GEELONG had some impressive individual efforts in their Round 4 29-point loss to St Kilda on Friday night, but weren’t able to capitalise their scoring opportunities when they had the momentum.
Here are the Round 4 Talking Points, presented by Villarosa Real Estate.
A Lionhearted Performance
One player that can hold her head high was Rebecca Webster.
The 20-year-old was everywhere at RSEA Park on Friday night finishing as the leading player on the ground for disposals, marks and metres gained.
Webster was outstanding in traffic, using her 172cm frame to her advantage, shrugging off her opponent’s time and time again, while keeping her feet and hitting her teammates with precision with her 24 disposals coming at 79.2% efficiency.
“She is just a real lionhearted player and puts her body on the line for the team,” Geelong Coach Paul Hood said post-game.
“Tonight, she was really brave in the contest, took it forward and she was a shining light for us.”
McDonald pair leading the way
Captain Meg McDonald and teammate Amy McDonald were once again named in Geelong’s best, continuing their excellent form this season.
The skipper had 18 touches and game-high eight intercepts. While Amy was outstanding in the middle once again with an equal game-high five clearances to go with 21 disposals and six tackles.
“Amy and Meg are two of our players that train the hardest and prepare the best, so it’s no secret that they show really consistent form and continue to grow.”
“The rest of our group needs to follow them and take a leaf out of their books and continue to do everything consistently to give themselves the best chance to play well.
“Certainly, for Meg and Amy, they are leading the team really well.”
Cats couldn’t capitalise when they had the momentum
When the siren sounded to end the first half the Cats went into the break right in the contest, trailing by a solitary point after two quarters of football.
You could mount a case that the Cats should have been in front, but they failed to fully capitalise on the chances they generated.
A third quarter blitz from the home team proved the difference with the Saints far more effective going inside 50, winning the quarter by 24 points to setup a match winning margin at the final break.
St Kilda’s effectiveness inside 50 was one of the major deciding factors. They hit the scoreboard 62.1% from their 29 forward 50 entries compared to Geelong who scored from a third of their 27 entries.
“We won the ‘what if’ for sure and we have had a few quarters like that this season where we gone a metre the wrong side of the post or we haven’t taken chances when it matters.”
“The more chances we create, the more we will start to make the most of and everyone will get more familiar with what they need to do in those situations, so that’s a positive but absolutely if you want to compete at the highest level against other AFLW teams that are finely tuned you have got to take your chances more often.”
Rocky on the rise
Richelle Cranston had a few good moments against St Kilda, suggesting she isn’t far from returning to her best.
Cranston kicked Geelong’s opening goal during the second quarter and looked dangerous with ball in hand, leading the Cats for forward 50 entries.
“She has taken some real steps forward in the last two weeks.”
“You could see the way tonight she was really flying at the ball and approaching the contest with that strength and vigour that she is renowned for. If she can keep doing that for the rest of the season it will turn for her and she will get a little bit of luck.”
