GEELONG Falcons will take momentum into the NAB League Girls finals series following a 19-point win over Calder Cannons at Highgate Reserve in Craigieburn.
The Falcons remained in third spot among the Country teams following the 7.6 (48) to 4.5 (29) victory, earning them a match-up with the Dandenong Stingrays in a semi-final next weekend at Shepley Oval.
Coach Paul Corrigan says following a stop-start home-and-away season, there was an emphasis pre-game on how vital a good performance against the Cannons was.
“The girls were really good today,” Corrigan said.
“Although we didn’t play our best footy for the whole four quarters, to come out nearly 20-point winners over a top-three side in the Metro (conference), we’re pretty happy with it.”
The Falcons started the better, using the aid of the breeze to open what would prove to be a match-defining 20-point lead at the first change.
However, they didn’t have the match on their terms all day.
“We got challenged in the second and third quarter, where they probably lifted their intensity around the ball, (and) their pressure was pretty good,” Corrigan said.
“We held pretty strong in the back half of the third quarter and started to get the game back on our terms a little bit.
“In the last quarter, we kicked against the breeze and came home pretty strong.
“We probably two-and-a-half quarters of our really good quarters, but if we can put four quarters, it’s pretty impressive to think what we can do in the coming weeks.”
Ruck Keeley Hardingham impressed the ruck, while acting captain Poppy Schaap did her best-and-fairest chances no harm with another solid performance, which included two goals.
Fellow Vic Country rep Renee Tierney, who featured at VFLW level with Geelong, also kicked two goals to take her tally to 10 for the season.
The Falcons should welcome back Charlotte Simpson and Ava McKeegan for the clash with the Stingrays.
Captain Lucy Were, who has been sidelined since late March with an Achilles issue, is also a chance to return.
Twitter: @tom_king79
Geelong Falcons 3.3, 3.3, 5.5, 7.6 (48)
Calder Cannons 0.1, 1.4, 3.5, 4.5 (29)
Goals; Geelong Falcons: P. Schaap 2, R. Tierney 2, Z. Garth, K. Hardingham, K. Stacey
Calder Cannons: J. Zakkour 2, G. Prespakis, O. Manfre
Best; Geelong Falcons: P. Schaap, K. Hardingham, R. Tierney, T. Morrow, T. Craven, I. Houtsma
Calder Cannons: E. Yassir, A. McDonald, P. Poultney, J. Zakkour, Z. Friswell, E. Nickolaus
