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THESE Yanks definitely don't tank, taking it up to the Aussies in the first tour by an international women's Australian rules football team. Despite losing their four games they edged closer each time, finishing with a two-point nail-biter against a combined VWFL team on Saturday.

US Freedom is mostly Americans and one expat Australian, and boasts the Statue of Liberty on its jumper. After visiting the SCG and enjoying a tour with Swans coach Paul Roos, team members attended Friday night's Hawthorn-Adelaide game at the MCG.

Arizona Hawks onballer/forward and Freedom vice-captain Tina Arend, 30, likes Hawthorn because it sponsors her team. The Hawks lost, but the social security officer loved the game and our cheer squads, which were like nothing she'd seen. "It was awesome to come to Melbourne, the home of footy," she said. "I was surprised at how fast it moves and how skilled they are."

Dewi Mitchell-Schierholz, 33, a half-back flanker with the Atlanta Lady Kookaburras, also loves the game but has a tough time explaining herself back home. "(I tell them) it's a combination of tackling and soccer skills and basketball skills but with an oval ball," she said. "Most people look at me like I'm crazy."

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The US Women Freedom team today ended the playing part of their tour down under with a narrow loss to the VWFL team. On a cold blowy Saturday afternoon the Freedom failed to capitalise on some good movement into the forward line on many occaisions.

Overcast and blustery conditions greeted the teams as they arrived to play the VWFL's first ever exhibition match against a touring team from America called USA Freedom. The VWFL side consisted of players from a number of clubs who had come together as a team for the 1st time under the coaching of St Kilda and Victorian star Penny Cula-Reid. The USA Freedom have had a whirlwind tour with games in three states over the last two weeks.

The Freedom came out on fire continually driving the ball forward with a handy breeze. Poor kicking though saw them fail to capitalise fully with 2.5 on the scoreboard while the shellshocked VWFL was scoreless. Sarbarker and Harrington being the Freedoms goalkickers.

The second quarter proved the value of the breeze and how well the two sides were matched when this was almost reversed and the VWFL kicked 2.5 to the Freedom's two points.

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As with most things in life, one must crawl before walking. Game 1 of the tour was a testimony to this. The first quarter was quite staggering, and the Sydney Women’s football team (the Shamrocks) not only gave us a wonderful introduction to how footy is truly played [where the sport originated], but they also broke many of the preconceived notions about what it takes to be a quality footballer.

While we were certainly the “fitter/leaner” team, they showed us the many virtues of skill and experience over speed and fitness. Their game reflected that of an orchestra rather than a solo performance. With many contributors moving symbiotically to create opportunities, their speedy hand-passes and positioning taught us that all of the running in the world won’t necessarily conquer a quick hand-pass that can travel the length of the ground faster than our fastest player. Great positioning equals great timing, and great timing equals efficiency, which is what ultimately overcame us in the end, even in the last quarter when the U.S. Freedom started to wear down the Sydney Shamrocks.

Photo: US Freedom and Sydney Shamrocks.

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While a couple cocktails were definitely in order after our first game, the night ended quickly as we were hungry, then full and exhausted. Another valuable lesson: Make reservations when you’re eating with a group of 27. After walking the street in search of eats (and the capacity for 27 of us), the team ended up at the Dolphin hotel, watched some AFL, and ate our share of Australian fare.

Sunday gave us a break in our rigorous schedule, so we headed back down to Bondi Beach for a recovery swim. For those that took the plunge, the water was shockingly frigid, so much so that it took your breath away. Leaving the water, we couldn’t wait to wrap ourselves in our souvenir Sydney Swans beach towels and soak in some rays on the soft sand. Relaxation wasn’t in the cards for Mobes, Sars, and Krazz. City to Surf, a 14K race, was going on and our fearless leaders joined over 75,000 others to run the streets of Sydney. With an uphill trek of more than 5K, the guys were beat by the finish line.

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BENDIGO’S goal to field an open-age women’s football team from 2010 gained pace in last night’s Aussie Rules clash with USA Freedom. A Bendigo line-up that included a mix of basketball, soccer, netball and Aussie Rules players was victorious at Fulton Hogan Oval at Kangaroo Flat’s Dower Park by 32 points.

Coached by Kangaroo Flat’s senior coach, Darryl Wilson, Bendigo won 8.4 (52) to 3.2 (20) before a crowd of more than 1500 as the Freedom marked the third match of its first tour to Australia. Although it had just a couple of training runs before the historic clash, Bendigo’s squad dominated the first half. Led by the play of captain Andrea Walsh, Bree Martin, Ellie McGrath and Faith Bentley, the home team led 4.2 (26) to nil at quarter-time.

The Southern Shorthaul Railroad-backed challenge match kicked off with Simone George kicking the first goal. A great mark by Emma Wolters on the 50m arc set up another attack from which Faith Bentley soccered the ball from the goalsquare for another six points. Walsh marked at half-forward, kicked to the pocket and then ran to goal to be on the end of a handpass to goal. The teamwork of the Bendigo players earned high praise from Wilson. George’s tackle led to another free and goal.

Photo: Bendigo's Bree Martin kicks ahead of New York's Monica Robbins.

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