Port Melbourne VFLW went down to Geelong by 33 points on Saturday afternoon at ETU Stadium.
Inclement weather threatened all day, but clear skies graced the venue as Geelong ran out victorious; 7.8.50 to 2.5.17.
Kaitlyn O’Keefe was the Borough’s leading possession-getter with 21 touches. Courteney Bromage joined 'Noodle' at the top of the tackling pylon with eight apiece. Lisa Davie and Olivia Barton were generals in defence, with 16 and 15 disposals respectively.
Jorja Livingstone built on her solid debut game, attracting more of the football.
Round 10 introduced another debutant to the Borough line-up, with Georgia Lewis enjoying her first hit out in the Red and Blue. Lewis competed all day and was unlucky not to hit the scoreboard in her first game.
Head Coach Sean Buncle lauded Maddi Shaw’s game, highlighting the reliable defender’s improving form in recent times. Buncle meanwhile, spoke of the young team’s inconsistencies, however, could not fault the Borough’s never-wavering pressure throughout the game.
Port Melbourne’s pressure was notable from the outset, hitting the scoreboard twice within the first two minutes.
Unfortunately for the Borough, neither shot registered a major score, as Geelong left it late in the first quarter to score their first two goals and take an eleven-point lead into quarter time.
The Borough was quick out of the gate once more as the match resumed, with Jess Joyce finding Beth Wilson at the top of the goal square. Wilson converted her set shot, reducing the margin back to five points. However, Kara Stacey replied soon after for the Cats, extending the margin back out to 14 points at the main change.
But as Geelong began to kick away in the third quarter, a 21 point margin at the final break was a tough challenge to overcome.
As ETU Stadium continued to dry following the previous night’s deluge, the game opened up considerably in the final quarter. The margin was extended for the Cats once more as Mia Skinner scored her second goal of the day. However, Port ramped up the tackling pressure and were duly rewarded with a Kaitlyn O’Keefe running goal.
Even though the Cats were comfortable winners, Port Melbourne’s tackling pressure and desire to run and chase until the final siren would have warmed the hearts of the Borough faithful.
Port Melbourne will welcome Hawthorn to ETU Stadium for Round 11 next Sunday at 2.00pm, in what will be a tough contest.
Port Melbourne 2.5.17 def by Geelong Cats 7.8.50
