Football: Girls impress in Gold Coast champs

Great Southern duo Kira Phillips and Jessie Barker have returned from the Gold Coast after an impressive AFL under-18 youth women’s national championships, despite losing the grand final.

Picture by Laurie Benson: Jessie Barker

Both teenagers were members of the WA team that went through the round robin competition undefeated before losing the grand final to Victoria by 10 points.

Phillips, from Gnowangerup, was exciting at centre half-forward, leading up with a real presence and booting two goals in the opening game.

Barker also made the most of her chance, picking up best-on-ground honours in game three against South Australia.

Phillips was named in the best in WA’s 65-point win over NSW/ACT on day one before being judged her team’s best contributor on day two, in their 71-point thumping of Queensland.

WA coach Megan O’Mara said both girls had terrific carnivals and had the luxury of being eligible in the coming two years.

“Kira was dynamic and a jet in the first two games and Jessie in the third game had such speed and poise, running hard through the centre and finished off well,” O’Mara said.

“Both are the younger age group so they have at least two years left in the 18s and this was their first step on the national stage.”

Phillips, who played for Centrals in the local youth girls competition, hoped to further her football in the coming years.

“Just being on the footy field makes you feel good, with the other girls they were easy to get along with and it was such a good experience,” she said.

“Being able to have a kick around down here has helped me build up my skills and I still have two more years left so I will keep trying out.”

Barker, who plays for Royals and won both her team and the association best and fairest awards, also hoped she could take her footy to the highest possible level.

“We have got to play more footy because of the competition down here,” Barker said.

“Until I finish school I will play down here but after school I want to move to Perth to play footy.”

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