GEELONG midfielder Becky Webster is confident more of what Geelong produced in the final quarter of last week’s loss to St Kilda will help it open its 2021 AFLW account in Round 5.
The bottom-of-the-ladder Cats clash with fellow winless team Richmond, with the Tigers yet to register a victory since joining the competition last year.
Webster, who was one of this week’s Rising Star nominees, says the playing group remains optimisticDURINGF despite the tough opening month of the season.
“We’ve got a great group, and everyone is well-knit together,” she said. “We’re working through the highs and the lows, and this is just a low period at the moment.
“We know a wins around the corner, and we’re working really hard.
“We’re driving those expectations on the track and around the club, so it’s just a matter of time.
“If we can get the four quarters of football we want to play, we can be really hard to play against and getting that scoreboard pressure.”
Webster bounced back from a knock suffered in Round 3 against the Western Bulldogs in fine style against the Saints.
The 20-year-old racked up a career-high 24 disposals and took eight marks to become Geelong’s third Rising Star nominee, following fellow 2018 draftees Nina Morrison and Olivia Purcell during the Cats’ debut season.
“I got a phone call from ‘Johnno’ (Geelong AFLW boss) a couple of hours before it was announced, and I was sitting there thinking, ‘I wonder what Johnno’s up to?'” Webster said.
“When he said it, I was very surprised; I wasn’t expecting it at all.
“It was a very nice surprise. It’s always nice to be recognised with that sort of stuff and your hard work around the club.”
The 2019 Geelong VFLW best-and-fairest and VFLW Team of the Year member made the most of last year’s early finish to the AFLW season and cancellation of the VFLW season to recharge her batteries.
“It was hard with the season being cut off, of course, and not playing VFL,” Webster said.
“But, in hindsight, we would have played the whole season, then played the VFL season, and only had a month off and then back into it.
“So, I came back quite hungry and motivated for the game.”
Friday night’s clash with Richmond starts at 7:10pm, with GMHBA Stadium gates open at 6:00pm. Tickets can be purchased by clicking HERE.
Twitter: @tom_king79
