NAB League: Chargers’ girls looking to cap near-perfect campaign off with flag

The Chargers face the Falcons in the NAB League Girls grand final this Sunday. Coach Jason Davenport gives his final thoughts...

Jasmine Fleming featured among the Chargers’ best in the semi-final, in just her second match. Picture: Oakleigh Chargers FC

Oakleigh Chargers coach Jason Davenport says his side is expecting a fired-up Geelong Falcons outfit when the pair meet in the NAB League Girls decider this Sunday.

The Chargers turned it on in the second half against the Eastern Ranges, running out 31-point winners in last weekend’s semi-final to earn their shot at glory.

Eliza James and Stella Reid led the Chargers’ attack with two goals apiece, while midfielders Jasmine Fleming and Amanda Ling, defenders Erin Woodford and Alexandra McCulloch, and forward Charlie Rowbottom finished among the best.

While they held a seven-point advantage at the main break, Davenport highlighted his side’s defensive work, holding the Ranges goalless for the remainder of the match.

The Chargers’ girls celebrate on the weekend. Picture: Oakleigh Chargers FC

“We really loved the way our defenders stood up,” he said.

“Eastern got a number of opportunities in front of goal but they quickly became quite difficult because of the speed and duress that our defenders played with.

“Our strength is no doubt our depth and the girls were really able to shine with the performance in the second half, but it was a reflection of what was building in the first half for us, so we were really happy with the way we played.”

The Chargers finished their home-and-away campaign with a 7-1 record on top of the ladder – with their only loss of the season coming by 11 points in Round 8 against this weekend’s combatant.

Davenport said he’s under no illusions of the challenge posed by the Falcons, which finished sixth on the ladder with a 5-3 record.

Captain Charlie Rowbottom flies for a mark. Picture: Oakleigh Chargers FC

“At the end of the day, the standard of the competition does mean they’re going against a really good side and nothing’s guaranteed,” he said.

“Where they’ve come from with ladder position isn’t a reflection of the strength of their side.

“We saw them (last time we played them) playing to their strengths and controlling the game and playing the way they wanted to play. On the day we didn’t create the opportunities to take that away from them.

“There’s a lot to learn from that contest going into the grand final but there’s also a lot to look forward to that if we can shift and take away some things that they want to do, we’re going to find ourselves right in the hunt.”

In his first season at the helm as coach, Davenport said the girls’ enthusiasm had stood out both at training and on match-day, which he believes will hold his side in good stead this week.

“Our job as coaches is to put the girls in a position to perform collectively as a team, and then the individual success is a flow-on of that,” he said.

“We’ve embraced the changes that were a part of NAB League going forward, and the girls program has been nothing short of high energy and fun basically is what comes to mind when I think about it.

“The most impressive thing – and this isn’t a comparison to the boys program – that I’ve seen is the genuine care for one another and team success, and also the ability to celebrate others’ success.

“We’ll make sure we enjoy the week and the game itself.”

2021 NAB League Girls Grand Final: Sunday, May 16, Avalon Airport Oval (Chirnside Park), 2pm