Shepparton United’s Holly Egan wrapped up her representative stint in the Big V by playing a handy role as her side notched its first win of the AFL Girls Under-18 Championships at the weekend.
Taking on a successful Western Australia side at Moorabbin’s RSEA Park, Egan notched 14 touches with two marks, tackles and clearances apiece as the Country girls controlled the game in unexpected yet resounding fashion.
It has largely been a difficult season in terms of numbers on the scoreboard for the young gun, with the Murray Bushrangers facing some tough fixtures this season, but Vic Country’s 10.3 (63) to 5.1 (31) win was certainly one to savour.
Club eligibility rules prevented Egan from taking part in Shepparton United’s Goulburn Murray Women’s League grand final with Echuca, in which the red and blue went down by a solitary point.
Demons coach Grant Searle paid tribute to her development and, more than understandably, sees a high ceiling ahead for the prodigious talent.
“I think she’ll probably go very high in the draft,” Searle said.
“She’s a terrific young girl who has high potential and shows that when she’s given the opportunities.
“Her Bushrangers games this year have been superb and she’s played extremely well in all her rep games.
“She deserves every opportunity to play for Vic Country and she’s usually in the top five among those games; she’s certainly a highly respected player.”
With the AFL Women’s national draft now locked in for Monday, December 16, the Demons product’s date with destiny is now set.
She has the opportunity to join a handful of other prominent draftees who once called Deakin Reserve home as United’s burgeoning women’s program continues to bear fruit.
“We’ve got a number of AFLW players who have been associated with Shepparton United,” Searle said.
“The girls are given opportunities to try out with the Bushrangers if we see they’ve got potential, and she certainly did.
“We’re in the process of nominating players for Bushrangers next year and the V/Line Cup, and we’ll hopefully get a few selected due to their outstanding abilities.”
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