North Coast girls dominate State team selection
State players Ahlani Eddy (2nd from left), Georgia Breward (3rd from left), Brianna McFarlane (4th from left), and Lilly Doyle (right) together with Lizzy Dickson and Cass Ronalds at the Northern Academy Series.
The North Coast continues to grow its reputation as a female footy talent incubator with four players named in the AFL NSW/ACT Youth Girls squad for two upcoming matches with Tasmania.
The squad includes Georgia Breward (Lawrence), Lilly Doyle (Grafton), Brianna McFarlane (Maclean), and Ahlani Eddy (Corindi).
Georgia Breward makes the squad for her third and final year and will have one eye to the AFLW Draft later this year after she was named in the 2017 All Australian Squad that played at the MCG prior to the Women’s State of Origin match. She is a balanced midfielder with good foot skills, and the desire and ability to tackle strongly.
Lilly Doyle makes the state squad for the second successive year and will be looking to take on more of a leadership role. Last season Lilly played a key role across the half back line where her ability to take pack and intercept marks, together with her strong left foot meant she was intregal to breaking down opposition raids and setting her own team’s attack in motion.
Brianna McFarlane only returned to AFL this season after focusing on other sports for the past few years. A tall utility with excellent athleticism and a powerful kick, McFarlane is expected to play a number of positions for the state team.
Ahlani Eddy moved to Corindi Beach at the start of the year from Albury where she played footy for five years. An excellent athlete with a knack for finding the ball, her strong run and carry will be integral to setting up much of the team’s attack.
Selected following talent camps held throughout the early part of 2018 and the recent Northern Academy Series in Coffs Harbour, having four players selected out of a squad of 23 is an incredible achievement for the North Coast.
The team will be coached by two key members of the GWS GIANTS AFLW team in Alicia Eva and Nicola Barr, meaning the local girls will have a great chance to earn from the best.
The round 1 match against Tasmania will be played on Friday 1 June at 7:00pm with the round 2 match closely following on Sunday 3 June at 10:00am. Both matches will be held at Blacktown International Sports Park.
From these games against Tasmania, selection will be made for the Eastern Allies, a combined AFL NSW/ACT and Tasmania team, who will compete in the 2018 NAB AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships in July against the Central Allies (NT and SA combine), Victoria, Queensland, and Western Australia.
