De La Salle vs Preston

Match Report

Playing our first game of the season at Basil St, the Guns took on an in form Preston Bullants side that had won 3 of their last 4 matches and sat 2 games outside the top 4. Having met earlier in the season and seeing Preston kick the last 2 goals of the game ot bring the final margin back to just 13 points, we knew that this match was going to be a challenge. The leadership group had identified this during the week, and had specific aeas of focus that they wanted the team to place specific emphasis on.

This focus was evident immediately, as every single player was engaged both physically and mentally right from the first bounce, with Izy Catrice setting the tone in the ruck, and Drizzy leading by example winning the first centre clearance of the game. Mollie Osborn and Ella Jones were providing excellent marking targets in the forward line, with Mollie continuing to exert her physcial dominance in the forward line, creating space for Sass Walker and Jess Coleman to win the ball and drive the ball towards goal. 2 first quarter goals saw us take a 15 point lead in to quarter time, as we were able to hold Preston scoreless.

The second quarter was a more even contest, with our intensity and effort dropping off slightly from the first quarter, allowing Preston to get the ball inside their forward 60 on 6 occasions. Excellent defence from the whole back line, led by Michelle Bourke and Rosie Sheppard and supported well by Claire Brace, Jemima Nash, Scarlett Hilliard, Charlotte Jannson and Charlotte Borg, meant that Preston were only able to register 1 behind for the quarter. We went in to the main break holding a 22 point lead, but with work needed to be done to lift the workrate, intensity and physicality in the second half.

Jess Carson started the 3rd quarter in the centre square and, with Poppy Palma and Drizzy, was immediately setting the tone with her attack on the football and unrelenting pressure on the opposition. This was replicated by all players across the ground in the 3rd quarter as we dominated play and were rewarded with 4 goals for the quarter, including one to late inclusion Kym Morgan. Ella Jones and Alana Archer were providing excellent leading and marking targets, Sass Walker was as energetic and aggressive at the contest as ever, and Mollie continued to take the game on.

The final quarter once again saw Preston gain a little more control of the ball, however our defence held strong, supported brilliantly by Ash Arnold, Lucy Papp and Jen Males on the wing who got back in support on multiple occasions. We finished the game strongly, kicking 3 goals and restricting Preston to just 1 behind, to run out comfortable 65 point winners.

Special mention must go to our defenders who were absolutley relentless with their pressure, their physicality and their footy smarts to deny Preston all day. Rosie and CB led the way down back, ensuring that we always had a number behind the ball, whilst Jemima, Charlotte and Charlotte provided multiple strong contests both in the backline and up on the wing, and Paige and Scarlett intercepting everything that came thier way. This allowed Grace, Drizzy and Poppy to play with more attacking flair, which they each did right to the final siren. And, once again, Izy and Indy Adler shared the main rucking duties and provided our midfielders with first use of the ball all day.

Overall, it was one of the best whole game performances that we have put in this season and puts us 4 games clear inside the top 4 with 6 matches remaining, But with room for improvement, it is exciting to see where this team can go in the 2nd half of the season.

Goals: Jess Carson 3, Alana Archer 2, Sass Walker 2, Drizzy, Mollie Osborn, Kym Morgan
Best: Grace Martin, Mollie Osborn, Jess Carson, Drizzy, Scareltt Hilliard, Sass Walker