Tasmania Win Bronze at Under 18 National Champs

Tasmania's Under 18 Women have won the Bronze Medal at the 2022 National Championships in Cairns, QLD, defeating Western Australia Gold in the 3v4 playoff 3-2.

Maddison Brooks was named as the Player of the Tournament, also collecting the overal Top Goalscorer award too thanks to her 8-goal haul scored in only 6 matches.

Western Australia took a 1-0 lead into the main break, but Tassie burst out of the blocks in the second half to equalise soon after. A long ball out of defence from Maddison Brooks found Emma O'Grady on the right wing, and she sent another long ball into the circle for Emily Rockefeller to catch, cut back inside, spin, and eventually send the ball into the goals to score for Tassie.

Just before the end of the 3rd quarter WA got lucky in the circle once again, scoring their second and taking the lead back.

But in the final quarter this special Tassie group would not be denied.

Zayna Jackson played a quick ball to Maddison Brooks running down the right inside the attacking 23, who cut back inside and fired off a trademark reverse-stick shot from the top of the circle to equalise again for Tassie.

Then, with 90 seconds remaining, Maddison Brooks fired in a shot that drew a dangerous rebound from the WA 'keeper, earning Tassie a PC. It wasn't perfect, but a scramble on the line saw Emma O'Grady eventually knock the ball into the goals to put Tassie in front.

From there it was calm heads running down the clock until the final siren signalled the end of the match, Tasmania claiming a brilliant Bronze Medal finish!!

Congratulations to Coaches Susan Brooks and Ilene Carr and their team on an outstanding achievement!

The Under 18 Men had a strong tournament, finishing 8th overall after only narrowly missing out on the medal matches due to a very close pool. Max Johnstone finished 2nd overall on the goalscoring charts with 9 from his 6 matches.

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Tasmania's Under 15 Boys have finished 8th overall at their national championships in Newcastle, NSW, while the Under 15 Girls finished equal 9th overall.