COACH Jason Armistead has urged the Geelong Falcons to play with freedom in their final round clash with Murray Bushrangers ahead of second consecutive NAB League Girls finals appearance.
The reigning premier is coming off its first loss of the season after being held goalless in 36-point defeat by flag favourite Northern Knights.
Armistead says the meeting with the Bushies at Werribee’s Avalon Airport Oval on Saturday afternoon will be a chance to restore some confidence.
“We hope to get back to scoring a little bit more, and getting back to the way we were playing earlier in the year,” he said.
“Just let the players off the leash a little bit; let them be a bit more creative.
“We’ve probably stifled them a bit … we’ve probably concentrated on the defensive side of the game a little bit too much over the last few weeks.
“We want to get back to scoring and taking the game on.”
The Falcons have made four changes, with Jeremi Robinson, Alannah Sanderson, Taylah Hassett and Bianca O’Brien replacing Poppy Schaap (arm), Laura Ryan, Tamika Lewis and Analea McKee.
Armistead is hoping Schaap, whose arm remains in plaster, will be right for next week’s knockout semi-final.
“It’ll be how she’s feeling from a pain side of things,” he said.
“Otherwise, if we can get through to the grand final, we hope she’ll be right by then.
“There’s no obvious fracture in her arm at the moment.”
MEANWHILE, the Falcons Boys will be chasing consecutive wins when they also meet Murray Bushrangers at Avalon Airport Oval following the Girls match.
Luke Daffy’s charges were impressive in beating the Sydney Swans Academy by 31 points.
Twitter: @tom_king79
NAB LEAGUE GIRLS ROUND 9
GEELONG FALCONS (2nd) vs. MURRAY BUSHRANGERS (8th)
Avalon Airport Oval – Werribee
Saturday, May 11, 12:00pm
[supsystic-tables id=’26’]
NAB LEAGUE BOYS ROUND 7
GEELONG FALCONS (15th) vs. MURRAY BUSHRANGERS (16th)
Avalon Airport Oval – Werribee
Saturday, May 11, 2:00pm
[supsystic-tables id=’8′]
