Falcons look set to regain Houtsma
MIDFIELDER Ingrid Houtsma looks set to return for the grand final as the Geelong Falcons girls lean on a team-first mentality in the decider.
A head knock suffered by Houtsma ruled her out of last weekend’s semi-final but she has ticked all the boxes to play against Oakleigh Chargers on Sunday, 15 days after the hit.
Falcons coach Paul Corrigan said if she got through training on Thursday night, Houtsma would play.
“All is looking positive for her at the moment. She has followed all those protocols and has been stepping up at training each day and making sure she is symptomatic-free out of training,” Corrigan said.
Should Houtsma prove her fitness, it will spell heartbreak for a player left out of the side from a 14-point win over Greater Western Victoria Rebels last week.
But Corrigan said a mantra of putting the team before individuals has kept the Falcons in good stead through the season and would remain in place.
“I felt that even early on when Domsy (Falcons talent manager Tom Lonergan) and I took over the program that we felt when we saw the girls pre-Christmas that they were a pretty united group,” the coach said. “They weren’t too separated and got along pretty well and they have been able to keep that going throughout the year, which has been pretty special.
“There are a lot of age groups in the (squad), some 15-year-olds and some 19-year-olds in there, but the most pleasing thing is that they have been pretty close as a group.