Cats defy AFLW injury carnage to see off youthful Suns
Justin Chadwick |
Geelong have pulled off a brave victory under renowned AFLW coach Mick Stinear, overcoming a triple injury blow to defeat Gold Coast by seven points at People First Stadium.
With Emma Kilpatrick, Priya Bowering and Piper Dunlop suffering game-ending injuries, Geelong looked set to be overrun after the youthful Suns closed to within one point early in the final quarter.
But led by star midfielder Georgie Prespakis (33 disposals, eight clearances, nine tackles, 408m gained) and forward Chloe Sheer (three goals), Geelong hit back hard when the game was in the balance to secure the 10.4 (64) to 8.9 (57) win.
Sunday’s result improved Geelong’s record to 2-1 under new coach Stinear, who led Melbourne for a decade before moving across to the Cats.
“That’s part of the game, injuries are going to happen,” said Prespakis, who at one point looked set to join the casualty list after rolling her left ankle.
“We can only control what we can. We thought we started the first half a bit off, so to be able to wrestle it back in the second half was great.”
Geelong’s injury carnage was spread out across the match.
Kilpatrick dislocated her heavily-strapped left shoulder while attempting a tackle in the first quarter, before Bowering damaged her ankle in the second.
It was disaster time early in the third when 22-year-old ruck Dunlop went down clutching her left knee.
Although there was no immediate update on the severity of the injury, the fact she collapsed in a heap on landing in a contest raised immediate concern.
Gold Coast (1-2) featured nine players playing just their third game, and their youthful experience was on show as they dominated territory for much of the match.
But that often didn’t translate into scoreboard pressure, with Geelong leading 39-26 at three-quarter time despite losing the inside 50m count 30-20.
Charlie Rowbottom racked up 39 disposals and five clearances for the Suns, while Havana Harris kicked three goals and last week’s five-goal hero Alannah Welsh chipped in with two.
In Perth, Carlton defeated Fremantle by six points, 7.6 (48) to 6.6 (42), to improve their record to a perfect 3-0 this season.
The Blues led by 13 points with two minutes remaining, but a goal to Gabby O’Sullivan followed by the bells of “Wharfie Time” had Fremantle players sniffing a late charge.
Kiara Bowers had the chance to close the margin to one point with 30 seconds to go, but her running shot from 30m out missed.
Carlton held firm in the frantic final moments to seal the win, leaving Fremantle with a 1-2 record.
Bowers was huge with 27 disposals, five clearances and 11 tackles, but she was left to rue her return of 0.3.
In a match heavily dictated by the breeze, Fremantle were held scoreless in the first and third quarters, while Carlton were scoreless in the second term.
Abbie McKay (28 disposals, five clearances) and Erone Fitzpatrick (23 disposals, two goals) led the way for a Carlton side missing Darcy Vescio (calf).
AAP