Allies star sounds warning to Big V
AFL THE Big V of Victoria are used to going into State of Origin clashes as the favourites but former Centrals Trinity Beach defender Leah Kaslar thinks her Allies will have enough to compete in the AFLW State of Origin match tomorrow night.
The game will see a squad of Victorian-born players take on an Allies team made up of players born in other states with Kaslar, a Far North junior, booking her spot with a tremendous first season with the Brisbane Lions.
With the AFL taking a prefinals bye, the female match will be the showpiece game of the weekend.
Kaslar was one of the standout key defenders for the Lions as they progressed to the grand final and the former Smithfield State High School student believes the Allies can beat the Big V on their home deck.
“It is pretty exciting to be able to play against the top players in the league in this State of Origin game,” she said.
“I am sure it will be a fast, high-intensity game.
“Victoria are the football powerhouse but I do not think we are the underdogs after Brisbane and Adelaide played in the AFLW grand final.
“There will be a lot of pride representing Queensland.”
The Lions, who were beaten on grand final day by Adelaide last year, will commence training for their second season at the elite level in November.
“After my club season with Coolangatta, I am looking forward to having a bit of time off to freshen up the body but really looking forward to getting back into it with the Lions,” Kaslar said.
Bec Goddard, who led Adelaide to the inaugural AFL premiership, will coach the Allies.
“Coaching in South Australia, I understand how passionate South Australians are about their footy and nothing burns deeper than a fierce contest against Victoria,” she said.
An under-18 state of origin match will be played as a curtain-raiser, featuring South Cairns emerging star Kitara Farrar, with the AFL Women’s Under-18 All Australian team to be announced afterwards.
Meanwhile, the AFL has delayed a decision on how it will expand the women’s league.
The commission met on Tuesday and has asked for more information from the league’s executive.
Eight clubs – including the Gold Coast Suns, who plan to bring a game to North Queensland if they receive a licence – are bidding for new licences, with the eight-team league set to expand in 2019.
The AFL Commission will next meet on the Monday of grand final week.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said in a statement the eight bidding clubs should be proud of their submissions.
“The 2019 expansion decision is a big investment in the future of the AFLW and making the right decision for the clubs and the competition is extremely important for the growth of the women’s game,” he said.
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