GEELONG Falcons have overcome a 19-point halftime deficit to claim their third consecutive NAB League Girls win with a victory over Oakleigh Chargers.
After going goalless in the first half, the Falcons held the reigning premier to just two behinds in the second half to come out on top 3.6 (24) to 3.5 (23) at Deakin Uni.
The Falcons repelled several forward 50 entries by the Chargers in the closing moments after having some opportunities to extend the lead in the second half of the final quarter following goals to Leila Owens and Kara Stacey.
“Then Oakleigh would come down, and we defended really well,” coach Paul Corrigan told Bay 93.9’s The Sideline View.
“It went to and fro between the arcs a little, and we were lucky enough to hold on in the end.”
It was the second time the Falcons had been held to one goal to three-quarter time this season.
But unlike Round 1 against Dandenong Stingrays, Corrigan’s charges were within striking distance of their opponent.
“I said to the girls after the game, ‘sometimes you don’t always play your best football, but good teams find a way to win’,” he said.
“I think we were able to do that against Oakleigh, and we were able to do that against Murray a couple of weeks ago.
“I said, ‘as long as you’re learning from the way we played, and what that looked like, and how we can keep getting better’.
“We were obviously disappointed with the way we were playing in the first half, but to their credit, they turned it around, which was really pleasing.”
Sara Howley found plenty of the ball for the Falcons to finish with 25 disposals while also laying six tackles.
Grace Purcell (24 disposals, 11 tackles, six inside 50s) and ruck Keeley Hardingham (21 disposals, 19 hitouts, seven tackles) were also influential.
The Falcons will look to make it four straight wins when it travels up the Midland Highway to Mars Stadium in Ballarat for a meeting with the GWV Rebels on Saturday.
Twitter: @tom_king79
