Sport
10 April, 2023
Dunolly starts season in perfect fashion in both A grade netball and senior football
It was a Good Friday to savour for Dunolly, taking memorable victories in both senior football and A grade netball over Maldon at Bill Woodfull Recreation Reserve. Looking for a perfect start to the season after a 2022 which saw the Eagles break...
It was a Good Friday to savour for Dunolly, taking memorable victories in both senior football and A grade netball over Maldon at Bill Woodfull Recreation Reserve.
Looking for a perfect start to the season after a 2022 which saw the Eagles break through for their first football finals appearance since 2011, they were able to shoot out to a three-goal lead at the first break, before weathering a fierce Maldon charge over the next two quarters.
A four-goal to one final quarter saw the Eagles record a 20-point victory, 11.11 (77) to 7.15 (57), which saw the Eagles take just their second opening-game victory since 2010, as well as their first victory at Maldon since 2016.
Meantime, Dunolly’s A grade netball team made the perfect start to their 2023 season, as they looked to rebound from a 2022 season which yielded just three wins.
In a tight encounter, Maldon looked to have a slight edge throughout the opening three quarters, but Dunolly, under new coach Ash Lierich, were determined to break the game open in the final quarter, and were able to do so by opening up a four-goal lead late in the game, before holding on to record a one-goal victory, scoring 28 goals to 27.
In all, it was a memorable day for the Eagles — a point not lost on Lierich.
“We were just happy to play, and it’s a privilege to play on Good Friday,” she said.
“Last season was a bit of a mixed one for us, we lost a few games we could have won and there was some frustration. We almost have a brand-new team as well that are just positive. To get a one-goal win left me really happy.
“It’s great to get an early win on the board. We’ve started our last few seasons pretty slowly and having to claw our way back. But it’s great after having so many losses last season. Maldon also played well; their goalies left us frustrated with the way they were able to bring it in.”
With Lierich providing plenty of experience as a defender, it comes as no surprise that she has focused intently on the Eagles’ defensive unit, having ranked 12th for goals against in 2022, while ball movement was also a hot topic at the final change.
“I get into my defenders about their footwork. It doesn’t matter how tall they are, if we get our footwork right defensively, keep on moving and putting the pressure on outside the ring, we’re able to cut it off or have a few balls go out the back of the court. Leah Davis continually put that pressure on with her footwork,” she said.
“We spoke at three-quarter-time about treasuring the ball. We knew that we were playing a bit short, missing a couple of taller players, and also playing in wet conditions, and we needed to cut it out so we wouldn’t throw it away, then settle and steady. We played well in attack when we needed to.”
Dunolly’s A grade side now faces a big task in reigning premier Natte Bealiba, but Lierich is confident that the Eagles can give them a tight contest at the very least.
“There’s still a huge unknown with both teams, knowing us, we have a couple to come back in, so we’ll essentially be getting to know one another again, despite having a game under our belts. Natte, knowing from what I’ve heard, will be quite strong and are probably the favourites again. But whenever Dunolly and Natte play, it’s always a really good atmosphere,” she said.
Meantime, senior coach Bailey Goodwin was thrilled to secure an important victory to kickstart a season where the Eagles were looking to climb the ladder and begin to challenge for a top four spot.
“I felt our third quarter was our best — the way our backs restricted them with the breeze and they only kicked one goal. With the scores level, I think they would have been hoping to be two or three goals up. It was a massive credit to our mids with their defensive pressure and the back six was awesome all day,” he said.
The Eagles debuted a new jumper design for their 150th celebration as they recognised their heritage. Goodwin said that it meant more than just celebrating the milestone — it was also a testament to how the club has turned around their fortunes over the last 12 months.
“Our jumper looks fantastic. I think it’s relevant to the culture change at the club and our ambition to climb the ladder that we had a bit of a rebrand. It’s fitting, and I know it’s our 150th year and the main reason we are wearing it, but it’s great that it represents how we have changed,” he said.
Goodwin was thrilled with how the Eagles’ defensive unit worked together, ultimately holding Strathfieldsaye champion Lachie Sharp, as well as the returning Rhys Ford, goalless, heaping praise on new recruits Nathan Murphy, from Boort, as well as Jake Willcocks, from Pyramid Hill.
“We spoke about it throughout the pre-season — our back six will win us a lot of games. To Nathan Murphy and Jake Willcocks, playing on Sharp and Ford respectively, they did an awesome job to keep them goalless. Sharp is one of the premier forwards in country Victoria, and for him to have as little impact as he did was not only a credit to Nathan, but the back six who worked with him,” he said.
Goodwin said that the changeable conditions did not deter the Eagles from playing a confident brand of football, which saw them break the game open with many successful transitions from defence to attack in the final quarter.
“The weather was up and down all day. It looked like it was clearing up throughout the first half, but to come out from the sheds at half time to the rain pelting down was a bit annoying. We weren’t focused on that though; we were focused on winning a game of footy,” he said.
“We’re still not the biggest team, even though we recruited a couple of talls, so we pride ourselves on our run and carry. We did muck around with the ball a little bit during the third quarter when the rain came down, so at the last break, we spoke about getting the ball forward and getting it into the forwards’ hands, and we did the job.”
The Eagles, with their win, believe they now hold no fears when it comes to challenging the top sides in the competition, and Goodwin is keen to walk the walk when they travel to Natte Bealiba next week, after putting together a competitive first half against the Swans last season.
“Natte’s forwards last year broke us open in the second half, after we were only a couple of goals down at half time. We’ll go into the game full of confidence after today,” he said.
