INSPIRED by their special Indigenous round jumpers, the Bathurst Giants women produced one of their best performances since joining the Central West AFL women's league on Saturday as they beat Cowra 15-13-103 to 1-1-7.
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The first quarter was especially impressive as they not only held Cowra scoreless at George Park 2, but kicked six goals four. From that point onward the Giants charged to their fourth consecutive win of the season.
"They just played out of their skin," Giants coach Liz Kennedy said.
"That first quarter - and that set us up for the whole game - that was the first time they'd played as a team. They were kicking it to each other and looking for people who were in space.
"That first quarter was just great, really good. I think it [Sunday] was one of the best games we've played."
Prior to the start of the game, Giants skipper Katie Kennedy handed over the captaincy to Hailee Provest.
Provest had been a driving force behind the Indigenous round jumpers which carried a number of Wiradyuri symbols.
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"We had a chat about the occasion before the day and had been chatting about it all week and when we handed out the jumpers. Then when Katie handed over the captaincy to Hailee, I think we all knew then how special it was to us," Kennedy said.
"Hailee, she just did an amazing job that girl. She just loves it at the moment, she played full forward, she kicked four goals, she was just bloody on fire.
"She didn't really get to play last year because of her injury ... but she's got four games under her belt and now and I think she's pretty much the leading goal kicker."
As the game unfolded the Giants build on their lead, Matilda Flood providing a highlight when she booted a major from beyond 50. Pleasingly for the coach, her players maintained their structures as they ran out 96-point victors.
"The second half we got them to play more to their positions. Mick [Sloan] explained exactly what the positions meant. Instead of changing on the field as they tend to do, he told them that they had to stick to their positions," she said.
