FIRST-year Geelong VFL Women’s coach Natalie Wood says Saturday’s nail-biting win over Essendon at Colac’s Central Reserve will be vital for building belief in the group.
The Cats held off the Bombers by five points, 7.2 (44) to 5.9 (39), to claim their first victory of the season, Wood believes the importance of winning close games can’t be underestimated.
“Especially with a young, inexperienced group that hasn’t spent a lot of time together, to get that first win on the board for the year, and to get that sense of camaraderie and belief amongst each other,” she said.
“Winning’s why you go out there, so it’s always nice to win.
“But, it’s going to be a really challenging season. Every week’s going to bring about a new challenge just with the nature of the teams rotating players and never really getting that consistency of who you’re going to be up against each week.”
Geelong started the better of the two teams, with Kate Darby kicking all three of the Cats’ opening quarter goals.
However, the Bombers weren’t going to allow Geelong to walk away with the four points and threw everything at the Cats from them on, especially in a tight final quarter.
“They were really fleet-footed and fast, and late in the game they were able to use that to their advantage,” Wood said.
“They got very close with a number of forward 50 entries, but we had some pretty solid efforts from our defensive crew late in the game and just held on.”
Midfielder Jordan Ivey, young ruck Rene Caris, forward Maddy Boyd and former captain Bec Goring were among the best for Geelong, while Darby finished with four goals.
The Cats next face Collingwood at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday as part of a double-header with Geelong’s VFL team.
Twitter: @tom_king79
GEELONG 3.1, 5.1, 7.2, 7.2 (44)
ESSENDON 0.2, 2.5, 4.8, 5.9 (39)
Goals: Geelong: K. Darby 4, R. Benham, J. Ivey, C. Blakeway
Essendon: A. Moreen 2, F. Puruntatameri, L. Stepnell, A. Anderson
Best: Geelong: J. Ivey, R. Caris, M. Boyd, R. Goring, C. Blakeway, M. Keryk
Essendon: H. Bullas, L. Stepnell, M. Fogas, S. Nalder, K. Hicks, F. Puruntatameri
