Futures crash the jets
By Nathan Sepe
The Futures put on one last spectacular performance for the season, downing the Western Jets by 29 points at Trevor Barker Oval.
Both teams were out to establish early dominance across the ground with neither team able to capitalise early and find clear-cut chances.
It took until the seventh minute for the first breakthrough, which came off the boot of Jacinta Boyd who slotted her first and the Dragons first of the game, followed by a passionate celebration.
That was all of the action going into quarter time, with the Dragons establishing early domination, however the Jets were able to up their pressure and create more effective offensive transition, still unable to score.
Like the first quarter, it took seven minutes for the first goal of the quarter, with Polly McArthur showcasing her physicality to earn herself a free kick, going back to slot through the set shot putting the Dragons up 13.
The Dragons were efficient tactically, converting well transitioning forward, ultimately finding a second goal in the second quarter, Daisy Flockart opening the space to run in to goal, slotting on the run from 25 out.
The Jets held their ground for the remainder of the second quarter, ensuring the contests were physical and manned in order to stop the Dragons from transitioning forward with ease.
The Dragons went into half time up by 18 points, holding the Jets goalless for the entirety of the first half.
The third quarter was a complete switch in game play for both teams, with the contested and congested movements for both teams becoming open and flowing across the ground.
The Dragons only took 30 seconds to slot their first of the third quarter, with Kera Galaminda kicking her first goal of the day from 25 metres out on the run to extend the lead to 24 points.
Two minutes later and the unrelentless pressure from the Dragons was rewarded, with Alexandra Stranger kicking her first with a snap around her body, kicking five unanswered goals.
The Jets fixed up their transitional movement going forward and were finally able to kick their first of the day, five minutes into the third.
Two minutes later they were able to kick their second consecutive goal, placing the Dragons under some pressure for the first time in the game.
The Dragons were quick to communicate and change their ways, utilising their physicality and pressure to convert against the Jets turnovers, Francesca Newport able to slot a set shot from 25 metres out.
This took the Dragons into three quarter time with a 25 point lead, one more quarter to secure a win in their last game of the season.
It was no other than Kera Galaminda to kick the first two goals of the fourth quarter, her first a silky manoeuvre to weave through traffic to slot her second from 20 metres out.
Her second was another smart play, kicking off the ground to extend the lead to 37 points, a gap too much for the Jets to make up.
The Jets snagged one back late in the fourth but it wasn’t enough as the Dragons dominated start to finish, placing emphasis on their emerging talent to burst through the blocks in the next few years.
The experience has been fantastic for our futures girls, ending with two wins out of three, bonding together to create strong team connections going into the future.
SAN: 1.1 3.1 6.2 8.2
WJ: 0.0 0.1 2.1 3.3
B.O.G: Lily Parsons, Willow Sweeney-Johnston, Kera Galaminda, Jenna Witts, Daisy Flockart, Emily Bannon
Goals: Galaminda 3, A.Stranger, Boyd, Flockart, McArthur, Newport