Hawks win big and give warning
UNIVERSITY Hawks coach Brett Clifford says his side is peaking at the right time after a 9.7 (61) to 1.2 (8) success over the Bulldogs took them top of the Townsville Renault Senior Women’s Cup ladder at a windy North Shore Oval.
The Hawks have 48 competition points, the same total as the Tigers, who were beaten 5.6 (36) to 3.4 (22) by the Swans.
Tigers forward Ellen Turner kicked two goals in the loss to take her to 24 for the season at the top of the goal-kicking charts.
The Hawks lead the competition by percentage ahead of two bye rounds, having played one more game than the Tigers who play the Swans again next week.
The Hawks play their final regular season match against the Swans in three weeks and Clifford is hoping his side will be close to full strength by then.
“We had a few away with work and sickness,” he said.
“We haven’t been able to put our full side out all season, so when we do watch out.
“We don’t have any injuries and when everyone is available, we have about 30 girls.”
Clifford will hope it’s third time lucky for the Hawks in the finals after losing in the past two preliminary finals.
He said he and the team had one target: to win the competition.
“That’s been our goal all year,” Clifford said.
“We played in the last two preliminary finals and lost, so we don’t want to do that again.
“We want to go all the way this year.”
Clifford said the windy conditions at North Shore Oval made it tricky for both sides but he believed his team handled it best.
Madison Macdonald kicked four goals for the Hawks, while former Greater Western Sydney AFLW player Delma Gisu was one of the best performers.
Clifford said work in training had paid off for Mcdonald.
“We did a bit of practice on Thursday night with goalkicking and obviously that worked wonders,” he said.
“Madison’s just a confidence player. When she gets her head right, she’s dangerous.
“Delma is starting to hit her straps and in the last three weeks, she has been probably our best player.
“She had a slow start but she’s a good asset and we are lucky to have her. She seems to be really enjoying it now.”
In Saturday’s other result in the women’s competition, the Garbutt Magpies went down 6.13 (49) to 0.2 (2) to the Northern Beaches Suns.
Caitie Dearnaley kicked three goals and Domeka Wilson two for the Suns.