The skies were threatening and the wind was icy and blowing hard as the Women’s squads made their way out west to test their skills against worthy foes Westbourne Grammar.
With the wintery blast proving a nightmare for goal kickers, scores were at a premium in the Ressies’ opener, with early misses costly and the Royss unable to take advantage of the wind.
“Westbourne was very physical and after half time we did very well to bring an aggressive edge and lift intensity, something we haven’t really seen this season,” said coach Mick McFarlane.
Heading into finals in just a few weeks, Mick welcomed the close contest as a perfect dose of reality for coaches and players alike, and the Roy Girls displaying incredible maturity to “win ugly”.
Best player plaudits went to Elyse Campbell, Maren McLaughlan, Evie Deasey, Bella Clark, Gif Hassan and Hayley Fitzgerald. With Bella providing a great target up forward and not looking like dropping a mark, and Evie providing her usual cool calm leadership, both will be sorely missed when Evie travels overseas and Bella moves to Queensland.
Coming in for her first game of senior footy, Ressie’s captain Emma Bourke slotted in effortlessly into the Roys’ exemplary back line, holding her own and holding back the opposition forwards.
Wanting to blood young leaders, Senior Coach Nathan Jumeau and captain Steph Pitt forged an ingenious plan, handing over the reins to Maddie De Bondt and Claudia Hetherington as co-captains for the day.
“Maddie and Clauds well and truly embraced the co-captaincy and, like Bourky, did an amazing job leading the team,” Senior Coach Nathan Jumeau said.
“Kicking three goals to zero, our start couldn’t have been better. From there the wind, the driving horizontal rain and the opposition tactics turned the game into a non-scoring event.”
Happily, the Roy Girls were up for the challenge, dominating the play through the next three quarters, even into the breeze, and repeatedly rebutting a determined opposition forward line’s attempts to score.
“Another great team game across the board,” says Jumeau. “As required and as requested of them, some of the girls played out of position with others performing specific roles for the team.
Led by Gina Bennett, the midfield was on top all day, earning praise and recognition from the opposition coaches after the game (not an insignificant nod given one of them was Western Bulldogs’ great Chris Grant).
With a lot playing in new or different roles to usual, Nathan gave special mention to Esther Boles who found two goals early in the contest in a dominant forward line, and to his trusty back six who, as always, stood tall and strong.
Ju also gave praise to Sarah Lynas and Maddie De Bondt playing on an ex-AFLW player, keeping her to a handful of touches.
The Roy Girls will be back on the road next week to face Williamstown CYMS. Let’s hope the conditions are more favourable on the often windswept and always challenging Lofts Reserve.
JG Gorilla
Images courtesy Liz Olney
