ADF women Australian rules footballers made a marked improvement on their inaugural effort at the 2002 Women's Australian Football Competition in Sydney.

Unable to win a game at the 2001 national carnival in Melbourne, the ADF team shed its 'easybeat' tag by this year finishing fourth against six teams.

Hosted by the Sydney Women's Australian Football League, the ADF competed against the host state, along with South Australia, Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory and the traditional victors, Victoria.

Held at picturesque Drummoyne Oval, the competition was conducted over three days. Five games in two days for each team, each game of two 20-minute halves while the play-offs were full matches of four quarters.

"Certainly we aspired to win games but to win against South Australia, lose to the grand finalist (NSW) by five points, get into the minor play-offs and get four girls in the All Australian Team with one Best at Carnival was outstanding," said coach, WO2 Kim Beasland.

The first game of the championship was against a very polished, and the short-priced favourite, Victoria.

By far their best game was against the Northern Fliers. The ADF women controlled the centre bounce, ball delivery was accurate, the team played confidently and came out firing.

The ADF started to string a few handballs together and delivered the ball accurately to forward positional players. The backline fought for the ball on the ground and ADF won 6-4(40) to 1-2(8).

Against NSW, the ADF continued playing an aggressive brand of football, both teams fighting doggedly for the ball on the ground and in the air. At half-time only a point separated the two teams.

While the ADF finished with a wet sail, accuracy cost them the game against NSW, who went on to compete against Victoria in the play-off for first and second.

On the second day of competition, the ADF and ACT women met in what was to be a preview of the play-off between third and fourth. The ADF women lost both games to a skilful and very knowledgable ACT side.

While many may have been disappointed with the results, a number of ADF players were rewarded.

FLGOFF Andrija Blums, OCDT Kelly McFarlane, SIG Emma Murphy and PTE Fiona Rose were selected in the All Australian Team. PTE Rose was selected as Best at Carnival from a very competitive field.

"At a team level, the girls need to get involved in civilian clubs and come to us with the skills, fitness and mental preparation," said WO2 Beasland.

"At corporate level, we have improved each outing and look forward to the ADF Nationals in Canberra in March 2003 and the Women's National Tittles in May 2003 to be held in Darwin."

By Sgt Chris Warwick