LAURA Gardiner has responded well from her axing from Geelong’s AFLW team with a standout performance in the Cats’ 18-point VFLW win over Hawthorn on Saturday.
Gardiner tallied 23 disposals, four clearances, four tackles and three marks as Geelong remained unbeaten after two rounds with a 5.3 (33) to 2.6 (18) victory at Deakin University.
“We were really happy with Laura’s performance,” coach Andrew Bruce said.
“As a midfielder, we want her to kick the footy a bit more, we want her to drive out of the contest and be really strong, and she did that for us.
“Her decision-making was very good and her skill execution was good.
“Laura always comes back with a fantastic attitude, and, hopefully, if it’s not this week, in the next couple of weeks, she’ll get another opportunity at a higher level.”
After Geelong kicked the first three goals of the match by the 15-minute mark of the opening term, there were only four more majors for the match.
“It became very contested,” Bruce said. “We probably didn’t use the football as well as we would have liked to once we got it out of the contest.
“They pushed two numbers deep into our forward line, which we didn’t cope with as well as what we should have.
“But it was a great learning opportunity for us as to what we need to do better in order to capitalise on that.”
Midfielder Tamara Smith continued her impressive start to the season with 22 disposals and 13 tackles.
“Last week, I think, was the best game she played for us,” Bruce said. “And the growth in her what she can do with the football, not so much her touches.
“Her kicking efficiency’s been a lot better over the past two weeks, and her decision to handball rather than kick under pressure is also really good.
“We know she’s an absolute gun at tackling, and she stopped so much of the footy getting out.
“She’s played another really solid game for us.”
For Hawthorn, Newtown & Chilwell duo Eliza Shannon and Sarah Perrott had 14 and nine disposals, respectively.
Geelong will look to make it three consecutive wins when it hosts Richmond-aligned Port Melbourne at Deakin Uni next Saturday.
Twitter: @tom_king79
