Difficult decision for flying Falcons

THE Geelong Falcons are facing an agonising grand final selection squeeze as two of their most important players prepare to return for Saturday’s TAC Cup decider.

The ladder-leading Falcons completed the perfect homeand-away season on Saturday, brushing past Western Jets by 55 points to record their ninth win from as many matches.

But with automatic starters Mia Sheppard and Luka Lesosky-Hay set to return, coach Jason Armistead has the unenviable task of dropping two players for Saturday’s clash against Northern Knights in Werribee.

Sheppard was unavailable for Saturday’s match, while Lesosky-Hay has been declared fit to return from a knee injury, providing she can get through training this week.

“It’s just the way it is, there’s not much you can do about it, really,” Armistead said after the 9.9 (63) to 1.2 (8) win.

“We did touch on it a few weeks ago that it could potentially happen, so it’s about learning from it as well if you’re that player and use it as motivation for next time so that you’re not in that position.”

Despite having their grand final position locked away last week, the Falcons showed no signs of complacency on Saturday, breaking the game open late in the first quarter to lead by three goals at quarter time.

The Falcons experimented with a couple of positional shifts, including moving Nina Morrison from her usual midfield/wing role to the forward line.

It had an instant impact, kicking two of her three goals in the opening quarter.

The usual suspects of Olivia Purcell and Tarryn Love led the way, as the Falcons prepare to confront a potent Knights, who are the highestscoring side in the competition.

“We’ve been pretty consistent with our effort all year,” Armistead said. “So it was good to finish off that way.

“That (no drop off) was pretty much our focus from last week, to continue going about it the way we have.

“So we go into next week pretty confident about what we can do.”