HUNTLY youth girls footballer Isabella Ayre has earned All-Australian selection after an outstanding performance at the School Sport Australia national carnival in Sydney.
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The key forward kicked 17 goals in four matches - including a bag of eight - as her Victoria team went through undefeated to claim the girls' 16-and-under title.
Their closest game was a 31-point win over Western Australia in the final, with Ayre moving into the ruck in wet conditions.
Ayre, who hails from Kerang and is the first female to train with the Bendigo Pioneers, finished equal fourth in voting for the player of the championships.
This was her second year in the All-Australian line-up.
It was a huge effort, given she twisted an ankle in Team Vic's second match, missed one game, then played out the carnival carrying the injury.
"I didn't think I would get in but it's a great feeling," the 15-year-old said of the honour. "You can't describe it really, but you get butterflies in the stomach."
Talented Castlemaine Secondary College student Choney Meemusour was also a member of the winning Victorian girls’ side.
The Big V dominated last week’s schools event, winning all three age groups contested and not dropping a single game in any section.
Strath Storm midfielder Mason Wakefield was part of the 12-and-under boys' team that had a thumping win in their deciding match against Western Australia.
The final score was Victoria 18.12 (120) to WA 0.2 (2).
Wakefield attends St Francis of the Fields Primary.
And Castlemaine young gun Kane Farrell also impressed with the Victorian 15-and-under squad.
He was among his side’s best players in the gold medal game against Queensland, which they won by 11 points.
He also booted four goals against New South Wales.