Parkside Spurs are better prepared for a tilt at the Western Football League women’s finals this season.
The Spurs currently sit second on the ladder with just one loss for the season, back in round three to Caroline Springs.
Spurs coach Callum Tenabel said things had been tracking along really well.
“The growth we’ve had has come from the under-16s at Ascot Vale,” he said. “We’ve typically playing five or six under-15 girls.
“I think a couple of them would be in the best 22 come finals time. The under-16s and women’s teams train together.
“The under-16s team is gaining maturity and skills at a higher benchmark than they usually would.
“They’ve been performing well on the track and given the women’s team more depth.”
Tenabel said with having 30-40 at training each night they were able to extend what they did at training.
He said fitness had improved and the skills were better as they were more connected from doing more match play.
“I think so much of that is to do with depth,” he said. “Last year we had 14 to 15 in each game.
“We now have a full bench most weeks.
“Having a full squad has been the main thing. Everyone is fit and available for selection.”
With three matches reaming, Tenabel said they were focusing on the key areas that they would need come finals.
Goalkicking and forward movement is one area they want to keep improving, while they want to stabilise the backline and have rotated a lot of players through there.
Tenabel said they were slightly disappointed not to play Caroline Springs again during the regular season to test themselves before likely playing them in finals.
He said on the one occasion they they did play this season they had only 15 players and led by 10 points at half time before being overrun.
“We want to challenge them with a full squad,” he said.”
The Spurs had a bye on the weekend after having a big win against North Sunshine in the previous round.
With the Roadrunners struggling for numbers, the Spurs rotated some of their players through the opposition to allow them to have a game.
Tenabel said they used the opportunity to play their midfield against each other.
In results on Saturday, West Footscray had its second draw against Point Cook Centrals.
On this occasion, the Sharks kicked the only scores of the final quarter to seal a 4.2 (26) apiece result.
Erin Porter, Kathleen Gannon and Kaila Ducret were the Roosters best.
Yarraville Seddon lost to Caroline Springs, 17.14 (116)-1,2 (8). Maggie Logan, Akec Makur Chuot and Rosie Ronan-Yates were the Eagles best.
