Women feel the heat

The ADF women’s team in action against NSW at Marrara Oval in Darwin.

The 2003 ADF Women’s Australian Football team, featuring six Air Force players.

Air Force player Corporal Mel Pearce looks for support during the National Women’s Carnival.

The ADF women’s Australian football team, featuring six Air Force players, took to its third National Women’s AFL Championship at the beginning of June, hoping to put the heat on the powerful state sides in Darwin.

After winning two games and finishing fourth at the 2002 championships in Sydney, the ADF team was unable to get a victory this year, but came close nonetheless.
The following is a breakdown of each match, provided by team coach WO Kim Beasland.

Western Australia 9.7 (61) def ADF 4.1 (25)

A hard task first up, taking on WA who played Victoria in the final. The ADF took the game to the West Aussies for three-and-a-half quarters before the opposition kicked four unanswered goals in the last ten minutes of the last quarter to seal the game.

Best – CPL Paula Bunting, LT Michelle Sheather, CPL Emma Hender, SGT Susan Osborn and LEUT Thea Collie. Goals – 2 CPL Katie Staines, 1 SIG Sarah Siliwka, LCPL Renae Fritzel-Flint.

Northern Territory 8.3 (51) def ADF 2.4 (16)

A lack-lustre effort on the part of the ADF saw the NT literally run over the ADF which slowed to a walk and then almost to a standstill.

Best – LEUT Thea Collie, SIG Emma Murphy, LT Jada Bendall, LT Michelle Sheather, CPL Emma Hender. Goals – LCPL Renae Fritzel-Flint, SIG Emma Murphy.

Victoria 22.11 (143) def ADF 0.0 (0)

Always a hard task against the Victorians, the undefeated champion since the inception of the championships. The ADF players stuck to the game plan and had the Vics frustrated by their inability to achieve their self-set mission of kicking ten goals each quarter.

Best – LT Michelle Sheather, SIG Emma Murphy, SGT Susan Osborn, CPL Emma Hender and LACW Sarah Booth.

NSW 4.2 (26) def ADF 4.1 (25)

A disappointing show against NSW as the ADF side exhibited difficulty in applying the team rules and adhering to the game plan. A match of lost opportunities as the Defence team had two shots at goal in the dying minutes of the last term for just a single behind as the return.

Best – LT Jada Bendall, LT Michelle Sheather, SGT Susan Osborn, CPL Emma Hender and AB Michelle Cannon. Goals – 3 SIG Sarah Siliwka and SIG Emma Murphy.

NT 6.5 (41) def ADF 2.1 (13)

The hardest-fought contest of the week as the ADF went into the game severely undermanned with the late withdrawal of three key midfielders due to injury that left the side with just the run-on 18 as fit players.
Gutsy and constantly on the wrong side of the whistle of the man in white, the ADF team never gave up all day.

Best – LEUT Thea Collie, SGT Susan Osborn, CPL Vicki Block, PTE Chev Calver and CPL Emma Hender. Goals – CPL Vicki Block and CPL Katie Staines.

The team: CAPT Rebecca Honey (UNSW) (c), CPL Paula Bunting (RTC Vic) (v/c), CPL Emma Hender (ISD Vic Bks Sydney) (v/c), CPL Melinda Pearce (RAAF Base Wagga), LCPL Renae Fritzel-Flint (HQ 9 FSB), CPL Katie Staines (HSF RAAF Base Wagga), SGT Susan Osborn (1 HSB), PTE Chev Calver (HQ LSF), LACW Katie Gallin (RAAF Base Tindal), LT Michelle Sheather (ALTC), CPL Vicki Block (ARTC), SIG Natalie Kaminski (7 Sig Regt), LEUT Thea Collie (HMAS Albatross), FLTLT Cathy Rubin (RAAF Base Pearce), LT Jada Bendall (1 CSSB), SIG Sarah Siliwka (3 CSR), CPL Nicole Stephens (ARTC), LACW Sarah Booth (11 Sqn RAAF Base Wagga), LT Maggie Chambers (School of Military Engineers), SIG Emma Murphy (145 Sig Sqn), AB Michelle Cannon (HMAS Coonawarra), CAPT Dani Glatz (Defence Force School of Signals), ACW Gemma Heaton (RAAF Base Tindal). Coach WO2 Kim Beasland (HQ CATC), assistant coach/runner LS Simon Hibbert (HMAS Coonawarra), manager WO1 Reg Jones (DCO Adelaide).

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