The Women have secured another thrilling victory against then ladder-leaders Preston on the weekend, ultimately leaving Bennettswood Reserve 20-point winners after an exquisite second half set up by a grinding first. It was an early first-quarter goal to captain Ebony Ratcliffe from a kick on the 50 line that dribbled in that kickstarted the Animals and was arguably a hint of things to come as their pressure and purposeful ball movement limited their opposition scoring-wise. Using the wind to their advantage for much of the quarter, the Women kept peppering away in the forward half of the ground, before an Ashton Billing mark at the top of the 50 sent the ball back towards the square, where Rhiannon Stute soccered her first goal of the day, mere seconds before the siren.
Up by 14 points but against it with their opposition kicking in the direction of the wind, the Women knew they were in for a tough second quarter, and tough it was as it felt like they couldn’t get a consistent handle on the conditions. Preston kicked two quick goals to get the margin to just one point going into the main break but the Animals still had plenty left in the tank.
Once again with the wind advantage, the Women kicked ahead with two goals from Stute and one from Paige Hill, who continues her goal-a-game streak. Both Elli Haylock and Billing were exceptional on the halfback line, limiting the opposition from getting looks inside 50 on the off-chance the ball had gotten by the midfield, which was rarely. At the final break, the Women knew they had twenty minutes left and were more than committed to leave everything they had on the ground.
With a 20-point buffer, the Animals upped the pressure in the final quarter, making everything a contest, and knowing to spread once they got control of the ball. A goal to Preston saw the margin close just slightly, but the nerves were settled when Hill marked just inside 50 and kicked to a leading Amber Pyne-Jackson, who finally got on the board from her set shot on a slight angle, after missing one in the first term.
The ability to adapt to conditions and opposition sets the Women in good stead for the rest of the season as they continue to develop as the weeks go on.
Jas Adern continues her good form in the middle of the ground to be top of the best player’s list, joined by Stute, Tegan Murphy, Haylock, Poppy O’Shea and Lilli Fogarty.
As the season continues, the Women are edging closer and closer to a top-four spot, but currently sit fifth with four wins, five losses and a percentage of 73.87%.
WP 6.3.39
PRE 3.1.19