COACH FLAGS FORWARD FOCUS
ST Joseph’s may boast the league’s best defensive record, but coach Kirsten Hood says boosting their output at the other end of the court is an area they are working on going forward – starting with St Mary’s this weekend.
Joeys have won four matches on the bounce since an opening round one-goal loss to Colac to sit second on the GFNL A-grade standings, with percentage all that’s separating them and ladder leader South Barwon.
But while conceding an average of only 32.4 goals per game to rank first in the competition in defence, they sit seventh for average goals scored with 47.6 per game.
“Defensive pressure across the entire team, not just focusing on our defenders, has probably been one of our biggest focuses,” Hood said.
“Really pleased with what we’re actually allowing other teams to score and we’ll try and obviously keep that as a focus moving forward.
“(But) most definitely we’re wanting to probably attack a little heavier.”
A newly formed attack featuring recruit Emma Buwalda and Annie Hills has performed consistently through the opening rounds and Hood has been pleased with how the pair have jelled.
“They’ve been working really well, they’re new players working together, so they’re obviously finding their feet as well working together and working with the new midcourt,” she said.
“Really been quite happy with one, their attack on the ball, but also the scoring power that we’ve had so far, it’s been pretty good.”
Zoe Cowan and Charlotte Todd have joined St Joseph’s this season and have made an immediate impact, as has
Libby Moloney, who has graduated from B-grade.
“We’ve been really happy with how we’ve started the season … we’ve had a pretty new squad this season, so certainly happy with how the girls have started to jell together and how they’re working together,” Hood said.