Saints withhold Demons’ blitz to record their third-straight win
29/05/2023
The Saints were able to overcome the Demons in the battle of good and evil to secure their seventh win of the season, cementing second place on the Rebel VFLW Ladder.
Photography: Anthony Vella
Co-Captain Ali Hynes kicked off the game with an Acknowledgement of Country in honour of Sir Doug Nicholls round, with the girls sporting their Indigenous Guernsey designed by Jade Kennedy.
More info on our inaugural Indigenous Guernsey and the importance of Sir Doug Nicholls round here
Georgia Foran (16 disposals, seven marks, three tackles) was immense down back whilst Hynes and Bella Enno brought the heat - laying ten and eight tackles respectively. A huge final-quarter effort saw Winnie Laing (20 disposals, four tackles) lead our disposal count for the day, with the hard-running Sophie Phillips (17 disposals, five marks, three tackles) a close second.
Gaby De Angelis (15 disposals, six tackles, four clearances) and Madi Capsalis (14 disposals, five tackles, five clearances) led the way offensively, with their consistency across all four quarters aiding the Saints to double the Demons' inside fifty count and ultimately come away with our seventh win of the season.
Yara Taylor had a successful debut for the Saints, laying four tackles and collecting six disposals.
Quarter One
The first quarter started with a bang as Lucy Burke presented strongly at the contest following a Capsalis launch inside fifty. Maighan Fogas (12 disposals, six tackles) received reward for effort early after laying a solid tackle, leading to our first goal attempt for the afternoon. Only a minute later, Fogas was once again rewarded with a free kick for her tackling efforts, finding Burke who recorded a minor score.
Grace Hodder, Tessa Boyd and Foran remained strong with their intercept marking whilst the Saints maintained repeat inside fifty entries. We were unable to capitalise on our opportunities, recording only minor scores.
However, De Angelis and Phillips loomed around forward half stoppages, with their pressure acts eventually paying off as Abbey Tregellis scored a magnificent goal-on-the-run - recording our first major score in the fourteenth minute.
Hynes held her ground well in a tough ruck battle across the quarter whilst we were able to maintain majority time in forward half.
Quarter Two
The Saints picked up where we left off, providing high pressure and repeat inside fifties. A perfectly weighted entry from Phillips in the third minute allowed Burke to bring down the mark, converting to record a major score.
The fifth minute saw Foran dominate with two intercept possessions in quick succession whilst Capsalis injected her energy in the midfield. The team rallied around Rebecca Neaves in the wake of scoring her first goal for the Saints in the ninth minute - an opportunity provided by repeat stoppages and high pressure around the ball.
The Saints soaked up the surge of the Demons for the remainder of the quarter, with Foran recording six marks at this point of the game. With one minute left on the clock, a hard-fought extraction from stoppage by Fogas enabled Phillips and Tayla Kearns to perform a classy one-two - their run-and-carry enabling Kearns to convert for a major score against the grain.
Phillips ended the half with 13 disposals whilst De Angelis recorded five tackles.
Quarter Three
The third quarter saw another fast start, with an inside fifty entry from De Angelis leading to an opportunity early for Burke, who registered a behind. Foran remained strong down back, whilst Mel Bertuna continued to work hard - providing great pressure and presenting strongly in the contest.
De Angelis and Phillips remained troubling for the Demons, allowing the ball to be retained in the Saints’ forward fifty. Yara Taylor also provided a solid presence across the quarter.
Great run from Kim Ebb enabled yet another look for Burke late in the piece whilst Foran finished the quarter as well as she started - providing immense pressure, picking out targets to propel forward play and maintaining clean ball use under pressure.
Quarter Four
The flow of play switched in the final quarter as the Demons maintained more time in forward half, however, we remained strong with our defensive work and pressure acts holding them in good stead. Bertuna almost took hold of Mark of the Year in the fourth minute, whilst Capsalis continued to tackle hard.
After spending the first ten minutes of the quarter protecting the ball in our defensive fifty, Winnie Laing was instrumental in propelling the ball forward with her run and carry. De Angelis and Capsalis loomed large down forward, whilst Foran made it difficult for the Demons despite their spirited blitz.
Despite being unable to convert another major score this quarter, we successfully weathered the storm to come away with an eight-point victory.
Final Score: Southern Saints 4.7 (31) defeated Casey Demons 3.5 (23)
Goals: A. Tregellis, L. Burke, R. Neaves, T. Kearns
Written by Chloe Williams - Sandringham FC Media