AFLW: Carlton’s kicking proves costly in loss to Geelong
Carlton lost to Geelong because of blown chances and Tayla Harris was the main culprit with three howlers, which included slamming the ball into the post on the edge of the goal square.
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The competition might be new but the same old footy adages still ring home in the AFLW.
At his review meeting Carlton coach Daniel Harford only needs five words to be written on the blackboard: “BAD KICKING IS BAD FOOTBALL”.
And for good measure he should put a picture of full-forward Tayla Harris next to it.
Despite not kicking a goal in the second half, Geelong held on for an important victory 2.7 (19) to Carlton 1.8 (14) in front of just over 7000 fans at GMHBA Stadium.
The Blues lost this game because of blown chances and unfortunately for Harris, she was responsible for three howlers.
Her scoreline for the day included four behinds, three of them hit the post.
The worst of a bad lot came midway through the third quarter when she was at the top of the goal square and instead of taking the safe option of walking to the goal line, Harris tried to kick it over the Players Stand.
Her attempted barrel slammed straight into the post.
Five minutes earlier she’d hit the same post after taking an excellent contested mark three metres out on a tight angle. Harris played on and tried to straighten up but again stuffed it up.
Her only touch in the first half set the tone for her blooper day.
The Blues spearhead found herself 20m in the clear with no-one between her and the goals. Rather than take a bounce she touched the ball on the ground which allowed her to get within 12m of the goal but the shot went way left.
Harford tried to shield Harris afterwards saying he hoped she learnt from the debacle.
“She hit the post three or four times, I don’t think I have come across anyone hitting the post that many times in a game of footy,” the Blues coach said.
“Was it bad luck? I don’t know but the message is keep practising.”
Harford was more concerned about his side’s horrible start as they had just two points on the board at halftime.
“The problem was our first half, when you get mauled at the contest and you can’t match that, then the game is pretty much taken away from you,” Harford said.
“You can’t play a half a footy at any level and expect to win so we got what we deserved today.”
BOOKENDS
Geelong’s men’s team has built its success of recent times by having quality bookends.
Tom Hawkins at full-forward and some elite tall defenders such as Harry Taylor, Tom Lonergan — and last year Mark Blicavs — has been a good mix.
The women are following suit with Meg McDonald quickly becoming a star defender of the competition while down the other end Phoebe McWilliams is Tomahawk-like with her forward craft.
McDonald had an enthralling battle with Tayla Harris with her intercept marking a feature of her game which has made her a favourite of assistant coach Tom Stewart who has carved his reputation out in the men’s comp doing exactly the same thing.
McWilliams, who kicked the opening goal of the game, leads like a natural forward and has no fear in the air.
HOLIDAY TIME
Whatever you think about the AFLW no-one can question the endeavour and attack on the ball which at times is scary to watch.
Unfortunately for Carlton’s Sarah Hosking she will be missing for at least one game after a crude hit on Geelong’s Jordan Ivey.
Ivey had her head over the ball when Hosking made front-on contact with her hip.
It was messy and Michael Christian won’t need too much think time to give Hosking a holiday.
Geelong’s Maddy Boyd will also have some anxious moments after she was booked for rough conduct against Jess Hosking.
LIKE FATHER LIKE DAUGHTER
History was made when Abbie McKay ran onto GMHBA Stadium early into the opening term.
She is officially the AFLW’s first father-daughter draft selection and appropriately sported the famous No.5 which her dad, premiership defender Andrew, wore 244 times for the Navy Blues.
Abbie’s first piece of play was an impressive sidestep around an opponent and she was far from the Blues worst in the first half collecting six touches through the midfield.
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