LIAM PHILLIPS
THE BL&GW All-Stars played
the third of its four-game series
against Central District’s reserves
on Sunday at Blakeview
in a game that saw a former All-
Star given a chance to prove her
worth in the red, white and blue.
BL&GW president and All-
Stars assistant coach Adam
Butcher said one of the reasons
the series was organised was to
get some SANFL eyes on the local
girls.
“This was actually the second
time that’s happened so far – in
the second game, Jessie Sandford
got a chance, and this week it was
Dakota Williams,” he said.
“It gives the club a chance to really
have a good look at them and
see how they play and fit with an
SANFLW outfit, and that’s a big
reason that we thought this series
was a good idea.
“We want to show the best
player we’ve got in our league and
give them a chance to go and play
at a higher level, because those
girls are then going to come back
to the BL&GW after the SANFLW
season with tons of valuable
experience.”
Williams, who has previously
spent time with the Adelaide
Crows academy, is a tenacious
inside midfielder who is arguably
the league’s best tackler despite
still being in high school.
On the field, Butcher said it was
the All-Stars’ best showing of the
series, getting two goals on the
board and battling hard inside the
contest.
“It was great to be able to hit the
scoreboard,” he said.
“We definitely enjoyed being
back on a smaller oval at Blakes
Crossing after playing on Centrals’
big home deck last week,
but each game we’re getting better
and learning valuable lessons.
“Mel Kruze was pretty good for
us today – she kicked our first goal
of the game before going off with
a concussion in the third quarter.
“Kate Argent-Bowden was
strong through the middle, and I
think Nikita McRostie was probably
our best on the day.”
The series will wrap up this
Sunday at Blakes Crossing.