Jessica Schulz (Eastern).
F: Lane Trenorden (Eastern), Sally Fuller (Southern Districts), Tameika Reid (Northern).
INT: Lisa Jane Millard (Southern Districts), Tess Grant (Southern Districts), Elisha Gallagher (Eastern), Ella Mickan (Central), Alexandra Mason (Eastern), Samantha Franson (Southern Districts).
