By Matthew Sims
West Footscray’s Victoria University Polytechnic Western Region Football League women’s division 2 team put up a fight against Point Cook in the semi-final match on Saturday but failed to secure a place in the grand final and are now looking forward to their second-chance preliminary final against Caroline Springs this Sunday.
Roosters ruck Kelly Rowe said the game showed a continued improvement against the top side in the division.
“We’ve generally been pretty solid rivals,“ she said.
At the end of the first quarter, the teams were equally matched, with the Roosters falling behind by one point at nine points to eight.
The Roosters surged ahead in the second quarter, kicking 14 points to lead by 12 points at 22 points to 10.
Rowe said the team were energised at half-time due to the lead.
“The first two quarters were the best quarters we’ve played all year,“ she said.
“We went into the break pretty up and about.
“I think we can take that into the preliminary final.“
Rowe said the team lost a bit of their momentum during five minutes of the third quarter, allowing Point Cook to score 27 points while they failed to score a point during the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Point Cook scored another goal, while the Roosters scored another point to bring the final margin to 20 points, losing 6.7 (43)-3.5 (23).
Rowe said while the team were happy with their performance against Point Cook.
“We spent a lot more time in our forward 50,“ she said.
Rowe said the team’s top players on Saturday included Tania Anthony, who kicked two goals.
“She’s a good mark,“ she said.
Rowe said another key player for the Roosters during the game was ruck Stacey Gardiner.
“She really put her body on the line,“ she said.
Rowe said Eliza Terrey also excelled in her role of taking on the division 2 leading goal kicker Mandy Seath and restricted her to only kicking one goal during the match.
“She really shut her down,“ she said.
Rowe said the team were now looking forward to facing Caroline Springs on Sunday, August 28 at their home ground of Shorten Reserve in West Footscray towards securing a spot against Point Cook in the grand final.
“It gives us a double chance,“ she said.
“I think we’ll definitely be keen to play our brand of footy.
“We’re a bit of a run and carry side.“
Rowe said the team would be looking to attack from the first siren and get a few goals on the board early in the game.
“The team is really excited and we are really excited to play in front of a home crowd,“ she said.
Rowe said the team had been going through a number of disruptions, including the impact of COVID-19 restrictions and welcoming about 20 new players into the club.
“It’s just been so impressive to have got this far,“ she said.
“It’s been a fairly interrupted time.“
“We’re really excited.“
Rowe said the team’s success throughout this season and the last three seasons has been the result of the support of coach Shane Windridge.
