Western Australia defeated South Australia by 63 points in the 3rd v 4th play-off at the Youth Girls National Championships in Adelaide.

The two teams most disappointed about not making the Grand Final wanted to finish on a high note.

SA were probably the under achievers of the Nationals given the incredibly talented list of players they bought into the Champs. Team WA were in the ironic situation of having beaten Queensland but the latter made the Grand Final on percentage. So both teams came out firing and determined.

Western Australia has narrowly missed out on making the Grand Final of the Youth Girls National Championships in Adelaide despite a 97-point win over Victoria Development in their third game of the tournament.

After a win and a loss in their first two games, Team WA was focused on booting a huge score in their third game to build much needed percentage in order to gain a grand final berth.

Unfortunately for WA, it came down to less than a goal, with Queensland having five less points scored against them for the Championships to secure a place in tomorrow's Grand Final on percentage.

Last Sunday’s AFL curtain raiser between one of the youngest teams in the WAWFL, Peel Thunderbirds, and the more experienced Swan Districts side was a wonderful showcase of women’s football and a great promotion for the development that has occurred over the last 25 years.

The game, which was played as the curtain-raiser to the West Coast Eagles v North Melbourne game at Patersons Stadium, saw the Thunderbirds bring the crowd to life in the third quarter with a terrific fight-back, before Swans’ experience shone through to claim a 34-point win.

Officiated by an all-female umpiring team, the game promised to be a great contest and neither team disappointed the crowd of nearly 3000 who came early to support them.

The Fremantle Dockers launched their Community Development program for 2012 to coincide with the beginning of the new school term. Fremantle’s CDP was first introduced way back in 2003, the first integrated program of its kind in the AFL. Through its first eight years the program’s initiatives have engaged more than 750,000 children.

Fremantle’s CDP programs in conjunction with the WA Football Commission seek to provide an environment where primary and secondary aged school students can experience personal achievement in terms of competence, enhanced self-esteem, social cooperation, maximum participation and skill development. With a wide variety of activities on offer all students both male and female are catered for.

Wednesday May 9 marked the launch of the “Eagles Cup” and “Eagles Faction Football” Primary School competitions. 100 invited guests attended the official function at Patersons Stadium. Special guest, West Coast Eagle gun forward Mark LeCras was on hand to officially the launch both programs for 2012.

The success of the Eagles Cup program is well recognized throughout the primary school education system and the standard of football and sportsmanship displayed throughout the competition is increasing each year, this is testimony to the professional level of coaching from parents, teachers and the support from all WAFC District Development Officers.

Current title holders Victoria held on to claim a win over Western Australia in today's Youth Girls National Championship game, despite being outscored in the second half.

A torrid first quarter included some brutal tackles from WA and good transition by Victoria into their forward line.

A vocal crowd spurred on the umpires to reward the tackling from WA and were appreciative of the wonderful marking and long kicking ability of the Vics.

In particular Michaela Perceval repelled numerous WA attacks and ran well off the half back line to provide her team mates with plenty of the ball.

WA defeated Queensland by 13 points in the opening game of the 2012 National Youth Girls Championships in Adelaide.

Queensland burst out of the centre and quickly put a score on the board to open their account but for the next half the contest was fierce and an arm wrestle between the 50s with neither team able to get flow into their forward 50.

Half time scores were Queensland 2.2 (14) to WA 1.1 (7).

Team WA must have received a rev up from coach Michelle Harris during half time because they scored two quick goals in the first minutes of the third quarter.

The Black Ducks had three times as many inside 50s as QLD but couldn't take advantage due to the resolute defence from the QLD backline.

Football Districts all over the metropolitan area are hosting and presenting free professional learning for teachers in Term 2. Topics include Umpiring, AFL School Ambassador Induction and AFL For Girls By Girls. Please share our schedule with your colleagues: all teachers and tertiary Education students are invited. Teachers interested in attending need to register by email ASAP as places are limited.

The Belt Up Weekend is a statewide initiative scheduled this year for Saturday May 19 and Sunday May 20, 2012. The concept is embraced by the West Australian rural and regional football community and supported by the WA Country Football League.

This special weekend is conducted each year to educate and reinforce the importance of using seatbelts and to stop and reflect on those who have died on Western Australian roads because of their failure to wear seat belts.

Girls aged 9-12 have been enjoying themselves at the Morley Junior Football Club each Sunday morning for the past six weeks.

The East Perth Football District introduced a six-week program for Primary-School aged girls and the group has been practising the skills of footy and then displaying those skills in hard-fought games.

The highlight for the girls has definitely been the tackling practise. The tackle bags were given a pounding, as the girls loved to practise the hard physical components of our great game.

This new-found ability was then demonstrated in the games, with many forward thrusts being thwarted by great tackles.