ZAILEE Robson, Lily Williamson and Farren Cooper have helped their sides to a bronze medal victory in the school sport Australia U12 Australian football championships, held in Lavington NSW.

The three are from Governor Stirling Senior High School, with Zailee and Lily making the trip as part of the girls’ squad, while Farren flew the schools’ flag for the boys.

Also in attendance from Governor Stirling was AFL program coordinator and sport teacher Sam Cavicchio, who was the boy’s assistant coach.

Both the boys’ and girls’ sides won four games and lost two, played in the finals round and finished third on the ladder overall.

Lily said her favourite part of the tournament, aside from getting to play footy every day, was the U12 girls side beating Victoria by two points for the first time in the team’s history.

“I took two marks in the backline against Victoria, stopping them scoring, which was a pretty cool feeling because it helped my team win,” Lily said.

She also made good friends with the girls from the Northern Territory side, and swapped her playing jumper with one of them.

Zailee said her favourite part of the tournament was the friends she made alongside getting to play footy, and is proud of herself for being selected as part of the squad.

Zailee kicked a goal in the last game against NSW, and said she was proud of her fierce marking attempts.

Farren said he was happy to be one of the 23 boys who got to represent WA, as more than 500 others had started out in the try-outs.

He enjoyed playing the games and making heaps of new lifelong mates, and was happy with his performance in the ruck against some bigger 12-year-olds.

“Playing through the championships with the pain of Osgood-Schlatter’s and managing to get through it each day was also an achievement,” Farren said.

Both Farren and Lily said they wish to continue playing Australian rules football when they get older, as Farren said playing for the U12 state team has given him motivation to continue to follow the pathway into the AFL.

Lily said she wants to keep playing her best footy for Upper Swan Junior Football Club and Governor Stirling SHS.

She also wants to continue to represent WA and hopefully one day play in the AFLW.