AN under-strength Geelong Falcons have narrowly avoided their lowest-ever score in a 25-point loss to Northern Knights at Deakin Uni on Sunday.
The Falcons, whose lone goal didn’t come until the final quarter, finished with 1.3 (9), only two points more than the 0.7 (7) they were held to by the Knights in Round 8, 2019.
It’s the first time the Falcons have suffered consecutive defeats since coming into existence in 2017.
“It was another great learning curve for our girls,” coach Paul Corrigan said.
“The second and fourth quarter we played some really good footy, and it was interesting our best footy was into the wind.
“I said to the girls that they want to find consistency across the four quarters instead of fluctuating from quarter to quarter.
“I said to them, you’re not going to win all games, and you’re not going to lose all games.
“Irrelevant of the result, you’ve got to be mindful we want to play a certain brand and a certain way, and I said if we hold that up and lose, so be it.
“It was frustrating, but for some of the girls, it was good learning as well.”
Already missing Vic Country aspirants Mia van Dyke (back) and Gabbi Featherston (knee), the Falcons lost Tamika Lewis (broken finger) on the eve of the game, while captain Lucy Were was sidelined by quarter time with an Achilles issue.
“You never like to make and excuse with personnel, but we had a few personnel at our better end that will be part of (under) 17s or 19s Vic Country squads,” Corrigan said.
“In saying that, taking nothing away from Northern as well. I thought they had a better method around the contest today.
“We hunted the ball too much, and if we didn’t win it, we got done on the outside.
“And they ran and played the conditions a little bit better than what we did today.”
Midfielder Tess Craven and vice-captain Poppy Schaap continued their impressive seasons.
“Tess has had a stellar year,” Corrigan said. “She’s been super consistent.
“Similar with Poppy.”
Defender Annie Lee, who returned from making a VFLW appearance with Geelong last week, ruck Keeley Hardingham and wing Meg Courtney also worked hard for the Falcons.
The Falcons will face another challenge when they host the unbeaten Oakleigh Chargers at Deakin Uni next Saturday.
NORTHERN KNIGHTS 2.1, 2.4, 3.5, 4.10 (34)
GEELONG FALCONS 0.0, 0.2, 0.2, 1.3 (9)
Goals: Northern Knights: T. Delgado, M. Appleby, R. Wilcox, M. Chaplin Geelong Falcons: I. Houtsma
Best: Northern Knights: T. Delgado, M. Appleby, R. Wilcox, M. Chaplin Geelong Falcons: T. Craven, P. Schaap, T. Morrow, Z. Garth, K. Hardingham, M. Courtney
