Women conquer national game

SMN Jennifer North (centre) scrambles for the ball at the Australian AFL Women’s championships in Adelaide last month. Photo: PTE John Ainley

The ADF women’s AFL team made their mark in Adelaide last month, taking out fifth place at the women’s national AFL championships.

This is a remarkable effort for a team which only came together three days before the championships and was competing against state sides that had trained for four months.

The national title was won by a strong Victorian team who survived the three days of competition undefeated. Runners up, ACT, only narrowly defeated the ADF team in the second day of competition by one goal.

The Navy had six members in the ADF side - AB Heather Flannery, LS Michelle Cannon, SMN Roxanne Walker, AB Natasha Wilson, AB Candice Freeman and SMN Jennifer North.

New to the Navy, 24-year old SMN North from HMAS Cerberus is certainly not new to Aussie Rules.

“I played Aussie Rules throughout primary school in mixed teams,” she said.

“I also played in carnivals during High School and up until six years ago I also played AFL for South Australia.”

Having served in the Navy for only six months, Jennifer, a trainee Marine Technician, says she is very lucky to have been selected to represent the ADF in this annual AFL Women’s competition.

Jennifer was voted the Players’ Player for the game against Victoria in her first National Championships.

“We achieved what we set out to achieve - we went out hard against Victoria and managed to score a goal. This year’s team is the first ADF team to ever score a goal against the red-hot Victorians.”

The versatility is what attracts Jennifer to the game.

“I like the freedom of the larger field and the harder tackles,” said Jennifer.

“I certainly intend to become a prominent player in the ADF.”

As well as the women’s team, the ADF had 13 accredited umpires at the national championships, with each of the games umpired by one of the ADF representatives.

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