ALBURY claimed two state titles at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday in the largest AFL primary school competition in NSW and ACT.
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Lavington East Public School won the girls grand final of the Paul Kelly Cup while Trinity Anglican College took out the boys decider.
The year 5 and 6 squads qualified for the competition by winning through first the Albury division and then the Southern NSW final at Wagga.
Lavington East, coached by teachers Torrel Scullin and Stuart Beveridge and parent Gary McGrath, won two of its three pool matches to advance to the semi-final.
The team overcame Forestville in a low-scoring tussle three points to two, then defeated Belmont Christian School in the championship game.
Scullin said the players showed their versatility when faced with some unfamiliar rules regarding zoning and positions.
“The girls really modified and adapted to that change pretty quickly,” she said.
“They had to change positions every half.”
Former Sydney Swans champion Brett Kirk, once the Lavington East school captain, visited the players during the competition.
“Just spoke to the girls about having fun and working as a team,” Scullin said. “He mentioned as well how much girls footy is taking off.”
Lavington East year 6 student Grace Hay also won a long kick competition that featured in the day.
Trinity’s 57-0 thrashing of Marist College and two close losses enabled it to progress to the semi-finals on percentage after three teams in its pool finished with one victory each.
The team then scored 33 points in both its semi and the grand final, beating Newington College and St Angela’s Castle Hill respectively.
“That’s really quite amazing that the two Albury teams won,” Scullin said.
Trinity coach Jarrod Hillary said his team improved with each match.
"We were fortunate to make the semi-finals after losing two of our pool games," Hillary said.
"The boys just seemed to get better and better with each match.
"We lost to St Angela's in the pool games and then had a good win over them in the final.
"It was a really good effort by all the players.
“I thought everyone did their bit for the side at different stages.”
Trinity defeated Mater Dei, Deniliquin South and St Patrick’s Griffith to win the Southern NSW finals at Wagga in June.
The school is going from strength to strength on the sporting arena with many of its students excelling at regional and state levels.