By JARROD POTTER
South-East Juniors – Youth Girls’ Interleague
BOOKING their spot in the big dance, the South East Juniors Youth Girls’ team is on track to avenge their defeat last season at the junior interleague championships.
With the only unbeaten record so far in the division, South East Juniors Youth Girls have qualified for the National Sports Museum Junior Championships grand final after wins over the Queen’s Birthday weekend against Yarra JFL Development and South Metro JFL, secured a grand-final spot.
South East Juniors has only lost this championship once in the seven years it has been running – going down to Yarra JFL last season to end a six-year winning streak.
They’ll be the team to beat when the South East Juniors clash in the championships grand final against last year’s victors Yarra JFL.
South East Juniors Youth Girls coach Keith Edwards was pleased with the squad’s effort after Saturday’s win against the Yarra JFL Development team.
“We’re playing a development side from them, so it’s great to see they had two sides in it,” Edwards said.
“To beat them whether it’s ones or twos is great and we’re hopefully looking forward to facing the other one if we get there to the final.”
With a more skilful and tenacious team than last year, Edwards believes the SEJ team can regain their rank as the best state team.
“Really impressed with the girls and their intensity – Emily Browning, Georgia Gourlay, then we had Karleen at centre half forward and Kayla Ripari… had some girls who were pretty hungry for the footy which we showed across the ground,” Edwards said.
“I think we’re slightly better skill wise and intensity wise – overall the intensity is up as they seem a bit hungrier and if they keep it going they’ll go well and I can’t wait to see it.”
The Youth Girls interleague grand final between SEJ and Yarra JFL will be held at Shepley Oval on 21 June at 10am.
