Dragons Girls big last quarter sets up third win of the season

U18 Girls - Jets vs Dragons Round Six - May 12th, 2024

By Lenny Roberts

Looking to bounce back after a loss last round, the Under 18 Girls team headed north to Werribee to take on the Western Jets for the second time this season. A couple of new faces in the team for this game, with both PJ Martin and Jazzy Reeves getting their opportunity. Edie McLachlan had replaced Margot Whitney in the ruck, with Gabrielle Trajer starting in the midfield alongside Sophie McKay and Daisy Flockart.

The first inside 50 of the game went to Sandringham through Scout Howden (24 disposals, 1 goal) who carried on her impressive 2024 campaign. McKay had a couple of early touches including a missed snap at goal. Macy Watkins started strongly, intercepting and marking all over the ground. Turnbull was also lively, creating pressure and being an option inside the forward half. There were multiple inside 50’s for both teams, however no team was able to break the last line of defense. Lily Skinner laid a nice tackle on the close wing, igniting her teammates to do the same thing. Which eventually led to both Howden and Mildenhall receiving holding the ball free kicks. It was a fierce opening term with both teams nailing their tackles on one another. Martin laid one too and had a trio of marks in and around forward 50, she was making her presence known. Howden marked right on the forward 50 arc, received a double fifty-metre penalty and then slotted the first major of the game as the siren went. A low scoring affair at the end of the first with Sandringham holding an 8-point lead.

Flockart got busy in the second term, running back and forth from both attack and defense, and using her power and size to gain advantages on her opponents at stoppages. Mia Zielinski missed a snap at goal she would definitely want back. The best passage of play on the day went to one involving a chain of marks from the kick in through Flockart, McKay, Zielinski, Howden, and Mildenhall, which then set up a Milly Nankervis major from the goal square. Zielinski added the Dragons third through a very strong grab in the forward pocket, and suddenly it was a 20-point lead for the visitors midway through the second. McKay (27 disposals, 6 tackles) continued on her good form, taking a contested mark at half-back and then breaking through for a strong run in the middle of the ground. Martin kept on marking, she had 6, the most of any Dragons player on the ground, an impressive feat for the debutant. Western got on the board in the 20th minute thanks to one of their forward’s getting out the back of the play. The siren sounded shortly after with the Dragons heading into the main break 13 points ahead, 3.3 (21) opposed to 1.2 (8).

Judie Goldman was injected into the guts for the first bounce of the second half, looking to add some more toughness. For the first ten minutes of the quarter, there were an array of chances at goal for the Dragons, but all to no avail. Leaving the game open for the home side. Matilda Clarkson was solid all day, intercepting, tackling and collecting her own ball. The rest of the quarter was played between the arcs before the Jets cut the margin to single digits in the 21st minute. With one term left to play, the game was still up for grabs.

However, the fourth quarter was where the game was won for Sandringham, booting five goals to one. Watkins (15 disposals, 7 tackles) was wedged into the midfield, and laid a

good tackle almost immediately. Doultree fought hard playing as a high half-forward. A flash of deja vu for Zielinski, as she again missed a similar snap at goal like the one in the second, however she was heavily involved in the contest. The Jets kicked the first goal of the quarter to shorten the lead for the Dragons to just a singular point. Before a behind for Western levelled the scores at 22 apiece at the 9-minute mark. One of the highlights of the day was yet again, another Martin mark, who elevated above her defender on the forward flank. She was an aerial killer. Zielinski put the Dragons back on top after snapping a goal on the run. Jess Thomas would then slot a major just one minute later. Before Mildenhall grubber kicked one home as well. And just like that, it was an 18-point Sandringham lead. The momentum continued with Flockart (14 disposals, 10 tackles) bursting out of the middle to lace out Thomas on the lead, who added her second in a matter of minutes. The game had well and truly broken open with Zielinski kicking her third goal shortly after. An impressive final term saw the Dragons run out 30-point winners (52 to 22) in the end, and make it 3 wins and 2 losses on the season. The girls earn a week off with a bye for round seven, before returning on the 26th of May to battle the Gippsland Power in Morwell.

GOALS: Zielinski 3, Thomas 2, Howden, Mildenhall, Nankervis

BEST: Flockart, Mckay, Watkins, Zielinski, Mildenhall, Turnbull