VFL Women's Round 9 2016 - Geelong Magpies v St Kilda Sharks

Jun 19, 2016
3 min read

As the old footballing idiom goes, it’s better to win ugly than lose pretty. And the St Kilda won’t have too many uglier victories than their 72-point win over Geelong at Osborne Park.

In muddy conditions, the Magpies made the third-placed Sharks earn every goal and matched their opponents in the stoppages with an intensity that made the game almost frenetic at times. In the end, it was St Kilda’s talent and football intelligence – as well as the BOG performance from an extraordinary athlete by the name of Brianna Davey – that saw them extend their lead at every change and win their seventh match of the season.

From the outset it was clear that Geelong were intent on denying St Kilda their trademark run and carry game as the contest became little more than a rolling maul. The Magpies possess dog-fight, in-and-under players like Jaime Woollett, Richelle Cranston, Shannon Knox and young Lily Mithen who made life difficult for the slow-starting St Kilda midfield. Indeed, if it wasn’t for the bold, pack-breaking dominance of Brianna Davey the quarter would have been a very tough affair for spectators. Davey has been in the news this week as one of the faces of the Western Bulldogs’ 2017 Women’s AFL side; her performance against Geelong confirmed the bright future she has ahead.

Geelong had entrusted Krista Woodroffe with one of the least enviable tasks in VFL Women’s: guarding champion St Kilda full-forward Mo Hope, who went into this clash with 55 goals in eight matches. Woodroffe pulled out all stops against Hope and was able to keep her out of many contests and kerb her marking dominance. That Hope finished with four goals is a testament to her efficiency.

St Kilda coach Shaun Smith pushed Hope out of the goal square to bring her closer to the contest. This proved match-turning in an unexpected way, as replacement full forward Jasmine Garner kicked three second quarter goals after the Magpies had pushed the Sharks early.

Although Geelong’s commitment to the ball was infallible, they had virtually no targets up forward. Maddie Boyd was only rotating through the forward line and although she kicked her side’s first of the match, Geelong had no other talls to fill her place. St Kilda defenders Mia-Rae Clifford, Penny Cula-Reid and Georgia Fisher easily intercepted and repelled attacks.

Geelong lifted the physicality of their play in the second half and the match veered close to erupting in brawls on more than one occasion. The Magpies were valiant in the trenches but hurried and wayward in their disposal, missing chances when they went forward. The Sharks, harangued and hassled as they were, were contrastingly spoilt for choice going forward with Garner, Hope and Carlee Purtlock adding goals to blow the three quarter time margin to nine goals.

Geelong tired in the last quarter and St Kilda’s midfield moved with a freedom they had been denied all day. Tilly Lucas-Rodd, Rebecca Neaves and Alex Whitehead responded best to the confrontational style of Woollett and Cranston and delivered ball-winning, line-breaking second half performances. Geelong kicked belated goals through Emma Williamson and Michelle Fedele; they may not have won but they are sending out a message that any victory over the Magpies will be well-earned.

“We know Geelong play hard and we were responding to that,” said Sharks’ coach Shaun Smith following. “And I’ve mentioned before that Brianna Davey is the best midfielder in the comp – I’ll say it again today.”

Geelong coach Steve Janssen lauded the intent style of his side and said the match was a perpetuation of their steady progress.

“I thought Shannon Knox in particular was outstanding… it’s always good to play a side with so many good players that we can learn from.”

St Kilda 2.2 5.3 9.7 14.8.92 Geelong 0.0 1.2 1.2 3.2.20 Best – (StK) Davey, Lucas-Rodd, Garner, Clifford, Bruton, Whitehead. - (G) Mithen, Boyd, Woollett, Woodroffe, Knox, Cranston. Goals – (StK) Garner 4, Hope 4, Davey 3, Purtlock 2, Chapman. - (G) Williamson, Boyd, Fedele.