With most parents relying on their navigation systems to find the elusive Bentleigh ground, we were lucky to gather a full side in time for the opening bounce today! It would seem that our run of lovely Sunday morning weather is now over. Boy it was cold this morning! Owing to the score line, it was back to flossing and fidgeting in the forward line for our girls to keep warm.
Led by Captain Willow, the girls came out strong. As I write the report each week I’m noticing a trend – the named captain always has a great game. Maybe Robbie should appoint a leadership ‘group’ each week! But Willow was not the only one giving it real go and the first term saw some great play from Chloe. Agatha took a beautiful mark and provided some strong kicking out of defence. Ruby T and Tiarni both worked hard throughout the quarter and Charli did an outstanding job until she came off injured in the late stages of the quarter(but bravely returned in the second).
There was a lot of great play in the second quarter and Audrey started the quarter well with a free kick followed by a couple of effective handballs, kicks and tackles throughout the quarter. Unfortunately, a dazzling run out of defence with two bounces by Stella was penalised by the umpire. Who would have thought there was a rule against such skilful play?! We were all excited by it nonetheless. Nearly every girl on the team got their hands on the ball in the second quarter. Ruby T contested the ruck on several occasions and clocked up several possessions. The twenties – Agatha, Lucy and Sienna – all fought hard, and Georgia showed us again what a great kick of the ball she is. Ruby P put on a chase and schoolmate Scarlett really got in there and laid a couple of great tackles. The tackling was great from Tamara and Willow who also won a free kick for her stronghold on a Bentleigh player. What a great quarter of footy girls!
Ruby P and Audrey were in the action early in the centre after half time and Georgia scooped up and cleared a Bentleigh shot at goal. Both Willow and Charli took Robbie’s half-time orders seriously and ‘fought like hell’. On several occasions Charli was found scrambling on hands and knees for the ball and was responsible for getting the ball into our forward 50. There was a passage of play where Charli, Chloe, Phoebe, Tiarni, Tamara and Agatha dominated, and it really looked like we were in with a chance.
Th final quarter saw Agatha own the back pocket, taking some excellent marks and fighting hard to win the ball back on several occasions. Despite copping a high tackle late in the third quarter, Charli was relentless in the fourth with some great marking and tackling. Stella too took a beauty – it is really awesome to report on all of these marks. There is no doubt the skill level of the whole group is on the rise. The final quarter also saw gallant efforts from Phoebe, Willow, Ruby T (who had a spell injured but bravely came back on), Sienna, Tiarni and Scarlett.
We couldn’t deny the scoreboard today with it flashing in our faces – but it didn’t matter. Every week the girls try their heart out and simply seem to enjoy playing footy together. To their great credit they are not disheartened by the scoreboard – even when it is a fandangled electronic one! Our courageous captain Willow was awarded for her efforts. She selected Georgia for her great contribution for the Captain’s award this week, and Tiarni and Agatha were also awarded for their hard work and determination. Well done girls on another hard-fought game of footy against an opposition with more games, more years and many more centimetres on you!
Written by Olivia Cook (Audrey Hanson’s mum)
