Goal guru ready to take on legends

NIETTA Lynch will next month become the first woman to line up in the annual Relive the Rivalry charity match at North Hobart Oval.

Lynch, one of the state’s most prolific goalkickers in women’s football, will play in the game headlined by former AFL stars Jason Akermanis and Dustin Fletcher. Lynch joked: “I might try to tackle Fletcher and he will probably continue to run and kick a goal while I’m hanging off his back like a koala.”

FOR Nietta Lynch, becoming the first female to line up in the annual Relive the Rivalry charity match will be something she will hold as a career highlight.

Lynch, one of the state’s most prolific goalkickers in women’s football, will run onto North Hobart Oval on October 5 in a game headlined by former AFL stars Jason Akermanis and Dustin Fletcher and Tasmanians Brad Green, Russell Robertson and Paul Williams.

“It’s a special occasion and I feel privileged,” Lynch said of her inclusion in Tasmania’s side.

“I’m just hoping I can get a touch and I don’t star watch instead of ball watch.”

The match aims to raise funds for Muscular Dystrophy Tasmania with co-ordinator Jaimes Wiggins hoping this year’s match can be the biggest yet.

“We are going into our seventh year now so it’s getting bigger every year,’’ he said.

“Whatever we raise on the night is 100 per cent put towards the charity.”

Last year’s game raised a record $25,000 and Wiggins hopes the addition of Lynch will get more females through the gate. While Lynch is still in the midst of a finals campaign with Glenorchy, she already has plans on who she’ll target in the game.

“I had a joke with my partner that I might try to tackle (Dustin) Fletcher and he will probably continue to run and kick a goal while I’m hanging off his back like a koala.”