Round Eleven Women’s Premier Division Match Review, Sydney University v Macquarie University Goannas

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Written by Lachlan Scott

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First Quarter

A beautiful day for footy in the heart of Sydney as the Students and Goannas look to break away from the centre of the pack and keep in touch with the top of the ladder. Both sides need some high percentage wins to lock in a favourable finals spot and separate themselves from the competition. Last time these teams matched up Mac Uni took home the chocolates in a hard fought 8-point win in round 1.

The bounce is up the game is on! The Sydney Uni midfield comes out strong early and keeps possession in tight, slowly working the ball forward. Mahoney crumbs from the contest and flicks a kick goalward, drifting right for a behind. Sydney Uni hit the scoreboard first after building nicely across half forward. The Goannas break out rapidly down the wing, Students fists rise up to thump away the forward entry but to no avail. The forwards pile in and dig out the sherrin, flicking it out to the back of the pack. A high up and under kick from Easton drops just short and Menz punches it through for a minor. Macquarie Uni are on the board.

The Students look to start a drive from the kick in but the contest bogs down on the far wing. The gears start turning for the Macquarie mids, they’re lining up for the handball receive and breaking away from their opponents all across the field. The kick comes long to Ford who dances around her opponent, snaps high across her body, the kick slipping left for a behind.

Plummer is everywhere for the Goannas early, diving into contests and feeding the ball out with skill and speed. Her efforts keep the ball locked safely in Macquarie’s forward line forcing massive pressure on the Students defence. The Macquarie mids can smell an opportunity, bullocking through the contest and finding Fletcher lurking out the back waiting for her moment. They feed her a rapid-fire handball, she turns on a dime and launches a towering long bomb from behind the contest through for the first major of the day.

Macquarie dive forward again from the bounce and lock it in with an unrelenting assault, the Students back line is under siege here in the first. Ford continues to take shots from across the forward line, but the defence is maintaining its form and putting pressure on the kicks forcing them wide.

The Goannas close out the quarter with 5 behinds after total dominance in field position. They’ll be hoping for more accurate shots on goal to convert their forward pressure into scoreboard pressure. The Students started strong but faded out and weren’t able to maintain control of the footy for extended stretches. If they can keep the ball in hand, they have the foot skills to find avenues to goal and turn the scoreboard around.

Quarter Time Sydney University 0.1.1 – Macquarie University 1.5.11

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Second Quarter

Mead and Farrugia dive headfirst into the contest immediately off the centre bounce, battling through contact to clear out stoppages. Cameron stands out with her tap-work in the ruck, utilizing her height to feed first touch to the rovers streaming past below. The Goannas continue their forward forays early, but Dribbus reads the drop of the ball best and using her titanic kicking strength, hits ‘return to sender’ and launches the Sherrin straight back into the centre.

Farrugia initiates the switch down back for Macquarie Uni, and they execute to perfection. The shift gives midfielders a chance to gain space on their opponents and the resulting transition is lighting fast. Easton shoots a low dart to the top of the square but Mead holds on tight in defence to shut down any attempts at goal. A scrimmage develops as Glover and Cameron put in the hard yards rucking contest after contest, boxing in a phone booth as the rovers press in around them. Finally a kick in hope from the melee tumbles forward but Dribbus dives forward and touches it on the line, saving the goal.

Macquarie Uni lock the ball forward again in a similar manner to the first, but this time Sydney Uni flood back their midfielders to relieve the pressure and it works. Once the ball it out of the contest they have the numbers to rush forward in a wave. The final kick is long and wide, Gilfedder in a foot race against two, thundering towards the boundary line. Reinforcements arrive and suddenly the tempo has shifted and the Students have the ascendancy. Walsh sends a long centring ball to the top of the goal square, Tutt collects and snaps over her shoulder, but Williams stands strong as the last line of defence. And she is cleaned up well after disposing of the ball! Absolute bravery down back for the Goannas.

Kaukiono and Gray maintain a Zen like calm down back for Macquarie in the face of constant forward entries, rebounding with poise. After countless accurate kicks, one comes off the side of the boot and Sayer pounces for the Students. She kicks long to the contest at the top of the goal square, but the ball has a mind of its own and tumbles over the back avoiding everyone and rolling through for a behind.

Half Time Sydney University 0.2.2 – Macquarie University 1.7.13

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Third Quarter

The Students come out with all cylinders firing from the halftime break. Cameron continues to win taps in the ruck, this time down to Harley who spears a low swift kick deep forward finding Gilfedder who marks deep in the pack. Her kick for goal is high and right but sets up Sydney Uni to lock the ball forward in a reverse of the Goanna’s dominance for most of the game so far.

Harley again kicks to Gilfedder from a kick out turn over, she collects and pumps it straight to the top of the goal square, the Students have the outnumber and wait hungrily for the drop of the ball. Smith collects and the defenders swarm to her, but they’ve left Walsh all by herself. Smith spots her and handballs out whilst being tackled by two defenders. The pass finds Walsh’s outstretched arms and she wastes no time, slams it on the boot and scores Sydney Uni’s first goal of the day!

And they do it again! Straight from the centre bounce, Cameron taps down to Harley who sprints away from the contest and kicks a spiralling ball across her body. Gilfedder is the recipient, she spins around lightning fast and shoots from a step 40m out and the goal umpire doesn’t move an inch. Incredible accuracy from that range and at that speed. In the blink of an eye Sydney Uni have the lead.

The Goannas don’t remain shell shocked for long. They strike forward through Ford who slices a kick from right on the boundary line to the goal square, but Menz is there as the last line of defence. The Student’s midfield continues to dominate this quarter as Harley, Mahoney and Sayer transition up the field with ease, their speed and accuracy unmatched. Gray and Ferrugia remain calm under pressure down back for the Goannas, repelling shots on goal and keeping the scoreline close.

Finally the damn breaks as Mahoney bashes her way through defenders and kicks to the goal square. The ball hits the deck and Gillon puts her body on the line, earning herself a free kick. She takes her time with the run up, knowing goals are at a premium this match. She strolls in and slots it straight over the goal umpires head to put through the Students’ third of the game and this quarter.

The Macquarie mids pile in at the next centre bounce, looking to shut down the quick exit Sydney Uni has enjoyed too many times this quarter. Glover battles continuously, racking up countless possessions in less than a minute as her rovers pass back and forth trying to maintain possession. Eventually the contest breaks up and Mahoney sends it forward again for the Students. Harley scoops and kicks in a single motion whilst running at full steam in an impressive display, her kick soaring 40m deep into the pocket. It escapes Gilfedder’s fingertips but not her foot as she spins around and snaps off the deck from directly in front. Another goal to Sydney Uni in a third quarter avalanche!

Harley is dragged down off the ball and earns a free 30m out at a slight angle in the dying minutes. She runs out to the right, the kick for goal starts right but glides back towards the centre and sails through the big sticks. Fans are erupting in cheers seeing this comeback and she is swamped by teammates. What a quarter from the Students.

Three Quarter Time Sydney University 5.3.33 – Macquarie University 1.7.13

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Fourth Quarter

The contest bounces between the arcs as both defences solidify early in the fourth. Macquarie Uni seem to have overcome the shellshock of the last quarter and are attacking with speed and precision. Coleman marks deep in the contest on the forward 50 arc, wastes no time finding Kavanagh lurking forward. Kavanagh runs right, kicking off her left but the ball stays left for an early behind for the Goannas.

Macquarie Uni go forward again in this patch of ascendancy, this time through Fletcher. She bullocks her way through the pack and slams a kick deep into the pocket. Dribbus and Kavanagh battle at the drop of the ball but Kavanagh is taken high and earns herself a shot on goal, 30m out at an extreme angle. She makes it look easy though, with a methodical run up and a textbook kicking motion, she hits home for the Goannas.

The Student’s defence is having none of this comeback however and tighten up in response. The Goanna’s keep the ball forward but can’t get off shots on goal as the defence lays on a terrifying level of pressure for this late in a game. They know if they can just hang on and kill the clock they’ve won this. The only glimmer of hope in the remaining minutes is a behind tapped over the goal line from the contest.

An incredible display from both sides, Macquarie Uni dominating throughout the first half but got surprised after the main break and never recovering. Sydney Uni struggled to get going early but once the goals started in the third they didn’t look back.

Full Time Sydney University 5.3.33 – Macquarie University 2.9.21

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Final Scores:

Sydney University: 5.3.33

Goal Kickers: L. Gilfedder 2, S. Gillon, M. Harley, E. Walsh.

Best: Maryanne Harley, Keiley Mead, Finlay Menz, Kara Durante, Lucy Gilfedder, Molly Cameron

Macquarie University: 2.9.21

Goal Kickers: C. Fletcher, S. Kavanagh.

Best: Amanda Farrugia, Sera Kaukiono, Caitlin Fletcher, shannon brown, Cassie Brown, Kiera Yerbury

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