Coach Dan Lowther was impressed with the maturity and growth displayed by his team in Geelong’s Round 1 win over the Western Bulldogs.
The Cats opening the season with a dominant 48-point victory.
Here are the key takeaways from his post-match press conference, presented by Viva Energy.
Lowther on Geelong’s performance…
I saw a really good four quarter effort. From the start we put the pressure on that we needed to around the ball. Our shape around the contest was good with our balance and we moved the ball with a bit of fluidity up front too. We took our opportunities when the ball went in our front half.
I thought it was a really connected game from our defence, mids and forwards. I feel like we were in control. Clearly we won and we won well, but it was nice to feel like we had control of the game from the start.
Lowther on the performance of returning player’s Renee Garing and Erin Hoare…
Erin did a great job. It’s always going to be hard against (Alice) Edmonds who’s giving up so much height and who has had a fantastic last couple of seasons. So, it was nice to equalise that space and give our midfielders a bit of a look.
Then Renee after coming off such a long lay off, she played her role. She said after the game that ‘my role was to put pressure on and just be active, to support where needed’, and we thought she did that really well. So, rapt for them both.
Lowther on the midfield battle…
I thought Georgie’s (Prespakis) work around contest, the way she exploded out, Amy (McDonald) in support, Crock (Julia Crockett-Grills) had a cracking game as well. The way they won possession but were able drive out and then decide whether to use the shape or go forward. We probably lost our way a bit in the third quarter a bit around that stuff and the ball was stuck in our back half, but around contests against some really quality opposition just shows the maturity and growth within our group.
Lowther on Jacqueline Parry’s three goal performance…
She surprised herself but again she has worked hard on her craft, she is really fit and really mobile. That connection piece too, having Kate Surman in that in between area to support her. Jacq was isolated a few times and made the most of it, it’s always nice when you can have a few shots on goal, and she made the most that too.
Lowther on performance of Aishling Moloney…
She looks exciting and doesn’t panic. She plays her Gaelic game at our level, and she has only been out here for two months. She showed she is a real threat up front too, took a really nice mark as well. She has picked up the game really quickly.
The decision where she evaded and found it short, that shows good game sense and awareness, and she has got that in spades.
Lowther on the home support…
I can’t stress the support of members and fans getting to all AFLW games, let alone those of your home club. It just makes such a difference. I coach from the bench, and you can just hear and feel the electricity go through the game and the players do too. Four thousand is great, let’s make it seven or eight thousand next time we play at home.
