GEELONG Falcons have overcome being held scoreless in the first quarter of its clash with fellow NAB League Girls premiership contenders Dandenong Stingrays to remain unbeaten on top of the ladder after five rounds.
Faced with a 22-point deficit at quarter time, the Falcons slowly worked their way back into the contest before running away with a 17-point victory, 7.6 (48) to 4.7 (31).
“Dandy was awesome in the first quarter, and we were a little bit off,” Falcons coach Jason Armistead said. “It was a bit of a shock to our girls, I think.
“But it was one of the best games I’ve been involved with as a coach.
“It was really exciting.”
Armistead says the message to his charges at the opening break was simple.
“We spoke a lot about making sure it was a contest. A lot of our girls in the first quarter were trailing their opponents; our defenders were off their opponents a little bit,” he said.
“But it was just about making it back into a contest.
“It slowly turned around. We kicked a couple (goals) in the second quarter, and it really drove what happened after that.
“It was a great response by our girls … we’re really proud of what they’re able to do.”
Captain Lucy McEvoy again led from the front, Poppy Schaap played arguably her best game with three crucial goals, while leaders Renee Tierney, Paige Sheppard and Abbey Chapman made sure the Falcons winning streak extended to 16.
“Lucy drove the change from the start of the second quarter,” Armistead said.
“Poppy was awesome down forward and in the midfield. Renee did a great job working up and down the ground and providing a target for the outlet kick and also in the forward line.
“Abbey did a really good job on one of their key forwards who was looking dangerous in the first quarter.
“But, when we were doing the best players, there were 10 or 12 players we could have easily put in there.
The Falcons next face Western Jets at Williamstown on Sunday in the final game before a break for Easter.
Twitter: @tom_king79
GEELONG FALCONS 0.0, 2.0, 4.4, 7.6 (48)
DANDENONG STINGRAYS 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 4.7 (31)
Goals: Geelong Falcons: P. Schaap 3, P. Sheppard, R. Tierney, D. Moloney, M. Skinner
Dandenong Stingrays: G. Howes 2, H. Thomas, A. Liddle
Best: Geelong Falcons: L. McEvoy, R. Tierney, P. Sheppard, A. Chapman, E. Vella, P. Schaap
Dandenong Stingrays: C. Bell, B. Vernon, G. Howes, G. Grimmer, M. McDonald, J. Radford
