ROCKY Cranston will make some slight adjustments to her aggressive playing style ahead of her first AFL Women’s appearance for Geelong in Sunday’s clash with the Crows in Adelaide.
The tough-as-nails former Melbourne midfielder missed the Cats historic win over Collingwood in Round 1 and the Round 2 loss to the Western Bulldogs after copping a two-week suspension for an incident in the practice match against Carlton on January 17.
“It will, a little bit,” Cranston said when asked if she would change her approach.
“I know from the first year (with the Demons), I definitely altered the way I play and definitely eased off a little bit.
“I’ve worked a little bit with Hoody on some tackling techniques and not using so much much momentum because I’m a bit stronger than some of the other girls.
“But, I’ve worked on it, and it will probably be something I have to tweak and work on.”
Not surprisingly, Cranston found it hard to tough to be sidelined for the matches against the Magpies and Bulldogs.
“Round 2 was probably harder because, you know, a loss, I felt I couldn’t help them out,” she said.
“(There was) a little bit of envy in Round 1, but it was so good to see them have a win.
“I’m ready to go out there now.”
The Cats sit a game clear in second spot on the Conference B ladder, and Cranston is well aware a win over the Crows would have her team well-placed for a crack a top-two finish.
“We’re kind of lucky with the conferences at the moment,” she said.
“I kind of feel for the sides that are going really well in Conference A .,. if you look at the conferences it kind of looks like a (combined) ladder.
“So, we are pretty lucky that we’ve still got an opportunity, but we’ve got to get through Adelaide first.
The Cats haven’t ruled out veteran big Aasta O’Connor lining up against the Crows.
O’Connor was forced from the field during the third quarter of the loss to the Bulldogs with a knee issue and underwent scans on Tuesday.
She is set to meet with Geelong’s medical staff on Thursday before a decision on whether she plays against Adelaide is made.
Captain Mel Hickey is a chance to play her first game since rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament in March last year while playing for Melbourne.
Twitter: @tom_king79
