Sharks set to step up
GEELONG got an early taste of how big a task it faces in its first season of Premier League hockey when its women lost 2-0 to KBH Brumbies at Stead Park on Saturday.
A goal in each half — from Eliza Berryman (31 minutes) and Ashleigh White (57) — was enough to get the Kew-Box Hill combine the win but Geelong did well to keep the margin down, repelling several short corners in the second half.
Coach Shane Walters is under no illusions about what lies ahead but expects the Sharks to grow through the experience.
“I think we were probably outplayed in the first half,’’ Walters said after the match.
“We were chasing a lot of ball and the girls sort of run out of puff a bit in the second half.
“I think we took a little while to adjust to the pace of the game as well. It caught us out. We were a couple of steps out of position every time, we were just behind our player.’’
But Walters is confident his group will learn quickly from the high tempo the upper level of Victorian hockey requires.
“There’s going to be tougher weeks than that for us and there’s other weeks where we’ll play better hockey and get a different result,’’ he said.
One of the key factors from adjusting to the increased pace of Premier League is the fatigue that sets in, particularly in the second half.
“We were tiring and some of the decision-making as we tired cost us a bit as well.’’ he said. “We’d work hard to get the ball off them and all of a sudden it’s back on us pretty quick.
“We’ll look at some video this week and the girls will get some feedback from that.’’
Eliza Flanagan was Geelong’s best, continuing the form that earned her a best and fairest in her first year with the club in 2017, while captain Emma Hatton worked hard all day.
Defenders Jane Patten and Gab Sutton were also solid throughout, while goalkeeper Morgan Gould was a standout, particularly in the second half when Brumbies ramped up the pressure, holding firm as the penalty corner count mounted.
Geelong faces a tough away assignment next week against Essendon, which started its season in grand style with a 4-1 win over Altona on Saturday.
Missing will be youngster Kelsey Ratcliffe and Elise Webster, but the Sharks welcome midfield star Emmaline Moore and gun recruit Eliza Whiteley.
Geelong’s reserves team started the season well with a 3-1 win after trailing 1-0 at halftime. Goals came from Australian over 50s star Alison O’Reilly (2) and Georgie Lee.
The Geelong men start their Vic League 1 season next Saturday when they host Gippsland Bulls at Stead Park from 3.30pm. Geelong 0 v KBH Brumbies 2 Geelong 3 v KBH Brumbies 1
Geelong: Alison O’Reilly 2, Georgie Lee