Vic Metro defeats Western Australia in youth girls national championships final at the MCG

THERE was a Katherine, an Isabel and a Jasmin. This was footy at the MCG as you’ve rarely seen it.

Vic Metro’s Madison Prespakis celebrates her goal in the second quarter. Picture: George Salpigtidis

THERE was a Katherine, an Isabel and a Jasmin. This was footy at the MCG as you’ve rarely seen it.

Last night’s youth girls national championships final between Vic Metro and Western Australia was more than your average curtain raiser. It was an unveiling.

Women’s football might be about to explode onto the scene in 2017, but if the talent on show from the girls is any guide, it’s also here to stay.

Some of brightest female talents in the country, some as young as 15, turned heads on the hallowed turf under lights.

Vic Metro’s Brooke Struylaart (middle) celebrates with Isabel Huntington and Anna Hayes. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Vic Metro’s Taylor Mesiti flies high. Picture: George Salpigtidis

This is football as we remember it. No flooding, no pressing and players holding position. As good as the AFL has been this year, this was refreshing.

The kicking penetration is obviously watered down, but the skill level certainly isn’t and most girls showed sound execution on both sides of the body.

The game is quicker than you might imagine, and willing too. There was strapped shoulders and strapped knees and the girls didn’t take any short steps when the ball was there to be won.

The commentary team consisted of former Australian wicketkeeper Julia Price, Melbourne Football Club captain Daisy Pearce and Alicia Eva, who is playing at Melbourne Uni and coaching at Calder Cannons.

They oversaw a Vic Metro domination across four 15-minute quarters. Metro kicked three goals to zip in the first quarter and six goals to nothing in the second to set up a 50-0 halftime lead en route to a 14.11 (95) to 0.0 (0) shellacking.

WA took nearly 14 minutes to get the ball past the centre circle and was right up against it from the start against a side those in the know say is choc-full of future stars.

Captain Katherine Smith set the tone for Metro, but it was Isabel Huntington really caught the eye. She was a constant threat in the air and on the ground and kicked a superb running goal in the second quarter that any AFL player would have been proud of.

WA captain Jasmin Stewart put her body on the line in an attempt to stop the flow, but, along with talented ruck Tayla McAuliffe, they were battling against the tide.