The Kiama Power women’s team claimed a 40-point victory over the 2025 AFL Canberra Community Division One premiers, Googong Hogs, in a pre-season practice match at Rockley Oval last Saturday.
The match is one of two pre-season hit-outs before the Power’s AFL South Coast season officially kicks off on Saturday, April 11 at Keira Oval.
Kiama kicked the first goal of the match through new recruit Sophee Turner, who benefited from the defensive pressure of her teammates further up the field, which earned a free kick for the ball to travel deep inside 50m where Turner made the most of the opportunity.
Six inside-50’s and a goal from midfielder Maddi Aitkin, plus two goals to key forward Courtney Smith, saw the Power take a 19-point lead into the first change as the Power’s back six valliantly defended Googong’s seven inside-50’s whilst only conceding one goal.
New recruit Jazmin Tikkeros put forward a strong case for a Round 1 debut, with her presence in the midfield resulting in a forward-50 entry in the first minute of the second term, allowing Courtney Smith to bag her third goal for the day.
In her first ever game of football, Abby Freimanis performed strongly in the ruck, gifting her midfielders with first-use of the football and taking strong contested marks, with Savamah Detheridge kicking a goal on the back of a Freimanis intercept mark inside-50.
Power head coach Tony Grady said Freimanis played her role well in an impressive outing, alongside a number of new Power players.
“Abby kept getting getter throughout the game, and once she realised she could consistently win the taps, she was serving the footy on a platter for our mids,” Grady said.
“Lara McGee was solid in defense in the first half alongside Emer Perry, and Lara moved forward in the second half and kicked a great goal.”
Second half goals to Lara McGee, Carra Sheldon and Courtney Smith sealed the victory for Kiama, but coach Grady was most pleased with his team’s defensive efforts which held Googong to score only 1.1 in the second half.
“In the third quarter we kept the ball in our forward half for over 13 minutes, which was all on the back of our defensive structure and relentless pressure,” Grady said.
“The girls continued that in the last quarter, not allowing the opposition past halfway until the very last minute. Credit again to our front-half defensive pressure.”
Midfielders Maddie Edwards and Maddi Aitkin were influential in the pre-season hit out, and were superbly supported in the midfield by talented ruck Teneale Keene, junior star Grace Vernon-Rogers and new recruits Siane Fonua and Jazmin Tikkeros.
Another Kiama junior player, Chloe Richards, was constantly a threat from half-back and her pinpoint kicking accuracy allowed the Power to transition the ball from their defensive end with ease.
Forward Courtney Smith capped the win with a terrific goal in the fourth quarter, her fourth major for the day, to secure the 9.11-65 to 4.1-25 victory.
KIAMA 9.11-65
GOOGONG 4.1-25
Goals
Kiama: Courtney Smith (4), Carra Sheldon, Maddi Aitkin, Lara McGee, Savanah Detheridge, Sophee Turner
Next week, Kiama will host the Wollongong Bulldogs for an official practice match on Saturday, March 1 at 1.00pm at Bonaira Oval.