Tough day in Sandy as Giants pull away in second half
By Lenny Roberts
The day double header kicked off at Trevor Barker Beach Oval with the Under 18 Girls team taking on the Giants at 10:30am. A new debutant for the Dragon’s with Remy Johnston getting her opportunity in the side. The usual suspects were in the opening bounce, included Sophie McKay, Judie Goldman, and Daisy Flockart as the followers, with Margot Whitney in the ruck.
Lots of congestion football was the game in the opening stages of the match with the first inside 50 going to the Dragon’s. Both Lucia Turnbull and Zari Mildenhall were lively early, making their presence known off the forward flanks. The first score of the game went to the Giants Academy. Scout Howden was particularly good, always in the right spots and being an option on the outside of stoppages. The Giants got on the board first - thanks to some constant repeat forward 50 entries. They added their second inside the first 8 minutes. Kera Galaminda Gellar had a nice smother after second and third efforts inside fifty. It was Sophie McKay who got the Dragon’s going through a very clean snap goal from a forward 50 throw in. Medium defender Lily Skinner took an important intercept mark in the term also. The Giants hit back through a forward 50 free kick to slot their third. A three goal to one term for the Giants Academy saw them hold a 12-point lead at the end of the first quarter.
Alexandra Calogero laid a good tackle to start the second, while Scouty continued on her impressive start. Mia Ursprung took a nice mark inside 50 but was unable to set up a score from it. The Dragon’s tackling was on point - creating pressure all over the ground. However, conversion in front of goal was an issue. On the flipside, GWS were making the most of their opportunities, they slotted their fourth. Turnbull kept fighting. Running back to goal, Hannah Foran played some good defense, but got caught holding the ball. However, she recovered by smothering the goal attempt of the Giants player. Galaminda Gellar competed hard all day, crumbing packs and putting the defenders under duress. The Giants kicked one nearing half time after some repeat entries. There was one last chance for Sandringham heading inside 50, however no result. The first half ended with Sandringham 1.4 (10) trailing the Giants Academy 5.5 (35).
Much like the end of the second term, the 3rd quarter started with a couple of chances at goal going missing for the Dragon’s. Both Judie Goldman (15 disposals, 4 inside 50’s) and Daisy Flockart (18 disposals, 6 inside 50’s) started to get involved. The first of the term went to the Giants after a costly turnover from Sandringham. Despite an 8-goal margin as the result on the day, Sandringham only lost the inside 50 battle by three (35-38), a positive outcome going forward. GA kicked their seventh halfway through the third, whereas an inaccurate Sandringham were one goal, seven behinds at the same stage. A nice highlight of the day was a Galaminda Gellar sidestep entry to Turnbull. Foran had a big quarter, she laid a crunching tackle, took an intercept, and didn’t stop running. Mia Zielinski eventually found McKay for a set shot goal right on the stroke of three-quarter time. The father-daughter prospect was a shining light on a tough day, finishing with 31 disposals and 2 goals. Heading into the last break, it was a comfortable 29-point lead to GWS.
A rather even contest in the last term for both teams in most aspects, except for the scoreboard, with more damage done for the Giants. They kicked five goals to two, including the first two. Through a 50-metre penalty, and then linking up with some nice teamwork in the forward pocket. Zielinski (18 disposals, 2 goals) battled hard, she marked right in front of goal to boot her first of the day in the eighth minute of the fourth. Howden ended with 24 disposals, to go along with 6 tackles. GA kicked home their tenth before Zielinski got some more reward and booted her second of the quarter. With the energy sucked out of the game at this point, a couple of easy majors in the last 5 minutes for the visitors saw them run out 49-point winners. The Dragon’s will rest up and regroup to then take on the Western Jets Werribee, on the 12th of May for round six.
GOALS: Zielinski 2, McKay 2
BEST: Watkins, Foran, Flockart, Mckay, Zielinski, Mildenhall