UHS-VU vs De La Salle

Match Report

Coming out of the mid season bye well positioned in 2nd place with 6 wins and 2 losses, the Guns traveled out to a very foggy Brens Oval to take on old rivals UHS-VU in an important clash for both teams. After a good start to the season, UHS-VU had dropped off and were looking to re-establish their top 4 credentials. For the Guns, it was an excellent opportunity to take down last season’s premiers, and a team that we lost to by just 6 points on 2 occasions in 2023.

As the fog slowly lifted and allowed the teams to see from one end of the ground to the other, a tight opening half ensued, with the slippery ball making for a low scoring affair. Lucy Papp kicked the opening goal for the Guns halfway through the first quarter, but UHS-VU denied De La any further scoring opportunities in the opening stanza. Despite winning the clearances around the ground, we were not able to turn that in to repeat forward 50 entries, with UHS-VU registering 8 Inside 50’s for the quarter to De La’s 3. Excellent defending meant that they only managed 2 behinds, and we went in to the first break with a 4 point lead.

As the ground dried out, the game became more free flowing. We were able to start winning the ball from the contest and break away from stoppages with Grace Martin, Poppy Palma and Sophie Hume all taking the game on, driving the ball inside our forward 50 on 11 occasions. Mollie Osborn continued to show her improvement and love for the physical contest, setting the example that other forwards followed. However with UHS-VU stacking numbers behind the ball and clogging up our forward  50, we were unable to take advantage of this, kicking just one goal for the quarter, an excellent snap from Estelle Ashkar form the left forward pocket. On one of their few forays forward, UHS-VU were able to capitalise on a turnover, despite Stevie Hatzis’ brilliant desperate effort to initially deny 2 opponents a chance from the goal square.

Coming out from the half time break with just a 5 point advantage, the lift in effort and intensity from the first bounce of the 3rd quarter was noticeable. Led by Izy Catrice and Indy Adler in the ruck, the whole leadership team (Drizzy, Jess Carson, Rosie Sheppard, Michelle Bourke, Lucy Papp and Jules Luth) across all areas of the ground, and Sass Walker’s work rate around the ball, we started to dominate the game. Denying UHS-VU the ball at the stoppages, and stopping every attack thanks to Scarlett Hilliard and Paige Hinrichs forming an impenetrable wall in defence, we were well on top, but only able to capitalise once, with Estelle kicking her 2nd goal of the game. But it was noticeable that UHS-VU were struggling to keep up with our players, and that we still had petrol left in the tank for a final quarter charge.

Pleasingly, the 4th quarter saw reward for all of the effort that the whole team had put in across the first 3 quarters. Our tireless wings in Jen Males and Jules Luth, along with Sophie, Grace, Poppy and Drizzy helped to break the game open as UHS-VU simply couldn’t keep up with them. Jess Carson was moved deeper forward in the 4th quarter, and responded with multiple strong contests and 2 goals. The last goal of the game came with a minute and a half remaining thanks to a strong mark from Estelle and a chain of handballs ending with Alana Archer kicking our 3rd goal for the quarter and 6th for the match. Alana had played a selfless role throughout the first 3 quarters, and it was great to see the team able to work together beautifully for her to put an exclamation mark on an excellent final quarter.

A 32 point win sees us remain in 2nd spot, 1 game behind Therry-Penola and 1 game ahead of La Trobe and Box Hill North. Importantly, the win puts us 3 games clear inside the top 4, ahead of this week’s opponent UHS-VU, and our next 2 opponents in Preston Bullants and Old Carey.

Goals: Estelle Ashkar 2, Jess Carson 2, Alana Archer, Lucy Papp
Best: Grace Martin, Paige Hinrichs, Mollie Osborn, Scarlett Hilliard, Poppy Palma, Estelle Ashkar