Round 10 Women’s Premier Division Match Review, Manly Warringah Wolves vs UNSW-ES Bulldogs

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Written by Lachlan Scott

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First Quarter

In perfect conditions for football, the Wolves and Bulldogs clashed heads in a rematch of their fantastic round 5 match.

The Wolves are immediately attacking through Manning & Kennedy, finding avenues and dodging tackles. Woolf takes a towering mark directly in front of goal and is looking dangerous early. Manly have locked it in early with constant pressure and a few favourable free kicks, including a 50m penalty for interference. So far only behinds but if they continue this way the goals will come. Conlan wills the Bulldogs forward along the wing, shrugging off multiple tackles and finding a handball out of the contest. Her efforts find Smith who has multiple attempts but tenacious work by the Wolves defence breaks the ball back into the midfield.

Phillips and Stanford stand tall down back whilst being swarmed by Wolves. Green finally breaks through and finds Salmon locked in a tussle against two deep forward. She leaps above all comers and marks in a swarm of hands. She takes her time with the run up and guides a low bullet of a kick right over the umpire’s head. First goal of the day to Manly Warringah.

Almost immediately the Wolves dive forward again. Salmon stays hidden in the shadows and springs forward to mark deep in the pocket. She decides to kick a drop punt at an extreme angle, and it pays off, much to the amazement of fans. Two goals in two minutes.

UNSW-ES’ defence continues to battle away, McGlynn dances around three, back and forth handballs, and then a clearing kick from defence. A breath of relief for the back six. But the midfield drive breaks down and Manly force a contest at the goal square. Its rapid fire footy, in close and congested. Salmon dive in headfirst, takes control and flicks out a pass to Wickham. The defence swarms her and she spots Bull hovering in space. The handball comes to her with force, and she slams it on the boot off a single step and sends the footy soaring. It soars well over the goal posts in a monster kick and the goal umpire doesn’t budge an inch. Goal to Bull and Manly control this game early.

The entire back six are putting in overtime for the Bulldogs as they shut down countless forward forays. The siren sounds as Anderson clears under supreme pressure down back, exemplifying the effort being put in.

Quarter Time Manly Warringah Wolves 3.3.21 – UNSW-ES Bulldogs 0.0.0

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Second Quarter

Graham comes out lightning fast after the break, soccering the ball forward around multiple opponents for the Bulldogs. Anderson also is battling, with ball in hand she charges through multiple tackles. UNSW-ES’ midfield looks to have come alive. Down back Wendelin and Phillips connect to find avenues out of defence and alleviate the pressure of endless Manly blitzes. The Bulldogs have certainly started stronger here in the second but are still missing that midfield forward connection.

Bull marks on the 50m arc, assesses her options, spots Wickham in space. Wickam takes hard front on contact whilst attempting the mark, really earns the free kick. She dusts herself off, calm and collected, and kicks Manly’s first goal of the quarter. Teammate’s swarm her, and rightly so after such a display.

Willey drives forward for the Bulldogs, only as far as Carter who is hovering behind play and spotting intercept marking opportunities. The Wolves flood back to choke up UNSW-ES’ forward line and force the ball back to the midfield. Phillips fires into the forward line towards Smith but defenders swarm her from everywhere to force the turnover.

Manly fly down the wing, the footy ending up in the hands of Bull on the forward 50 arc. She loops a handball over multiple defenders and immediately charges forward to back it up. It comes her way again and she swings across her body, but her kick is smothered. With lightning-fast reflexes Green gathers and kicks to the top of the goal square finding Manning. The ball has a mind of its own, bouncing off her chest and trying to flee. She wrangles it below her knees, spins 180 degrees and fires. Goal Manly.

Manly look for one last goal before half time but Helm puts her body on the line again and again as the last line of defence for the Bulldogs. First, she smothers a certain goal, then immediately lays a bone crunching tackle to shut down the final drive.

Half Time Warringah Wolves 5.6.36 – UNSW-ES Bulldogs 0.0.0

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Third Quarter

UNSW-ES come out of the half time break hungry for the contest. Conlon leads the attack with a high towering bomb that sails into the arms of Smith streaming out from goal. The defence has been all over her today, but the quick break from the contest has caught them on the back foot and she marks strongly above her head. The kick is straight as an arrow and teammates flock to her, celebrating the Bulldog’s first goal and her ability to overcome such dogged opposition.

Roditis continues to be dangerous in the contest, carving her way past opponents and finding teammates with pinpoint precision. Her drive throws Manly into attack again. Zochling finds Bull with her kick inside 50, Bull is swarmed but flicks it back to Zochling as she barrels past towards goal. Zochling launches the footy over the top to Manning in a foot race with her opponent. She lets the ball bounce in front of her and forgoes taking possession, instead flicking her leg out at the spiralling ball for the cheeky check-side dribble, and Goals!

UNSW-ES attack again but Carter puts on a show all her own, soccering her way across the ground and out of defence. Kelsey acts as a conduit throughout the midfield, using her strong marking ability and accurate kicking to find forwards at will. This time she finds Green, and suddenly a 50m penalty puts her directly in front at the top of the goal square. She strolls in nonchalantly and slots it through with ease for another Manly goal.

Again from the centre bounce the Bulldogs take possession and rapid-fire into the forward line. The high up and under kick comes to Smith, she brings it to ground and handballs deftly over the shoulder to Conlan streaming past. Defenders rush in from all sides as she lines up her shot, the kick is away in time but slides right and hits the post. Possibly our first glimpse of the Bulldogs game plan working to perfection.

Ball puts her body on the line in the contest and pays the price every player knows they might have to pay. She goes down hard holding her left knee and play stops as the trainers are called. She is stretchered off to applause as players and fans alike salute the bravery shown.

Saggers kickstarts Manly’s next attack after the break in play. She launches long to the goal square as Bull and Salmon fly back. Bull pulls out early to clear room and Salmon floats across the back of the pack and marks at her zenith directly in front. She gives herself plenty of space with the run up, then kicks off only a few steps, zero hesitation and zero deviation. Another goal to Manly.

Helm continues to be clutch in red time as she intercepts the final Wolves drive, breaks past opponents, and slams the ball back into the midfield. Bulldogs showing great signs after the main break, especially in the face of injury. Manly continue to dominate for long stretches, with a lightning-fast connection between the midfield and forward line.

Three Quarter Time Warringah Wolves 8.8.56 – UNSW-ES Bulldogs 1.1.7

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Fourth Quarter

Salmon picks up where she left off before the break, streaming across the forward line and presenting perfectly for midfielders to find her. Roditis sells some candy and flings the footy directly into her path. Salmon continues to make it look easy, sending the Sherrin soaring directly over the goal umpire’s head from 40m out. Goal to Manly to kick start the final quarter.

Stanbury sends a long tumbling kick forward again for the Wolves, it gets past everyone but is picked up just short of the line by the defence. Overwhelming pressure from the Manly forwards forces a holding the ball free kick which Bull takes. Her kick comes to ground directly in front of Manning who asks no questions, just kicks. And kicks true! Another goal for Manning and Manly in the blink of an eye.

Anderson reminds us rucks can kick too as she launches a mammoth kick from the defensive arc all the way to the forward one. The Bulldogs midfield press forward, overwhelming the usually stoic Wolves defence. Conlan dives into the contest and extracts the footy, throws up the don’t argue and buys enough time to find Falvey with the handball. Falvey spots Smith in a one on one after being outnumbered all day and puts in on her head. She positions herself right at the drop of the ball and marks through heavy contact in a colossal effort. Smith lines up her sights and kicks a low dart straight between the big sticks for her second goal of the day, and the second for the Bulldogs.

Wolves attacking at full tilt out of the centre bounce through Zochling. She bashes a kick across her body over defenders and into the waiting arms of Manning. Another opportunity for Manning to show off her silky-smooth kicking motion as she slots the final goal of the match.

Full Time Warringah Wolves 11.8.74 – UNSW-ES Bulldogs 2.1.13

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Final Scores:

Team Name: Warringah Wolves 11.8.74

Goal Kickers: K. Manning 4, K. Salmon 4, L. Bull, H. Wickham.

Best: Caitlin Johnson, Kate Salmon, Andrea Roditis, Peggy Stanbury, Kaitlyn Manning, Brooke Roditis

Team Name: UNSW-ES Bulldogs 2.1.13

Goal Kickers: W. Smith 2.

Best: Chloe Anderson, Maddy Kohlrusch, Hayley Stanford, Sophie Griffiths, Willow Smith, Ella Willey

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