The weather may have been moody on Sunday but the footy in Rutherglen was anything but.
Sunday morning started off with thick fog and clouds closing in on Barkly Park. The sun was not able to muster the effort to break through the low-lying cloud, and so the under 14s commenced their game in a shroud of fog that was able to hide their endeavour for the first half of the game. Unlike the weather, the game picked up at three quarter time and the young Felines secured their first win of the season.
The Under 17s followed with a great game full of teamwork and tenacity. Finally, the Senior Felines took to the field for an exciting match against the Rovers. The seniors sealed the deal claiming the Murray Felines’ third win for the day.
Under 14
In the cold and foggy conditions as described above, the young Felines appeared to get off to their usual slow start where they invited their opposition to a handy lead. Thanks to some great long bombs from their full forward, the Wangaratta Rovers took the early lead and the command of the match right through to three quarter time.
Slowly but surely, the young Felines were able to wrest back terms against the Rovers but struggled to kick the required goals. Abbey Ibrahim in the centre was best on ground in her display of running and taking all on. Carrington Schmidt showed her usual determination throughout the match and slightly unorthodox method of smothering the ball at times.
At three quarter time, the Felines were down by 11 points, but the sense was that if they were able to kick the first goal then they would be right back in the match. True to word, the Felines lifted and dominated the last quarter.
It was Ted Hopkins who famously kicked 4 goals in the second half of the 1970 grand final to sink the hearts of many Collingwood supporters. Marlie Smith channelled her best Ted Hopkins and achieved a similar feat in the last quarter.
With Abbey Ibrahim getting clean possession from the centre, Marlie Smith become a live wire in the forward line, kicking one goal and set up another 2 goals. With Abbey and Marlie in full swing, the central field umpire, David Carroll, was struggling to keep up with the play and was caught a few times ball watching quite a few metres of the play. In the end, the Felines stormed to their first victory for the season.
It is a great testimony to the team who play for fun and play the game in great spirit no matter what the score. It was great to watch the young Felines win their first game and their celebrations afterwards.
Murray Felines 4.2-26 def Wangaratta Rovers
Goals: Ebony Brunskill-Mills, Carrington Schmidt, Taylor Taborsky, Marlie Smith
Best: Abbey Ibrahim, Carrington Schmidt, Anastasia Lairson, Ebony Brunskill-Mills, Marlie Smith, Alexia Nagle
Under 17
The fog still had not lifted at the start of this game when the Felines took on a much improved under 17 Wangaratta Rovers team. The Felines had a number of players out and so it was great to see a number of the under 14 team step up and play with the more senior team
The first quarter was a real struggle with the ball moving freely around the field. The Felines were slowly able to dominate forward possession but struggled to convert their chances. The team went into the first break one goal up but the match was still up for grabs.
As the second and third quarters progressed, the Felines were able to flex their muscles and grind their way to a commanding lead. For a change, the Felines were able to score some amazing goals, that to the untrained eye might have appeared to be somewhat flukey!
The backline was resolute in their defence, and the midfield were on top once again. Ali Jackson was outstanding in the centre, winning many centre clearances forward of the circle due to some creative handballs from Ava Loughnan.
Georgia Thomas provided a strong focal point up forward and capped off a solid day kicking 6 goals.
Olivia Cheeseman continues to impress with her creativity around centre half forward. Her amazing ability to sidestep packs at close quarters with three players hanging off her is a skill that many others will struggle to emulate.
Coach Brad Nicholson was pleased with the evenness of the contribution from all of the team.
“Though we had some good stand out players, everyone else played their role and it makes for a great team dynamic,” he said.
“To mention a few would be to include Phina Muscat of the half back line, Milly Cheesemen who improves each week and Mia Spiteri and Emily Cooper. But really, I was very happy with the whole team effort. The Wangaratta Rovers have improved dramatically, and the game was a much better contest that what the score board might have indicated.”
Murray Felines 12.14-86 defeated Wangaratta Rovers 0.1-1
Goals: Georgia Thomas 6, Ava Loughnan 2, Ali Jackson, Anna Mitchell, Paige Duffy, Joey Shepherdson
Best: Ali Jackson, Paige Duffy, Hannah Loughnan, Ava Loughnan, Georgia Thomas, Emily Cooper, Olivia Cheeseman.
Open
The fog and low-lying cloud was still around Barkly Park at the start of the open match, lurking around very much like the unwanted relative at a family re-union.
However, there was nothing unwanted in this football match with the ball moving freely and fiercely over the length of the ground.
The Wangaratta Rovers got off to a great start kicking the first two goals of the match.
The Rovers lead by VFLW player Mikaela Trethowan were generating a lot of drive from the centre and really testing the Felines backline.
However, as the quarter went on, the Senior Felines were able to settle and bring the match back onto their terms.
Some strong work up forward by Sophie Nicholson and Paige Duffy saw the Felines wrest the lead from the Rovers and go into the first break a goal up.
At all the addresses, the coach Matt Andison calmly asked his players to focus on the basics and back themselves in for each contest.
The second quarter was a great tussle with the free-flowing Rovers midfield holding sway and the Felines clawing back. Slowly, the Felines were able to close down the run of Mikeala Trethowan and started to win much of the contested football.
With the Felines moving out a good lead at half time, the sun joined in the festivities by finally breaking through the cloud and illuminating the ground in golden light.
The contribution of the Under 17 players stepping up was greatly appreciated. Phina Muscat played the game of her career from the half back flank matching it with the stronger bodies of the senior girls. Ali Jackson commenced where she left off from the under 17 game and with Paige Duffy, was able to provide the spark of pace around the pack.
In the backline, Kaitlyn Robinson played her usual stoic game of the Black Knight and not allowing any ball to go past her. Her reading of the play to get in early position and no-nonsense disposal techniques is an example to everyone.
Mietta Habets dominated the ruck hit outs with her amazing vertical leap and Yasmine Budic worked into the game crumbing around each pack.
Caitlin Somerville, coming off her 18th birthday party, was somewhat sluggish to get going, but provided a real contest at centre half forward. In the third quarter, Caitlin pushed forward to mark the ball and put the Felines into a match wining lead.
The last quarter was very exciting as the Rovers kicked the first goal and their midfield threatened to steal the game away from the Felines. However, the team stuck to the basics and started to win the ball the ball on their own terms. In the end, the Felines won a very exciting and high standard match.
Murray Felines 9.5-59 defeated Wangaratta Rovers 5.3-33
Goals: Sophie Nicholson 3, Paige Duffy 2, Caitlin Somerville, Kaitlyn Robinson, Jane McInnes, Samara Ferguson.
Best: Kaitlyn Robinson, Jane McInnes, Sophie Nicholson, Ali Jackson, Paige Duffy, Chloe Mitchell, Mietta Habets.