WA Football Commission

On Sunday the 1st June the biannual ‘Yorga’s Koodjal Kadadjiny’ match, meaning Women’s Two Way Learning Match, was played at Perth Demon’s Lathlain Oval to coincide with the AFL’s Indigenous Round celebrations.

Run by the WA Women’s Football League, the West Australian Football Commission, Yorga Match Committee and major sponsor Kooya Consultancy, the 2014 Yorga match was a huge success with all money raised being donated back into WAFC female indigenous football programs.

Promoting the mutually respectful relationship between our indigenous and non-indigenous female football players, the match was born from an idea by Charlie Headland and Paula Hicks to celebrate indigenous Australian women’s love of playing football and promote reconciliation between all players.

The 2014 game was one that showcased skill from both sides, with the WAWFL All Stars team winning the Lil Kickett Memorial Shield for the first time, proving too strong the for Indigenous All Stars.

Craig Quartermaine led the Indigenous All-Star team, while the WAWFL All-Star Team was coached and Swan Districts Women’s Head Coach Nicole Graves

The WAWFL All Stars came out firing from the first siren, eager to show the crowd that 2014 was their year, having been beaten in both previous Yorga Matches.

Dominating the first quarter 7 goals 3 with the Indigenous All Stars unable to make their mark on the scoreboard, the WAWFL All Stars were confident of their game plan going into the second.

At half time, the Indigenous All Stars had kicked 1 goal 2, and minimised the scoring efforts of the WAWFL All Stars who were kept to just 2 goals 4 for the quarter. 

The second half of football saw one of exciting play with strong running and impressive skills across the field, with special mentions going to Kira Phillips (Indigenous All Stars) and Kara Donnellan (WAWFL All Stars).

The ‘premiership quarter’ saw the Indigenous All Stars adding a further 3 goals 1 to their score, but were unable to tighten the margin with the WAWFL All Stars also kicking 3 goals 1.

With a lead of 53-points going into the final quarter, the Indigenous All Stars had a huge quarter ahead of them, and although they were unable to take the win they played exceptionally well. 

The WAWFL All Stars were dominant in all 4 quarters, and eventually took the win by 44-points.

With a final score of  13.9 (87)to 6.7 (43) the WAWFL All Stars won convincingly in the end, however the Yorga’s Koodjal Kadadjiny Match is more about bringing players from all over Perth together for a fun and exciting game of football.

An abundance of skill was shown by many players with Kira Phillips from Peel Women’s Football Club presented the Sharon Woods Medallion for best on ground for the second consecutive time.

The match paid tribute to Sharon Woods and Elizabeth Kickett, who were significant contributors to the WAWFL during its formative years. Elizabeth Kickett has since passed away and in her memory the WAWFL raise donations for Indigenous Football Programs.

This truly was a day that brought everyone together; families, friends, presidents and affiliates of WAWFL clubs, special guests; including sponsors, WAWFL life members, WAFC representatives, and the Kickett family (representing Elizabeth Kickett).

The interest and talent just shows that this game is going to continue to grow in the future. Thank you again to everyone that supported this event.