Easts Women - Best Victory In Years!!

Against difficult conditions and blustering winds, the Easts Women stepped up and put in a mammoth effort to defeat John Mitchells 6.8 (26) to 2.4 (10) for the first time in nearly four years!

It was an inspiring display of team work, commitment to the ball and self-belief which combined to see the Easts team "click" together and play sensational football. It was amazing to see every player lift their game and become more ignited as the game continued. Our second half INTO the wind was by far our best and we showed great focus and commitment to blow John Mitchells out of the game. Wow!

Seamus had great praise for how the defence "bottled them up" and how every player, particularly the Mid Field, manned up on their players and did not let the loose player come through the middle. It makes it so much easier when they don't get given easy possessions! He also was pleased with how each line linked together and with the distribution along the wings and how the girls believed themselves and were first in to the ball!!! Wow!!

Although every player put in a corker, special mention must go to some stand outs... Did you see Veronica bend it like Beckham and stick the ball in the top right corner of the net for her first ever score!! What a way to open the account! Alyicia ran and ran and ran... and placed some magnificent balls into the forward line. Lis made a spectacular diving save that just had to the best that anyone's seen out at the Wong this year and Lisa and Jen worked the wings and put balls into the ever-prominent Laura at Full Forward all day. Wow!!!

Guys..., I'm excited! We've been threatening to break through and knock some of these other teams off all season and now we've proved that Easts are a force to be reckoned with - just at the right time.

Now that we've seen what we're capable of - let's take this win with us on our march into the finals. Believe in ourselves, be hard, fast and work as a team - and let's keep having fun out there!

~ Nicole

With Easts' women barely fielding a team in the first half, and many players taking up new positions, we went into the game with a newfound attitude, after previously assuming the game would be one of our easiest. However, we were reassured of our need to keep focussed as the game started with Sarsfields gaining possession and immediately scoring a point.

It seemed then for the next fifteen minutes that the girls lost both faith and confidence in themselves allow Sarsfields to dominate. With Sarsfields in front by around 10 points, we knew we needed to do something. But with the rising count of errors converting Sarsfields points, the intensity picked up.

A great goal from Mel, saw the girls shaken back into performance. With several players, setting up and producing great scoring opportunities, with a high number of conversions. When the half-time whistle blew, Easts came off the field with a two-point lead.

After a fiery pep talk from Seamus and Narelle, the girls took the field with newfound spirit and energy, determined to make this our half. From the moment we took the field, we continually fought and raised our level of game play. We were kicking the ball long into the forwards, allowing us to score.

When the full time whistle blew, we came off the field, with not only a win, but with the satisfaction of knowing that we didn't allow them to score anything in the second half. Congratulations must go to the girls for such a spirited fight back.

Mention must go to Jag (Lisa), for never giving up on the game and continually playing to her full potential, Narelle, who whipped us into shape at half time, and to Laura who never gave up and continued to talk and give a 100% no matter what.

However, special mention must go to Mel, who again received the Falcon Award for a spectacular heading of the ball, and to Renee who received Players Player. Throughout the game she was creating plays and never turned her back on the game.

Kim & Sarah

Easts pull together and produce their best...

Easts pull together and produce their best... Easts stepped up to the challenge set before them on Sunday with the absence of our regular goalkeeper and some girls under an injury cloud. However this didn't deter Easts who went into the game with an air of self-confidence.

The girls went in to the game with a strong set up and from the moment of centre bounce played with commitment and aggression. After a slight hitch, with the ball turned over to Shamrocks, who made it into a back line.

Great work from the back enabled them only to score a point. With a great kick from our stand in goalie- Bob, we were able to pass the ball to the forwards, where we managed to keep it for the rest of the half.

The forwards played an excellent game, with many starting to take confidence in their shots, and starting kick from areas never before being attempted. Mention must go to Amy Bigoto who played well, not only in shots but also providing leads for the long ball.

As the whistle sounded for half time Easts came off the field with a promising score of 3-4 (13) to Shamrocks 0-1 (1). After the usual mid-game pep talk we took the field with determination to not to let Shamrocks score again and to continue playing our game.

The second continued well with the girls managing to again keep the ball locked in the forwards managing a credible 2-6 (12). However the last 10 minutes saw Easts drop their game a little allowing Shamrocks to score a point. This sent a rocket through the girls who managed to pull together and lift the game finishing strongly.

Special mention must go to all the girls who played. The Players Player award went to Amy Bigoto for tireless running and commitment to the ball. The Falcon award went to Mel Anderson, for great attempted kick over the head!

The girls must be praised for the commendable win, with the final score being Easts Celts 5-10 (25) d Shamrocks 0-2 (2).

Kim & Sarah

Easts as a team!

With a new team line up Easts hit the field with the sense of confusion and venerability. However this sense was soon thrown away after the first whistle was blown. Easts took charge and am proud to say played one of the best games I have ever had to chance to be apart of.

The first half mostly consisted of several kicks to contests with Easts being aggressive and first to the ball. This continued frequently throughout the game enabling the East women to pull together as a team.

Throughout this half, mention must go to Laura, for continually providing leads from the goal kickouts, which allowed the ball to penetrate through to the forwards. The forwards played a great game, locking the ball in after kicks and never turning their backs until the ball was out. They also took some amazing shots at points- however little was granted to them. But yet this didn't deter them.

However, the remaining fifteen minutes saw Easts drop their game plan and allow O'Reilys to score. With the ball finding it hard to make it to our forwards, it became at time for the backs to hold their ground and force the errors.

When the half time whilst blew Easts came off the field, to be greeted with a simple but quick pep talk from Seamus. The talk was then followed by a spiel from Narelle who lifted our spirits even more. We then proceeded out to the field with our spirits heightened and desire to win.

The second half saw Easts lift the bar another few metres. Kicks were hitting their targets and several balls were intercepted. Easts appeared to want the ball more then our opposition and went out to prove it. We continually gave chase and committed our selves to the ball.

With players on the field talking and allowing our teammates to know the surrounding play we were able to fight back and hold some ground against the opposing team. As a result O'Reilys only managed to score 4 points in this half.

This half though ended early when the O'Reilys' midfielder received a shoulder injury during a fair contest against Amanda Doeman. This as a result earned her the Falcon Award. Other mentions must go to Kim Borzatti, who never gave up on the ball. To Vicki Hirst who was playing in an unfamiliar position in the forwards and to Veronica who returned to play after a bout of the flu.

To the girls who played today, we may not have won on the scoreboard but we won as a team. You guys all played really great today and I am proud to have taken the field with such a team. Congratulations to all the girls on a great game!

Kim & Sarah

Easts go down fighting.

East's women went into the game with the absence of our usual midfielders. But none the less we took the field against John Mitchels with a set game plan. The game saw many of the new editions facing their first full game, as only one sub was available.

The first half started with a great clearance from Amanda Doeman in the centre to our forwards. The game was a hard fight from then on. With several kicks forced to contest situations the game soon became about the little things- or one percenters as Narelle calls them.

With Easts' knowing they needed to be first to the ball, they continually gave chase and commitment to the ball. Special mention for this must go to Nicole Borzatti and Amanda Doeman for always giving full commitment to the contests.

Great defense in the back line and great goal keeping by Liss, saw Mitchels score kept down to a few mere points. Clearance kicks from the back line were frequently used to give the ball to our waiting forwards. This resulted in two points kicked by Mel.

The intensity of the game was increased by some altercations with opposing team members. However, due to lack of concentration and fatigue the last five minutes of the first half saw Mitchels score three quick successive goals. With this fresh in our minds half time saw East come off with many heads down.

After a quick pep talk from Chris and some encouraging feedback from the team Easts went out determined not to let Mitchels score rise. With great midfield plays done by Amanda and the rotation by Mel, Nic, Renae and Laura as the other midfield positions saw many balls cleared from goal kick outs.

With great leading done by the forwards, especially Bob saw two more kicks convert to points. In addition to the defense in the back line, we were able to obtain our half time goal. However our courageous fight back wasn't enough to win the game, with the final score being John Mitchels 4-16 (28) d Easts Celts 0-4 (4)

Special mention must go to Amanda Doeman who received a much-deserved Player of the Day and Karmarlie Price who received the Falcon award. Also to the girls, who played their first full game- you did great!

Kim & Sarah