A depleted midfield has proved no barrier for the GWS Giants to arrange essentially the most memorable AFLW win within the membership’s brief historical past.
Lacking midfield weapons, Rebecca Beeson (injured), Alyce Parker (Concussion) and Chloe Dalton (suspended), the Giants overran Geelong within the second half to win by 18 factors, 8.5 (53) to five.5 (35) at GMHBA Stadium on Friday night time.
Giants skipper Alicia Eva led a younger onball brigade that offered sufficient alternatives for ahead Cora Staunton besides 4 objectives, ably assisted by younger Jess Doyle with two well timed contributions late within the third time period after a good first half.
It was the Sydney group’s highest rating of the season and the power to benefit from the within 50 entries proved a decisive distinction, notably within the second half because the guests utilized intense strain on the contests.
Fittingly, it was Staunton who put the ending touches to the win with two objectives within the final quarter, the final one inside the ultimate minute that propelled her to equal chief on the AFLW goalkicking listing.
With each groups out of finals competition, coaches Dan Lowther (Geelong) and Alan McConnell (GWS) made a number of radical positional modifications from early within the recreation to experiment with gamers for subsequent season.
Geelong had each alternative to complete a dismal season on a excessive on residence turf as Amy McDonald and Georgie Prespakis managed the midfield contests for many of the night time.
However the residence group could not discover a option to aim within the second half and failed to attain within the final quarter when trailing by solely 5 factors at three-quarter time.
Geelong managed the competition within the first half and would have been disillusioned to take solely a one-point lead into the primary break.
The Cats dominated all of the essential areas, reminiscent of centre clearances and contested possessions. However they only could not shake off the persistent Giants.
Thrice, Geelong regarded poised to interrupt open the sport, organising 13 factors buffers, and every time GWS hit again onerous to remain proper within the struggle.
The Cats paid a excessive worth for undisciplined play late within the second quarter.
A 50m penalty allowed the harmful Staunton besides a protracted aim after she ran previous the opposition participant on the mark.
And one other free kick allowed teammate Georgia Garnett so as to add one other aim after the half-time siren.
