TWO Riverina schoolgirls have been selected in the All-Australian merit team after playing at the national high schools Australian football carnival in Sydney.
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In a great double for the region, Alyce Parker of Culcairn and Lucy Raulston, of Wagga, made the prestigious team.
Parker and Raulston were among the five Riverina players in the NSW team, which finished a highly creditable fourth at the championships.
With games played at the hallowed SCG, Giants Stadium and Blacktown International Sports Stadium, NSW showed impressive form to thrash ACT by 72 points and topple South Australian in two of the four games during the championships.
Wagga-based NSW coach Mel Hyland said the team was also most competitive in its other two games, losing to Queensland and Western Australian by around 20 points.
Hyland, who is a star for the Riverina Lions in the Canberra Women's AFL premiership, said the NSW team had been thrilled to receive their playing jumpers from Sydney Swans hero Craig Bolton before the titles.
Girl's Australian football is currently not a sanctioned sport on the CHS schedule, but is gaining in popularity and prominence.
It is believed, however, there are moves to have the sport ratified by the CHS, which could lead to a national team being selected to play against an overseas rival.
Aside from Parker and Raulston, Riverina players in the NSW team included Ellie Dalgarno Fixter (Coolamon), Sarah Lloyd (Mangoplah), Veronica Kopecny (Wagga) and co-captain Jamila Piercy (Wagga).
Fresh from coaching the NSW team, Hyland, meantime, will turn to playing for the Lions against Gungahlin at McPherson Oval on Saturday.
Four rounds out from the to Canberra Women's AFL finals, the Lions are clinging to top spot on the able, but have a tough run home, notably a formidable upcoming clash in Canberra.
