TWO games, two wins.
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Bathurst Giants women’s coach Liz Kennedy admits she has been pleasantly surprised to witness the way her side has started their inaugural Central West AFL season.
Though the Giants do have players amongst their ranks with prior Australian rules experience, a bulk of the squad comes from other sporting backgrounds.
So to back up a season opening win over Parkes with a 4-8-32 to 2-2-14 victory against the Orange Tigerettes at George Park 1 on Saturday delighted Kennedy.
“On Saturday we had four girls that had actually played AFL before … that’s it, that’s all the experience we have got,” she said.
“It is amazing the skills they have for girls who haven’t played before. All we do at training is work on handballs and kicks.
“I thought that Orange was another step up from Parkes, so I wasn’t sure how we’d go. To beat them by what we did was great.”
While the Giants started with two players on the bench, when they had to leave due to other sporting commitments it became a test of fitness for the hosts.
After trailing 4-4-28 to 0-1-1 at half-time, the Tigerettes clawed back to within 16 of the lead with a term to play.
However, the Giants held on to take the win and remain on top of the ladder.
“The third quarter really showed that we were tired, but we just held them out in the fourth quarter, it was really great,” Kennedy said.
“Brooke Alexander came up into the midfield in the latter half of the game and she just killed it, she was so good.
“She’s a goalkeeper, so she has that long torpedo kick. She was able to get it inside 50 and then it was away we go. She does have very good hands too – she’s going to be very versatile I think.
“I can’t ask any more than what they are doing. They go out there and kick the footy and have fun – it seems to be a winning formula at this stage.
“Next is Cowra, Cowra beat Parkes, so we’ll see how we go. I think Cowra has a pretty young side, but our girls see to be pretty fit.”