A FORWARD with soccer skills, a half forward flanker with no off button and the best fullback in the league - it was a combination which worked a treat for the Bathurst Giants women on Saturday.
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As the Giants beat hosts the Dubbo Demons 10-10-70 to 4-3-27 to extend their lead on the Central West AFL women's ladder to a whopping 24 points, the strength of their squad across the field was demonstrated once more.
The Demons started the game in strong fashion to lead by three points at the first change, but the Giants clicked into gear in the second quarter.
Down one end they held the Demons scoreless, up the other end they added four majors to lead 5-7-37 to 2-1-13 at half-time.
From there they went on with the job, Hailee Provest leading the attack as she booted five goals and took her tally for the season to 25.
"It doesn't look like it on the scoreboard, it was a tough bloody game," Giants coach Liz Kennedy said.
"Hailee kicked some incredible goals, I don't know what it is, but the soccer skills she's got are incredible and she scores those goals off the ground, right place, right time."
Helping to feed the ball inside 50 to Provest and her fellow forwards was Tamara Thompson, Kennedy saying "she was just outstanding, she hit her straps."
Her work in the half-forward line alongside Zoe Peters and Katie Kennedy saw her named player's player.
"She doesn't have an off switch, she is just full on the whole game," the coach said.
"It was her Dad's 60th birthday party that night and she said 'I have to go at three-quarter-time', but at half-time we told her 'You can't go, you've got to keep going' and she did. I think she was pretty glad she stayed."
While Thompson, who also kicked a major, and Provest impressed in attack, fullback Chelsea Gibbs was once again solid in defence.
She's one of the major reasons why the Giants have by far and away the best defensive record in the women's league - they've conceded 233 points less than the next best unit.
"She would have to be the best back in the league. She has saved us so many times and is so under-rated," Kennedy said.
"Her intimidating presence - she is just so good at fullback, she reads the play so very, very well. People are not going to kick it anywhere near her because she's going to get it."
BATHURST GIANTS 10-10-70 (Hailee Provest 5, Laycee Covington-Gorst, Zoe Peters, Sarah Day, Elise Gullifer, Tamara Thompson) defeated DUBBO DEMONS 4-3-27 (Emily Warner, Alicia Hafoka, Lauren Hazell, Kaitlyn Waldie)
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