First term damage costly for Falcons

OAKLEIGH Chargers’ start was the end for Geelong Falcons in Sunday’s NAB League Girls grand final.

Oakleigh kicked six consecutive goals either side of quarter-time on its way to a 11.5 (71) to 5.4 (34) win at Avalon Airport Oval.

Geelong cut the margin to 24 points late in the third, but had five goals at three-quarter time and needed as many in the final term to win the game.

Coach Paul Corrigan said his side’s endeavour was excellent, but Oakleigh’s efficiency in moving the ball forward was the difference.

“They probably jumped on those outside balls a bit better than we did, they held their structure a bit better on the outside … which probably gave them that flow on early in the game when they were able to convert,” Corrigan said.

“Scoreboard pressure is everything in this game and they just got ahead.

“I thought our girls regrouped at half-time. I thought they come out and they fought it out in the second half, but the damage was probably done in that first half.”

First-year coach Corrigan said he was proud of his side’s efforts to make the decider.

“When I first worked in with ‘Domsy’ (Tom Lonergan), we never had expectations on this group,” he said.

“We just sort of walked in and wanted to see what the group would give us, and they’ve exceeded expectations.

“They’ve been a great group to coach throughout the year — they’re so coachable in the way they come to training every time, they want to get better as players and people as well, which is the main thing about our program.

“The way they approach their footy, too, in a carefree nature, in a respectful way, is what I love.”