SOUTH Australia's under-19 girls' side has made a perfect debut, seeing off Western Australia by six points at Flinders Uni Stadium, Noarlunga.
In previous years, South Australia's representatives had participated in the NAB AFLW under-18 championships through the Central Allies but this is their first season as a standalone outfit.
Last year was meant to be the first time the state would have an elite junior girls' team, but due to COVID-19 it became an intra-state competition.
Midfielders Laitiah Huynh and Madison Lane (both from Central District) were named South Australia's best, recording 22 and 14 disposals respectively.
NAB AFLW Academy pair Zoe Prowse and Gypsy Schirmer also starred, with the former performing well in the ruck and the latter hitting the scoreboard.
Western Australia had plenty of the ball, but early inaccuracy cost the visitors an opportunity to apply scoreboard pressure.
Last year's WAFLW Grand Final hero Ella Roberts – who starred in Peel Thunder's triumph at just 15 years of age – was Western Australia's best, finding plenty of the footy, marking well overhead and kicking a goal in the final quarter.
Nyra Anderson (Swan Districts) and Ashleigh Reidy (South Fremantle) racked up possessions, while Chloe Reilly (East Fremantle) was the visitors' other goalkicker.
The two sides will now look ahead to the NAB AFLW under-19 championships on the Gold Coast, with games scheduled for April 12 and 15.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA 1.1 2.2 2.2 3.5 (23)
WESTERN AUSTRALIA 0.2 1.3 1.5 2.5 (17)
GOALS
South Australia: G. Schirmer, K. Kustermann, L. Clifton
Western Australia: C. Reilly, E. Roberts
BEST
South Australia: L. Huynh, M. Lane, J. Halfpenny, B. Tonon, Z. Prowse, A. Lishmund
Western Australia: E. Roberts, E. Bennett, D. East, M. Dyke, B. Schilling, T. Stribley
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