GEELONG coach Andrew Bruce says the Southern Saints’ use of the football in greasy conditions proved the difference as it ended the Cats’ unbeaten start to the VFLW season
The St Kilda-aligned Saints kicked the only three goals of the second half to run away with a 6.3 (39) to 3.1 (19) victory at Deakin University.
“The possessions were actually pretty even, but they were just a lot cleaner than us and handed the conditions a bit better, I think,” Bruce told Bay 93.9’s The Sideline View.
“We had rain through the warm-up, which made things pretty slippery for the start of the game.
“Then, a couple of minutes into the third quarter, it started to rain, and it made things that little bit more difficult.”
Despite the loss, Bruce was pleased with the way Geelong competed.
“We really matched them in that phase of the games; there’s no doubt about that,” he said.
“And, as always, the girls gave their best effort.
“But, we know we have to get better, and we spoke about that after the game, and I know the group will do everything they can to execute that.”
Tamara Smith’s outstanding season continued as she racked up 33 disposals and laid 11 tackles, while AFLW-listed Rene Caris battled hard in the ruck with 16 disposals to go alongside 23 hitouts.
Geelong will face another tough challenge next Saturday when it hosts the unbeaten Casey Demons, who are coming off a 91-point hiding of the Western Bulldogs.
Twitter: @tom_king79
