Leesa Catto | 10 July 2014
We’ve made great strides as a football club this year both on and off the field.
Our Premier Division team are on track for a finals berth for the first time since when, 2007? Lloyd has actually only coached us in 7 home and away games so far. In development terms we’re in our infancy, there’s a lot of hard work ahead and a lot of upside if we’re prepared to put in.
Our Division 1 team continue to improve and produce players capable of playing in Premier Division while still recording the wins and Marnie continues to develop and improve as a coach.
All in all we’re travelling pretty well at the half way mark of the season and there’s a lot to do in the second half of the year.
One word that we as a club have been working on is BELIEF. Do we have belief in ourselves that we can play good footy as a team, do we have belief in each other? It’s easy to have belief when things are going great, what about when the chips are down….do we have belief?
Following the bye for the AFL women’s game, VWFL action resumed on Sunday and we travelled to Melbourne Uni to take on the Mugars in Round 8.
Last time we played at Melbourne Uni we got changed in a portable building, this year we were greeted by a magnificent pavilion and change rooms.
DIVISION 1
The weather was challenging to say the least and our Division 1 team found the going tough. With the Sharks on top of the ladder & the Mugars just below us, this was the clash of 1 v 2.
We started well, kicking the first goal for the game with Nic Taylor opening our account in the 1st quarter and we took a 1 goal lead into the first break.
Alas it was to be our only goal and we managed just 5 behinds in the remaining 3 quarters and the Mugars kicked 4.2.
That we had the same number of scoring shots indicates that we had the ball inside our forward 50 often enough, putting the score on the board is what we have to work on.
Ash Bertagno and Ellie George-Brimson were our best players.
Coach DJ told stkildasharks.com post game that she was disappointed,
“A disappointing game for the reserves.
We did not play to our full potential, missed several opportunities and were beaten by a better team on the day.
Notwithstanding, we will bounce back, hit the training track hard and look forward to a big win on Sunday” she said.
Melbourne Uni 0.0, 2.2, 4.2, 4.2 (26)
St Kilda 1.0, 1.1, 1.3, 1.5 (11)
GOALS, Melbourne Uni : E. Inguanti 3, S. Catterwell 1
St Kilda : N. Taylor 1
BEST, Melbourne Uni : J. Fewster, S. Catterwell, S. Wilson, K. Chatelier, J. Wieselmann, E. Inguanti
St Kilda : A. Bertagno, E. George-Brimson, M. Hall, A. Arzoumanian, R. Achampong, K. Taylor
PREMIER DIVISION
It had been a long time since our Premier Division team had actually beaten the Mugars at Melbourne Uni and heading into Sunday’s game, stalwart Penny Cula-Reid could only recall one win at Main Oval in the last ten years. We went into Sunday’s game sitting in 4th spot on the ladder with the Mugars in 3rd.
We started well, kicking towards the Swanston street end in the first quarter we kicked 5.1 and restricted the Mugars to 2.3. Whilst scoring shots were nearly even, our accuracy was terrific as was our pressure down back and we took at 16 pt lead into the first break.
Our accuracy continued in the second quarter, kicking 4 goals straight. The Mugars had plenty of the ball, finishing with 2.4. The going was tough in the 2nd quarter with falling rain and wind making sure ball handling difficult, and we took a 24 pt lead into the main break.
Lloydy spoke at ½ time about our belief and urged us to continue to work hard in the 2nd half. We came out and booted 3 straight for the quarter while the Mugars kicked 1.4. The backline was under pressure and worked very hard as a unit supporting each other. A highlight of the quarter was a huge left foot goal by our number 23 and we took a 32 pt lead into the last change.
It was great to see Mo take charge of the forward line at ¾ time, as she addressed the forwards about what was working and what we could do better.
We continued to work hard in the last quarter as did the never say die Mugars. They outscored us by a goal, kicking 3.1 to 2.1, and we ran out 26 pt winners.
Lloydy told stkildasharks.com that he was pleased with the game,
“Good game Sunday, with maybe a bit of belief & trust now in the team. A great first Q and hard work in the 2nd set up a good win for the club,” he said.
Mo Hope continued her outstanding form finishing with 7 goals, while Banner, McWilliams & Harris kicked 2 each. We had 5 separate goal kickers with 4 multiple goal kickers.
It was a terrific team effort with Shannon and Heff named as our best players.
St Kilda Sharks 5.1, 9.1, 12.1, 14.2 (86)
Melbourne Uni 2.3, 4.7, 5.11, 8.12 (60)
GOALS, St Kilda Sharks : M. Hope 7, R. Banner 2, P. McWilliams 2, G. Harris 2, A. Catterall 1
Melbourne Uni : L. Stephenson 2, E. Blackburn 2, L. Spark 1, C. McIntosh 1, E. Kearney 1, L. Byrnes 1
BEST, St Kilda Sharks : S. McFerran, C. Heffernan, L. Bazeley, J. Bruton, R. Dardengo, M. Hope
Melbourne Uni : C. McIntosh, E. Kearney, E. Blackburn, L. Spark, G. Anderson, K. Ashmore