Falcons girls into decider

TESS Craven and Poppy Schaap continued their brilliant seasons in Saturday’s preliminary final to inspire Geelong Falcons into Sunday’s NAB League Girls decider.

Craven and Schaap were again Geelong’s best two players, as they have been in nearly every game this year, in the 14-point win over Greater Western Victoria.

Craven had a game-high 24 disposals, five marks and four goals and Schaap kicked 1.2 from her 18 touches in the 5.6 (36) to 3.4 (22) triumph.

Coach Paul Corrigan said the emerging pair were instrumental in the victory.

“Tess through the middle and Poppy as well, and even Lizzy Dowling forward,” Corrigan said.

“Some of Lizzy’s work on Paige Scott, who’s their really, really strong player who goes through the midfield and goes forward and can kick goals for them, I thought Lizzy did a super job on her.”

Geelong led by five points at three-quarter time before kicking two unanswered goals in the final term at Werribee’s Avalon Airport Oval to set up a grand final date against Oakleigh Chargers.

Corrigan said Craven and Schaap were the club’s best two AFLW draft prospects, along with Renee Tierney and Annie Lee.

“Annie was pretty good across half-back and I think her form throughout the year’s been pretty good,” he said.

“We’ve had probably those four and I think Ingrid Houtsma … recruiters have showed interest in her — just her profile and how she moves as well.

“When you look at what (Tess and Poppy, pictured) have done throughout the year, what they do each week, there’s just that level that they play to every week.

“Poppy’s so clean below her knees when she’s playing across half-forward or through the midfield and Tess’ ability (is) to find ball, win ball but the way she uses the ball as well is elite.”

Houtsma is posed to return for the grand final after missing the win with concussion.

Corrigan said his side was playing its best football after it brushed aside Dandenong in the first week of finals.

He said Saturday’s win came back to the way the team defended. “Having that sort of game has put us in good stead against Oakleigh next week,” he said.