Last Updated on Tuesday, 24 November 2009 09:27 Written by Jan Cooper Tuesday, 20 October 2009 08:00

While Perth sweltered in unseasonal 37 degree heat on Saturday, an enthusiastic team of footballers from the WA Women’s Football League were heating up the Albany AFL scene.

Invited to participate in the Albany Sportsfest, which is held to encourage women to be physically active, the WAWFL participated in an exhibition game.

Eighteen dedicated players mixed in with girls from the Great Southern to put on a highly skilled display, with participants including WAWFL Rookie of The Year Emilee Chamberlain from South Fremantle and All-Australian Karen Cowley.

Chamberlain took some excellent marks and drove her team forward with well placed kick, while Cowley rebounded superbly out of defence.

Local girl Britney Needs also put in a solid performance, exciting Claremont WFC recruiters with her ability to read the play and burst forward with good pace when she got the ball.

The Albany girls proved no slouches at the game with some exceptionally clean ball handling and hard running to contests. The first Great Southern girl to be inducted into WA’s Female Football Talent Academy, Tess Brinsden, 17, kicked the first goal of the match with a long, raking left footer from around 45m.

Naturally, being a local girl this delighted the appreciative crowd that gathered to enjoy the exhibition.

SCOREBOARD

Claremont WFC 5.5 (35) defeated Great Southern 2.4 (16)

Best players: Claremont – Karen Cowley, Britney Needs, Leah Kaslar, Tess Brinsden (2 goals)

Great Southern – Charlene Humphries, Emilee Chamberlain, Lauren D’Arcy, Sam Manning