GEELONG Falcons have suffered their first loss of the NAB League Girls season after being unable to match the Sydney Swans Academy in wet and windy conditions at Deakin Uni on Saturday
The Swans, who play in the competition on an invitational basis, kicked two goals in the second quarter on their way to a 13-point victory.
Falcons coach Paul Corrigan paid credit to Sydney’s performance.
“They ran really well; they outnumbered us a lot more, too, with their workrate,” he said.
“We weren’t able to get our system going with how we wanted to play with our ball movement.
“And I thought our pressure was a down a little bit compared to previous weeks when we really hit out straps. We had the week off, so you never know the effects of returning from a week off.
“It was probably a bit more disappointing that we know our potential, and we didn’t live up to it.”
Corrigan wasn’t using the absence of several key players as an excuse, with Zoe Garth (Williamstown), Renee Tierney and Annie Lee (both Geelong) on VFLW duty. At the same time, Ingrid Houtsma (illness) was a late withdrawal on the morning of the match.
“It gave an opportunity to a couple of other girls, which is good,” Corrigan said.
Vice-captain Poppy Schaap and midfielder Tess Craven continued their impressive seasons for the Falcons.
“They were super; they really flew the flag for us,” Corrigan said.
“They were strong through every quarter, and their workrate was really high throughout the game – they never gave up.
“They’ve been putting together good seasons those two.”
The Falcons will look to bounce back against Northern Knights at Deakin Uni next Sunday.
However, they will be without Ash Van Loon after she suffered a concussion during the loss to the Swans.
Twitter: @tom_king79
SYDNEY SWANS ACADEMY 1.0, 3.0, 3.0, 4.3 (27)
GEELONG FALCONS 1.1, 1.2, 2.2, 2.2 (14)
Goals: Sydney Swans Academy: J. Doyle 2, A. Lewis, E. Morgan. Geelong Falcons: T. Craven, K. Hardingham
Best: Sydney Swans Academy: M. Hendrie, R. Sargent-Wilson, J. Doyle, E. Heads, K. Gilchrist, I. McLeay. Geelong Falcons: P. Schaap, T. Craven, T. Morrow, C. Hardy, K. Hardingham, M. Van Dyke
