The Olinda Women’s team found themselves in the losing column for the third week on end, going down to ladder leader Upwey by 24 points in a solid showing at home on Saturday night.
Olinda struggled with Upwey’s “flood” all game and was caught flat-footed and out of position a couple of times as Upwey swarmed forward “Pagan’s Paddock” style.
The accountability continues to waiver at times during games, and it keeps costing Olinda goals.
The team has taken visible steps over the past 3 weeks, however, contested work and ball movement are consistently improving.
One of the more pleasing aspects of the game was that Olinda’s intensity built quarter by quarter, until the last quarter when Olinda both scored and held Upwey scoreless.
Forward entries are still a problem but were certainly better Saturday night, and the presence of Captain Maddie Collins as a permanent forward made every entry look very dangerous.
The best play of the game came in the second quarter and started on the half-back line. After a gut-busting run from dynamo Claire Hyett to half-forward, the ball was delivered precisely to captain Mads, then on to full-forward Phoebe Dixon for an excellent goal.
The most spectacular moment of the game came in the third quarter, with last week’s hero Emmalee Keegan bouncing from contest to contest trying to win the ball. All of a sudden, Emm bounced out of one contest and almost cartwheeled, picking up the ball in the middle of the spin, landing on her feet and getting the kick out of the danger zone. It was an amazing move that was part acrobat, part ninja!
Grace Belloni’s contested marking is top class, and she halted many of Upwey’s forays forward with her sure hands, on a night when not many marks were taken.
Claire Hyett’s speed and courageous attack on each contest see her continually putting her body in danger to get the footy, and clearing it to the advantage of her teammates.
Lily Carlin’s tenacious pressure on the ball carrier and use by foot are elite. Lily’s 10 pressure acts for the game were almost double that of her nearest teammate.
Alex Gunn has exploded onto the competition this year as a potent defensive weapon, and her blanketing of Upwey’s most dangerous player was very important for her team.
Leah Cody’s brute strength and fearless attack on the football saw her stints at centre half back and in the ruck be an important reason for Olinda’s resurgence.
Emmalee Keegan continued her stellar form with another hardy performance at half-back, repelling many entries and pressuring Upwey players at every opportunity.
Capt. Mads did her best work in her new position as Centre Half Forward floating across half-back…..Rome wasn’t built in a day! Mads’ initiation into Olinda’s forward setup yielded 2 goals, Maddie having a hand in one and kicking another herself. Not a bad first day at the office! Overall Olinda’s forward line looked better and kept its structure well.
Ness Bateman fought hard in her position as a stand-in ruck and won some hard-fought contests. Kim Smith and Maddie McCheyne were lively on the flanks as were the mosquito fleet Ellie Andre and Emma McLaughlan.
Olinda’s backline was staunch as always, even after having to cope with the early knee injury of Laura Clarke. Keeping the top of the ladder team to only 5 goals was a great effort.
Overall it was a pleasing performance against a premium opponent.
Olinda looks forward to getting back to full strength in the coming 3 weeks before finals and continuing their improvement.
