For the final practice game of the pre season, the Two’s were first up at Seddon Park at Ivanhoe on Saturday – a cute, secret little ground nestled in a sheltered location in the centre of a leafy suburb. In fact, if it wasn’t for the city skyline glimpsed between two tall trees, you could have sworn you were in the country.

Urged on by coach Jason, the Two’s played their three terms entirely in their own half of the field with a zest shown in the last term last week and taken to an even higher level this Saturday.

For a team largely made up of first timers who’ve never run together before, some of whom have hardly played AFL footy before, this team has been remarkable for playing as a genuine team, proving the age-old saying that a champion team will always beat a team of champions.

That said, there were a few out-and-out stars amongst them and a few deserving mention: Elyse Campbell was, in Jason’s words, “quiet but deadly all day long”, Sheridan (Shed) Dessert Lauder’s chase got the coach’s endorsement, and Zoe Mikosza was courageous in stepping into a ruck interchange role for the first time. Hats off too to Nardia Conte, Roxy Flanigan, Caroline Gunning, Elaine Murphy and Rihannah Sgarbi all of whom fronted up for the One’s after running with the Two’s. Pretty impressive fitness so early in the season.

Talking of the One’s, there was actually no contest. Contending against an undermanned side whose best were actually Fitzroy players sporting a white strip fashioned from inside-out guernseys, the Roys played havoc from start to finish, in the end notching up an impressive 9 goals 3 to Hawthorn’s single point. 

As the score line indicates, Saturday’s foray was valuable in providing an opportunity to test the game plan and practice silky team skills enhanced by individual feats provided by the likes of Gina Bennett, Sunday Brisbane and Simone Mooney who ran effortlessly through the midfield to find Erin Gogerly and Robyn Randell up front time and time again.

In a whole-team performance, it was also nice to see a few returns in Taysen Wilcox (who like fellow pocket rocket Sunday Brisbane was impressive all game) and former coach Michael Harper who added his voice from the sidelines to that of successor Nathan Jumeau.

Across both teams, the players coming up from the Juniors continue to impress and stir our hopes for a fine season. In fact, as the sky above Ramsden Street indicated at Thursday night’s training, it’s looking pretty rosy for the Roygirls in season 2023.

Go girls, we’ll be with you all the way.

JG Gorilla

Images: Maeve Barton’s not only an expert trainer, she’s also pretty handy with camera in hand