Lavington product Zarlie Goldsworthy was the star of the day, dominating the contest from start to finish kicking 4.4 and racking up 33 disposals in what was as complete a performance as you’ll see on NAB League debut.
From a Goulburn Valley perspective, Cassidy Mailer (Shepparton United) showed her unique skill set, racking up 19 disposals and four tackles, captain Keeley Skepper (Shepparton United) led from the front with 15 disposals and seven tackles and Tayissa Gray (Shepparton Swans) was prolific up forward gathering 13 touches.
Murray Bushrangers assistant coach Mario De Santa-Ana said all involved with the program were pleasantly surprised with how the game played out.
“We were really, really happy with how things went, heading into round one you just never know where you’re at, so we were just really grateful and surprised in a way with how well we played,” De Santa-Ana said.
“We always had a question mark with how our fitness would be given the conditions and extended quarters, but that wasn’t a factor in the end as our girls stood up very well.”
Coming into the round one clash with no real expectations, it was a tight and scrappy start at JC Lowe Oval as the teams went goal for goal in an entertaining first term.
Trailing by a goal at quarter-time, the Bushrangers really came to life in the second term, playing an exciting brand of football and running the Pioneers off their feet with some exquisite ball movement.
Shepparton United’s Bella Browne would be the go-to girl up forward for the Bushrangers, kicking two goals for the quarter as her side opened up a sizeable 20-point advantage at the main change.
De Santa-Ana said he was impressed with how the side bounced back in the second quarter and capitalised on its dominance in general play.
“We had a really good first term, but probably missed two or three set shots that would have given us the lead, so we were really happy at quarter-time despite being behind,” he said.
“And then in the second quarter we really showed what we could do and managed to play our brand of footy and get the game on our terms, the ability of the girls to stand up to that early pressure and flip the script was very impressive.”
After being kept goalless in the second, Bendigo came out inspired in the third cutting the lead back to five points midway through the period.
But goals to Destiny Dodd and India Lehman in the dying stages of the term would gift the Bushrangers back the momentum as they went into the final change 18 points up.
Determined to finish the job, the Bushrangers were ruthless in the last, once again keeping the Pioneers goalless as they went about boosting their percentage.
Lehman added another major to make it four on the day, while Mindy Quade and Goldsworthy also got in on the act, as the home side came away a convincing 37-point winner.
De Santa-Ana said being able to put in such a complete performance first up gave the coaching and playing group great confidence moving forward.
“I think we were always confident we would be competitive, but didn’t know how close we would be, it’s only round one and don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves, but I think what we know now is that we can compete with the better teams,” he said.
“We showed that we have the fitness to take it up to the opposition and I think we (the coaches) are quietly confident and now the girls need to have confidence in their ability that they can perform at this level.”
