St Kilda scores first AFLW win against Melbourne after Caitlin Greiser long bomb
A new G-Train has arrived at Moorabbin Station. Caitlin Greiser’s epic bomb has etched her place in club history as the Saints claimed their first AFLW win against Melbourne.
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Sorry Fraser, there’s a new G-Train that’s pulled into Moorabbin Station.
For years Saints fans cheered Fraser Gehrig leading up out of the forward line, but now it’s Caitlin Greiser with all the hallmarks of a powerhouse.
With a bit more freedom to use her strength, Greiser – who turned 21 just this week – could be a serious force.
She’s never met her new namesake, but said she felt the weight of the nickname – especially at Moorabbin.
“It’s pretty special, to be honest,” Greiser said.
“It’s really big at the club, so I want to make sure I live it on and play my best.”
She put herself firmly on the map with a 50m bomb goal — a shot she practices regularly — in the final term to put the Saints in front and send the team marching in to its first-ever AFL Women’s victory with a five-point win over the previously-undefeated Demons.
It was a roost crafted in the park in a leotard.
“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always kicked a footy around,” she said.
“I did a bit of dancing when I was little. I didn’t really like that, and used to dance on Saturday mornings and then go across the road and kick the footy on the oval in my leotard.”
"She's launched it an absolute MILE" 🤗#AFLWSaintsDees pic.twitter.com/4Kug2SrRts
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) February 21, 2020
A handy soccer player, Greisner played with South Melbourne in the NPL competition as a forward, once booting eight goals in a game.
She turned her back on an opportunity to head to the United States for college, turning to Australian Rules just two years ago.
Former Saints star Leigh Montagna dubbed her a “cult hero” after the match – and he might just be right.
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Coach Peta Searle said “G-Train” has got a lot of attributes that could make her a great AFLW player.
Teammate Kate McCarthy described Greisner as “a gentle giant”.
“She’s growing in confidence every week,” she said.
“Look out, teams, if she gets even more confident in her ability. At the moment, we’re her biggest fans and she just needs to keep learning and keep growing in that confidence, because she’s just going to be something else.”
PERSISTENCE PAYS OFF
The Saints showed signs in Round 1 against the Dogs, and even more against Adelaide last week.
But it finally all came together with their maiden victory, with a beaming Searle drenched in water and Powerade by her players post-match.
“We talked about raising the bar last week, we talked about climbing the steps this week,” she said, freezing.
“It’s all about what you can do to keep improving. It’s the way I’ve coached for years. What is it that we need to keep doing to keep getting better? Great win, really enjoy it, but let’s get back to work and be better for next week.”
PAXMAN EATING THEM UP
With the home-and-away season almost a third of the way through, it might be time to start talking turkey.
Karen Paxman, engage your speech writer.
The Demon has finished runner-up in the league best-and-fairest before and would surely have to sit front and centre in calculations after another dominant performance out of the middle.
A foundation player of the competition, Paxman continues to take all before her and has freedom to burn through the middle with Daisy Pearce now playing off half-back.
NOT ANOTHER, PLEASE
When Demon Maddy Guerin changed direction in the middle of the ground and dropped to the turf, her reaction was immediate.
And it even rippled throughout the ground, with an emotional McCarthy admitting she had been rattled by the injury.
Melbourne was optimistic last night that the midfielder may have dislocated her patella in the action and that she will have scans to confirm.
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Former Bulldog Bob Murphy - himself a member of the dreaded ACL club – admitted he “didn’t like the look of it” for Guerin who was immediately sidelined and iced up, but fingers are crossed.
Sinead Goldrick suffered a concussion early in the match and will be monitored.
Demons coach Mick Stinear said he could have some troops returning, with Lily Mithen and Lauren Pearce to be put through their paces on Saturday.
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