DARREN MONCRIEFF
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
THE Australian women's team need time and better preparation to be competitive at international level, according to observers and those who played.
The Aussie girls, who were captained by Shanell Dargan (pictured), didn't win a game at the 2011 International Cup, in which they competed against four other countries.
The Australian Indigenous/Multicultural team selectors were restricted to picking players from a narrow field; those with Indigenous and multicultural background, and those that had not played at State championship level.
In practical terms, this meant bringing together a disparate group of footballers with varying degrees of ability.
In proper four-quarter football at the International Cup, the locals failed to register scores during some quarters across their four games. This didn't come about due to lack of endeavour, rather from several factors, said one of Australia's best players.
"Unfortunately for us, the scoreboard didn't reflect the efforts that were put in by the whole team during the tournament," said Natalee Daylight, who was named by WorldFootyNews.com in the 2011 Women's World Team and whose sister Chereta also played.
"It is hard to come from all parts of Australia with different styles of footy and expect results with only one training session before taking the field. It was frustrating that the media did not understand this.
"I think if we arrived in camp a week earlier we would have had the opportunity to train together prior to the start of the competition. This would have given us the chance to learn each other's skills and abilities which would have helped with our performance on the field."
Tobietta Rhyman, who covers women's football for WorldFootyNews.com, agrees.
"I just hope no-one from this tournament comes away with the idea that the Aboriginal and multicultural Australian women can't play football because it's just not true," she said.
"The Northern Territory team would have given any of the International Cup teams a run for their money, though I think maybe the Irish are up at that level too, which is a credit to how hard they've worked.
"Previous to this tournament, the consensus in women's football was that a team of local women's league regulars would smash any foreign team. (But) this team was quite literally thrown together two weeks before the tournament. Looking back over its origins, I think the mish-mash team really came together and did comparatively very well.
"Though the scoreboards didn't show it, the girls fought bravely all the time and they have a couple of excellent players, full-back Stephanie Briggs immediately springing to mind."
Alongside Briggs, and Emma McNeil who was also selected in the Women's World Team, the Daylight sisters were among the Aussies' best players.
"It is always great to see your name in the best-on-ground lists at the end of the game after busting your guts for the hour," Chereta said.
"I guess that just comes from our passion for the sport and the girls around us. You see others working hard, so you do the same.
"I think this entire experience was definitely a confidence boost. I bet there aren't many girls who can say that they have played against four other countries in the sport they love."
That chance may come around again at the next tournament, according to Rhyman.
"The word out there is the AIM team is here to stay; everyone was happy they were there and everyone will be happy to meet them again," she said.
"I sincerely hope next time they put out a proper representative team of league regulars and include a few State champions because by (the next tournament in) 2014 the Americans, Canadians and certainly the Irish will definitely be at that level.
"And the feedback I got from the other teams is that they wanted the AIM team to be more competitive so they could learn more about how football is played in Australia.
"I'm not even Australian but seeing them out there, including some of my team-mates, hearing them singing with such loud voices, I was seriously moved to tears. It was such a great moment."
HARD-FOUGHT: Action from the Australian Indigenous/Multicultural team and Papua New Guinea Flames match at the 2011 International Cup. Picture: WorldFootyNews.com
Selection shock
NATALEE DAYLIGHT was expecting a nice, low-key night at the International Cup's post-tournament dinner in Melbourne.
She came away from the event with World Team selection, a jumper, recognition from her peers and a nice addition to her football resume.
"Being picked in the Australian IM team was already a high enough achievement for me," she said.
"The last thing I expected was for my name to be announced in the World Team. It is every sportsperson's dream to be named in such high-profile teams and it has definitely given me the confidence to strive for higher goals.
"It is a great personal achievement but it wouldn't have been possible without my supportive team-mates by my side."
While happy with her selection, Natalee couldn't understand her sister's non-selection.
"Being named for the World Team in my first year of AFL was a big surprise but the biggest shock I had was that Chereta was not named," she said.
"I think everyone who watched our games would have expected her to be named in the starting side. Chereta had an amazing tournament and her experience and understanding of the game definitely stood out.
"It shocked everyone that she was not up on that stage receiving a world jersey with me."
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Last Modified on 06/09/2011 21:22