THEY hold their own each week against the Hunter Central Coast AFL youth brigade but the senior stateswomen at Port Stephens Power are thirsty for Masters football.
Nine stalwarts of the Power club – demon defender Josie Johnson, Leaf Wilson, Sam Furner, Airlie Coleman, Emma Chester, Jemma Astley, Cassie Terranova, Tamara Stacker and Justine Hourihan – recently participated in the Hunter Masters exhibition Mini Carnival at Newcastle’s No 1 Sports Ground.
The tournament featured veteran men’s and women’s players aged over 35 from the Newcastle and Port Stephens region in a classic promotion for Masters AFL.
Skill, endurance and competitive matches were the order of the day.
Inspirational Power skipper Josie Johnson told News Of The Area that the Masters format “has proved popular with the local seasoned campaigners.”
Josie and her Power team mates compete in the Senior AFL Black Diamond Plate competition where their experience and game smarts keep them in good stead.
Nelson Bay Marlins ace Jessie Blyth took the field with her mother-in-law Penny Blyth and led the way with another all-action performance.
It was a first ever match experience for 54-year-old Penny, who has proved a fine stalwart for the Marlins over the years.
She capped a memorable debut match by booting a spectacular goal to send the vocal crowd into raptures.
The Hunter Masters exhibition mini carnival was a top promotion and ideal lead into this year’s National AFL Masters Over 35s Championships to be staged in Darwin from September 28 to October 4.
Penny’s husband Michael and three sons Adam, Lachlan and Matthew, have also given sterling service to the Marlins on and off the field.
Anyone interested in playing Masters AFL is invited to a Come and Try Day on Monday 7 July (during the school holidays) at Nelson Bay’s Dick Burwell Oval from 3pm to 4.30pm.
By Chris KARAS
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