Jess the best, and she almost missed season
TORQUAY star Jess Standfield’s decision to “come down for a run” two weeks before the start of the BFL season paid the ultimate dividend on Saturday.
The Tigers defender, who has not played in “about three years”, not only went home with an A grade premiership medal but was also named best on court in her side’s 31-30 win over Geelong Amateur.
“This year I decided I’d come down for a run — that’s what I’d call it — two weeks out from Round 1,” Standfield said. “I stepped over that white line again and I knew I was playing for the rest of the year. I had a baby last year and I wasn’t sure how the body would hold up. But I was pretty happy with my fitness at the start of the year and then I figured the rest would just come back to me.”
The star goal defender put in a dominant performance with goal keeper Sonia Harris to restrict a usually freescoring Ammos in the biggest game of the year.
“We went into the game knowing we needed to play front ball a lot and it was really important to push them up and over,” Standfield said. “One of my strengths is to get back and get up for the ball. Both Sonia and I focused on getting in front for that front ball and stopping it there.”
Standfield said she was elated to beat one of the competition’s powerhouses in the biggest game of the season.
“Grand finals are not necessarily down to the best team, but the best team on the day and who handles the pressure the best. I really think we definitely did.”