AFLW Round 4 Review | Carlton V Richmond
Written by Nathan Sepe
It was a four quarter tussle for the Baggers’ against the Tigers, with the Baggers coming out 5 point winners 8.3.51 to 7.4.46, earning their second win in a row, taking their record to 2-2 sitting 8th, two spots off the top 6. The Baggers’ were able to punish the tigers with the high levels of experience and skill from key players such as Darcy Vescio with 3 goals, her best game this season and Prespakis with 19 disposals and two goals.
It was the same reoccurring first quarter for the Baggers’ with the quarter, becoming the third first quarter out of four games without scoring a goal. It was not a bad start for the Baggers’, as they were able to control the footy and move the ball around the ground, although poor kicking led to turnovers, halting the ball movement down the ground. A 50-metre penalty against the Blues gave the Tigers their first goal and got them out to a fast start. There was still great pressure and intensity from the Baggers’, highlighted by a great pack mark from Vescio who was unable to convert the set shot. It was a quite balanced back and forth quarter after this stage with both teams having opportunities. Lack of awareness and pressure from the Baggers’ led to two more consecutive goals for the Tigers, putting them ahead by 16 points at the quarter time break, adding to the Blues poor first quarter’s.
The second quarter started the same way it ended for the Baggers’, with a high-pressure game pressing the Tigers offense. The pressure from the Baggers’ was not enough to convert on the scoreboard as the Tigers were able to rebound inside 50 and score another goal through Katie Brennan who kicked the Tigers fourth consecutive goal to put them 22 points ahead to start the second quarter. It was then a switch of mentality for the Baggers’ with class play from Prespakis setting up the first goal through great run on play to McKay, O’Dea and Harris, who then gave back to Prespakis to kick the Baggers’ first goal of the game. There was fantastic kicking from the girls, with ball movement efficiently working for the Baggers’ transitioning into our forward 50 to set up Jess Hosking with a courageous mark, who set the ball up to the top of the square, in which McEvoy capitalised snapping around her body to kick the Baggers’ second in a row. More efficient ball movement from the Baggers saw another great play from O’Dea set up Prespakis again to kick her second goal of the game and the Baggers’ third in a row. The Baggers’ were on a roll late in the third, which was topped off by the luck of Harris’ bounce from her kick just inside 50 which put the Baggers up by one point, giving them their first lead going into half time.
The third quarter started well for the Baggers’ with another great mark from Vescio, this time converted, to get the Blues off to an earlier lead, up by 7 points. The Tigers pressed well after this first goal, with the Baggers’ defending the incoming balls well but were unable to transition effectively out of defensive 50, with the Tigers getting one back. A couple minutes later there was great pressure from Edwards, following a holding the ball tackle, who kicked into the middle for Harrington, who gave to McEvoy, to provide to Vescio with another great mark and goal to put the Baggers back out to an 8 point lead. More fantastic pressure plays from the likes of Gee, with another holding the ball tackle, who kicked forward to O’Dea, who found Vescio who converted her third goal to put the Baggers’ up by 14 points going into the three quarter time break.
The Baggers’ started the fourth quarter shaky, with the Tigers’ working their way back into the game pressing forward with intent. The Tigers started the quarter quickly with a free kick going the way of the Tigers, giving Stahl a set shot, which she converted to bring the margin down to 8 points. The Baggers’ were still unable to keep the Tigers out as they pressed hard and scored back-to-back goals to put them back within distance, reducing the margin back to two points. The Baggers’ did extremely well to hold the Tigers after this goal rebounding the ball outside of their defensive 50, unable to get forward but were not conceding. The transition work paid off for the Baggers in the seventh minute of the quarter with great kicks down the line starting from terrific Prespakis pressure, that led Stevens to slot an easy set shot to put the Blues up by 8 with 8 minutes remaining. From here, it was a heavily contested ball game with the ball travelling up and down the ground. There were great defensive efforts from Wilson to take out Frederick Traub, which helped, keep the Tigers out. The Baggers nearly gave up the game with a ball kicked over the heads of the defence, nearly trickling over the line to draw the game. The Baggers’ were able to hold on and get over the line to win by 5 points, earning their second win of the season, setting up a must win game against North Melbourne on Saturday Night.
Goals: Vescio 3, Prespakis 2, McEvoy, Harris, Stevens
