GEELONG Falcons have been boosted by the timely return of Poppy Schaap for Saturday’s semi-final against Calder Cannons at Dandenong’s Shepley Oval.
Schaap, who missed last week’s final round win over the Murray Bushrangers with an arm injury, is among two inclusions for the Falcons.
Tamika Lewis also returns, with Bianca O’Brien and Annie Lee omitted.
“Poppy’s great within the group, but out on the ground, she’s really important to our midfield group,” coach Jason Armistead.
“Then also with her forward pressure and ability to kick some goals when she has a rest down there.
“We’re rapt to have her back.”
The Falcons had the better of the Cannons by 14 points in a low-scoring scrap at RAMS Arena when the two teams met on April 28.
However, Armistead says that result will mean nothing on Saturday afternoon.
“It’s a bit different when it’s finals, I think,” he said.
“The game was pretty scrappy; it was a pretty windy day, and we got off to a good start, so that was probably the most important thing from that day that we hopefully replicate on the weekend.
“Finals are always different. The consequences are bigger and, hopefully, we can come out the right side of it.”
Armistead says the Falcons were able to do some homework on start duo Georgia Patrikios and Georgie Prespakis, sister of 2019 AFLW Rising Star winner Maddy.
“We’ll be a little bit more aware of them on Saturday,” he said.
“But, we’re still, at the moment, concentrating on what we do really well.
“There’ll be some awareness around their really good players, but we just want to play the way did we last week.”
MEANWHILE, the Geelong Falcons Boys will return to Werribee’s Avalon Airport Oval for a meeting with metro neighbour Western Jets.
Twitter: @tom_king79
NAB LEAGUE GIRLS SEMI-FINAL
GEELONG FALCONS (2nd) vs. CALDER CANNONS (3rd)
Shepley Oval – Dandenong
Saturday, May 19, 2:15pm
[supsystic-tables id=’26’]
NAB LEAGUE BOYS ROUND 8
GEELONG FALCONS (16th) vs. WESTERN JETS (8th)
Avalon Airport Oval – Werribee
Saturday, May 19, 2:45pm
[supsystic-tables id=’8′]
