2023 ROUND 5
Finally, the most relevant game… maybe. As we’ll see, the bulk of our AFLW players are critical to our eventual comfortable win.
We have 6 AFLW players (Georgia & Amber Clarke, Jo Doonan, Steph Wales, Amelia Radford, and Alana Barba) and they have 4 (Joanna Lin, Eliza James, Eleri Morris, and Imogen Evans).
This is the last week we are missing Mia-Rae Clifford due to her Melbourne Rebels sojourn.
After 293 days and 14 missed games (10 AFLW and 4 VFLW), Eloise Ashley-Cooper is back from injuries.
We bring in young gun Lila Keck from the Bendigo Pioneers. Unfortunately she cops an ankle injury early on.
Steph Wales is dominating the game early on.
Meg Ryan kicks her first EFC goal after the siren to get us to an 8-6 lead, and per an obvious promise/dare pulls her top up.
[or top off]
We lead 14-7 at half time despite leading inside fifties 25-6…
Bates has 16 disposals, 6 tackles, and 6 clearances at half time. She will eventually get over-taken by Jo Doonan (32 disposals in 80 minutes!) – but only one of those two is playing this weekend.
It’s 21-8 at the final break.
Grace Dicker spends a rare game (for this year) primarily as a forward, and kicks her second goal early in the last quarter.
We won 4.7.31 - 2.3.15 but the game is exasperating as we blow a zillion chances (including around 10 total misses!). Inside fifties are 47-12!!!
While we will obviously be missing Wales, Doonan, Barba, and Clarke through the midfield, I do have to say our VFLW-listed midfield has bulked up in the second half of this season. Chaston and Molan are regulars and Dicker is becoming more complete.
The forward CLUNKing last week was also a positive sign. If we can break even in the midfield we should be in a good position (please be back, Tamsin!)