Match Report: Practice Match 1 v Carlton 

19/02/2024

The Southern Saints picked up a strong win in their first pre-season hit-out against Carlton on Thursday night, taking the game by 16-points.

The anticipation was palpable as the Saints left the rooms, entering the first hit-out of the season with high spirits and a noticeable sense of cohesion.
 

1st Quarter:

From the beginning, it was evident that the outcome of the match would be determined within the stoppage. Abbey Tregellis showed outstanding abilities in intercepting the ball, applying pressure, and quickly moving out of contested areas. Meanwhile, Zoe McCurdy established her defensive dominance by making numerous crucial interceptions within the defensive 50.

The first five minutes of the game saw both teams battling between the 50-metre arcs, with the defensive units holding up to constant siege.

Tenae Browne broke the deadlock at the nine-minute mark with a brilliant transition from the defensive 50, creating an open forward line and scoring a goal on the run.

Georgia Foran and Tessa Boyd displayed remarkable defensive skills, successfully keeping Carlton from scoring goals on numerous occasions.

Carlton ultimately gained the advantage by executing a rehearsed overlap running goal right on the cusp of the quarter. The first quarter concluded with Carlton in the lead, with just two points the difference.

2nd Quarter:

The second quarter commenced with a strong sense of purpose. Maddi Torpey maintained her superiority in the ruck and we controlled the initial 10 minutes of the quarter with the game pinned in our half. Foran provided essential offensive support from half-back, while Tregellis once again demonstrated her strength by forcefully breaking away from the congested areas. The defensive unit set up an effective structure to execute coordinated attacks along the perimeter.

Nevertheless, the second quarter was free of any goals and was dominated by fiercely contested ball. At the half, the scores were Carlton 1.3 (9) and Saints 1.1 (7).

3rd Quarter:

Foran's superb play persisted as our intense pressure within forward-50 resulted in several opportunities for set shots on goal. Our adept footwork enabled us to assert our dominance in the territory battle.

The Blues had difficulty in advancing beyond the centre circle, allowing us to capitalise and regain the lead through a goal scored by Piper Phelan. Torpey executed a precise set shot, while a remarkable around the body goal from the boundary extended our lead to 17 points going into the last quarter.

4th Quarter:

We maintained our momentum from the previous quarter by successfully trapping the ball in our offensive half. The defensive pressure remained constant throughout the game, and there was a noticeable determination to finish the game strongly and maintain a consistent effort for all four quarters.

Midway through the quarter, the intensity rose around the contest as persistent tackle pressure on the inside prevented any clean run, forcing us to defend recurring entries. During the final moments, our precision within the 50-metre area was commendable, albeit not converted on the scoreboard.

We emerged triumphant in our first pre-season match, defeating Carlton - a score of 4.4 (28) to 1.6 (12).

Our defence effectively controlled the game, successfully withstanding a barrage of attacks from the Carlton forward line. The difference lies in the precision exhibited during critical moments. We approached the pre-season game with an added level of intensity, showcasing strong defence, accurate forward plays, and stoppage supremacy. All promising indicators leading up to the opening VFLW match against Collingwood, set for Friday 22 March at 7:05pm at RSEA Park.

Written by Tom McQuillan– Sandringham Football Club Media