| AFLW Round 7 COLLINGWOOD v ADELAIDE Time & Place: Sunday March 19, 1:35pm EDT Olympic Park Oval TV: Fox Footy 1:30pm EDT |
GWS 0.0.0 1.1.7 2.1.13 3.1.19
GOALS - Collingwood: Hope 2, Cameron, Edwards, Garner, Casey, Bernardi
BEST - Collingwood: Garner, Eva, Bonnici, King, Cameron
INJURIES - Collingwood: Nil
REPORTS - Collingwood: Nil
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COLLINGWOOD has comfortably overcome Greater Western Sydney, running out 36-point winners on Sunday morning at Olympic Park Oval. The Giants came to the match full of confidence after registering their maiden win of the season last week, but failed to score in the first quarter in the 7.13 (55) to 3.1 (19) loss in the NAB AFL Women's competition. Collingwood's ball movement and control set them above the Giants, who often struggled to move the ball into their half of the ground. They had just one inside-50 for the first quarter, and finished with only 13 for the match. The Magpies were inefficient early and the scoreboard did not reflect their dominance across the field. But they landed a telling blow just before half-time, when Moana Hope marked the ball on Collingwood's half-forward flank. While GWS defender Claire Lawton disputed with the umpire whether the ball had been touched, Hope took off and had two bounces before setting the ball inside 50. Jasmine Garner finished Hope's good work off in the goal-square, kicking the Magpies' third goal. Brittany Bonnici (18 disposals) was a powerhouse for the Magpies in the midfield, and forwards Sarah D'Arcy, Jess Cameron and Jasmine Garner worked well together, spreading the Giants' defence and setting up goals for each other. For the Giants, forward Phoebe McWilliams (two goals) battled well with limited delivery, while Nicola Barr and Jess Dal Pos (13 disposals) were solid off half-back. Collingwood peppered the goals in the third quarter, but added only one goal and seven behinds. Two quick goals at the start of the fourth sealed the match for the Magpies. The match-up After six rounds of AFLW, the two best rucks in the competition have emerged. Collingwood's Emma King has been widely regarded as the premier ruck around the country, and was signed as a marquee player before the season started. The Giants' 18-year-old Erin McKinnon has developed as a star on the rise, and the two met in Sunday morning's match for the first time. While the final hit-out count was fairly even (24-20 King's way), King won the battle around the ground with 12 disposals. Point of difference Collingwood won the inside-50 count 38-13, and it reflected the difference between the two teams. Even when the Giants' got the ball inside their forward 50, the delivery was often poor, and their forwards struggled as a consequence. The final margin of 36 points could have been much more but for inaccurate kicking for goal. Who's that? Brittany Bonnici lines up in the midfield for the Magpies, and the helmeted 19-year-old was a standout in the win. She finished with 18 disposals and five tackles, and coach Wayne Siekman said the former under-18 Vic Metro captain led from the front in the win. It was Bonnici's best match for the season, and she will be a player to watch in the future. Got the job done Giants' priority player Jess Dal Pos has consistently been in her team's best this season, and she maintained her form on Sunday. Dal Pos has moved up from Victoria to represent the Giants, and her class, experience and quick hands have stood out in a young team. She worked hard in the midfield and across half-back to finish with 13 disposals, four marks and two tackles. Say what? "First couple of weeks there was a lot of hype and pressure, and no doubt we felt that. To get back here and put in an effort like that, it's been coming for a while, and it reflects how we trained in pre-season." - Collingwood coach Wayne Siekman "To be honest, I don't think we were in it for much of the game at all. I thought Collingwood started really well and we were second to the footy for most of the game." - GWS coach Tim Schmidt Up next Collingwood take on Adelaide at Olympic Park Oval, in a match that could shape the make-up of the grand final. Under-pressure Collingwood marquee Moana Hope finally showed fans why she was held in such high regard pre-season, as she kicked two goals and set up a couple more in the Pies' big win over GWS on Sunday. Coach Wayne Siekman said Hope had trained well during the week - at the Pies' home ground, Olympic Park Oval, where he said his side could have won more games had they been allowed to play there more often. "She's been training here, kicking goals here, the No.1 defender goes to her each week so I put more work into her than anyone else," he said. Hope suffered some right knee soreness after a pre-season training mishap and on Sunday again had it heavily strapped. But Siekman said once the doctors checked it each Monday and said she was fit to train there were "no excuses". Siekman said there was no doubt his team had been disadvantaged by the AFL's decision to move the season opener against Carlton and their round two match against Melbourne to Ikon Park, which with a 24,000 capacity could better accommodate bumper crowds. He said Collingwood had agreed to move their home matches to Ikon Park for the good of women's football. "Certainly we want to play here, we train here," he said. "But the AFL is doing a great job and it's about publicity, it's about creating the interest for the supporters. "These girls in five years want to be full time, so we'll do anything the AFL wants us to do because we want this to grow, become full time, give [the players] more money as soon as possible." Siekman said his team had been unlucky not to beat Brisbane in round three and from there had gained momentum week to week. "They were comfortable, they were relaxed, they knew what to do," he said. "In women's footy there are all these new grounds we hadn't played on, they're bigger and wider and longer, it maybe played with them a little bit." The Pies continued their late-season surge on Sunday, beating a lacklustre GWS by 36 points. Undefeated Brisbane are certain grand finalists and will most likely play either Adelaide or Melbourne in the season decider, but Siekman pointed out Collingwood still had a "mathematical possibility" of making the big match. He said if Fremantle beat Melbourne next week and Collingwood had a high-scoring win over Adelaide, the Pies were still in with a chance at the grand final. Fans could expect an all out attack from Collingwood if they had a chance to make the final. "If we get the opportunity next week and Freo do beat Melbourne, we're not here to run third, we may as well run fifth," Siekman said. Collingwood captain Stephanie Chiocci was dynamic through the centre in probably her best match of the season. She said it was a little disappointing that Collingwood was peaking later in the season, but the Pies were starting to trust that the structures they had put in place were working. "The girls are starting to trust each other and it's really showing on the field," she said. |
COLLINGWOOD pin up Moana Hope says her exciting performance at Olympic Park on Sunday is just a taste of what she's capable of after a frustrating AFLW debut season. Hope kicked 2.4 and set up several other goals as the Magpies posted the biggest score in AFLW's short history – 7.13. 55 - to defeat GWS 3.1.19. Clearly hampered by a heavily strapped right knee, an issue she's been carrying since an incident during an inside training session during pre-season, Hope said it had been a frustrating season. "I don't think I've had the chance to play my game of football, (to) play anywhere near what I'm capable of and that is due to reasons out of my control," Hope said. "I think as long as I'm building personally and the team's building, that's all I can ask for. " … We're starting to put it together at the end of the season, which is a shame, but it's really good to watch." Plastered in white zinc, wearing a headband to keep her bleached blonde hair in check and bright orange boots, Hope was hard to miss from the first ball up and when GWS defender Claire Lawton went to her. Hope presented well early but her best play came in the second term when she took a strong contested mark over Lawton on the wing and while Lawton was appealing to the umpire saying the ball was touched, Hope was off. She took two bounces running into the forward 50 before centring the ball to Jasmine Garner who fumbled the mark but goaled. Hope looked lively and likely for the remainder of the match. Her two goals came after marks where she took the right option, when her opponents flew, she stayed down. She managed to keep her feet when others fell and teamed superbly with Garner and Jess Cameron in attack. "I'm able to do that run when the mids are able to deliver it and then I'm able to take those marks when other girls are blocking for me, it's just a team effort," she said. "When we're on, we're on." Hope has been criticised for her performances this season, which until Sunday, had been underwhelming. "There so many positives in the competition … all these players around the country that are doing magnificent things for women's football … there's no need to write negative things especially when you don't know the full extent of what's actually going on," Hope said. "But that comes with it I guess." It was Collingwood's first home game of the season after their earlier matches were moved to Ikon Park to cater for crowds and coach Wayne Siekman said the shifts had been to the detriment of his side's win-loss ratio. Collingwood has now won three consecutive matches after starting the season 0-3. It would take a miracle for the Magpies to make the March 25 Grand Final, but if Fremantle defeat Melbourne and Collingwood hand second-placed Adelaide a belting next week, it's a possibility. Collingwood women's coach Wayne Siekman has praised his team's "clinical" performance against Greater Western Sydney, as his Magpies claimed their third win in a row at the Holden Centre on Sunday morning. In front of a roaring home crowd, Collingwood put together its best display of the AFLW competition in its first official home game, running out 36-point winners over the Giants. "To get a win on our home deck was really clinical. I'm really proud of this group," Siekman told the media at his post-match press-conference. Following a 0-3 start to the season, Siekman says his side felt more comfortable on their home ground. "In the first couple of weeks, there was a lot of hype and pressure and we felt that. After going 0-3, and then the momentum we built against the Bulldogs and Freo, I'm really proud that we came back here and put in an effort like that." "We seemed more comfortable and relaxed." 20-year old Brittany Bonnici starred for the Pies, with the onballer amassing a career best 18 disposals and five tackles. "Britt is rated very highly here. She was our fourth pick overall in the draft. I've coached her previously and her leadership and willingness to go and get the footy and make decisions is really evident." "With 18 possessions today, and up against some of the A grade midfielders at GWS, we think seeing other young players around the competition has probably spurred her on." Siekman reaffirmed his stance on his side's incredible depth, crediting veteran Lou Wotton and defender Caitlyn Edwards for their resilient contributions. "I think we have the best depth in the competition, and I stand by that. I think we showed that today. We don't limit our rotations. Everyone comes on and plays their role." "Caitlyn Edwards stood up today which was really good. I was really happy with the whole team and their effort. There wasn't one player who didn't play their role. Lou Wotton came in and rucked really well which meant we were able to send Emma King forward." Forward Moana Hope had her best performance of the year, registering 2.4 on the scoreboard, as well as collecting 12 disposals. "Mo trained well during the week. That's where it starts. If you train well, you perform well. She felt comfortable on the ground. She gets the best defender every week, and today all the forwards worked really well together." Siekman says Steph Chiocci was trialled as an onballer today, with the captain also starting on the bench each quarter as a part of the coaching group's tactics. "Her leadership has been outstanding and we are grateful to have Steph. Today we tried something different with her and it got her confidence up. It was her best game for our football club." With one week remaining in the competition, Collingwood will need Fremantle to defeat Melbourne next week, and then beat Adelaide convincingly to make up percentage, to have any chance of making the Grand Final against Brisbane. "This competition is only seven weeks. We want to do everything we can to finish off the season strong." "We've shown great resilience and great leadership throughout the season – from both the players and the coaching group. "We need Fremantle to win against Melbourne at Casey. They may give us an opportunity to stay alive. "We can't control the situation. If Fremantle beat Melbourne, we can start worrying it."
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