An eventual dirty day at Bennettswood Reserve started brilliantly in a history-making day for the Women, who registered their fifth win of the year and subsequently became the most successful women’s team of the club’s history, surpassing previous years’ records of four wins. A quarter-time deficit was the only smudge on an otherwise strong performance for the Animals as they ultimately ran away 22-point winners against Canterbury.
The game itself started rather slowly, before Canterbury fired shots first to score the first goal of the day, instilling in the Women a subtle sense of competition they didn’t feel for much of their first encounter earlier in the year. With the ball spending much of the first quarter between the arcs, it took a trademark Jemima Clancy snap from inside 50 to steady the Animals ship and see them into the first break down by just six points.
It wasn’t until the second quarter where, riding the momentum they’d turned their way in the first, the Women got to work. They not only limited their opponents to just one behind, but managed to get three of their own goals on the board as their ability to keep possession earned them their rewards. A free kick to Caity Power in the forward line delivered just one of the goals that dribbled in as she kicked the ball off only one step to see it sail over the pack of players that had formed in the goalsquare, before bouncing ever-so-slowly over the line for her first goal as an Animal. Two majors to goalkicking maestro Paige Hill, including one that somehow missed both opposition player and goal post gave the Animals a hefty lead of 11 points going into the main break.
Missed opportunities in front of goal during the third term did nothing to stop the Women in their quest, knowing the job was far from over despite the lead as Canterbury continued to push their case. But the Animals pushed back harder, and with a 14-point lead going into the last quarter, a famous victory was well on the cards. A rather cold backline left the field at the final siren as the ball spent the last twenty minutes stuck in the Animals’ forward half of the ground. The pressure and hunger had been there all game, but it only increased for the final term as Canterbury’s attempts to clear the ball only resulted in it getting bombed back in for another contest. Another goal to Hill solidified not only her efforts, but the whole team’s ability to keep their opportunities flowing. Another mark in the club’s history books for the Women’s team sets them in good stead for the remaining games of the home and away season.
Continuing her brilliant first season in the blue and blue, Clancy topped the best players list, joined by her regular partners in crime Hill, Ashton Billing and Clover Hart, while inspired performances from everyone’s favourite Animal Maddy Mazar and second-gamer Liv Walker sees them round out the top six.
With five games left of the regular season, the Women sit fifth on the ladder with their five wins, six losses and a percentage of 78.35%.
WP 5.6.36
CAN 2.2.14