SUNDAY saw the Barossa Light & Gawler Women’s All-Stars take on Central District Football Club’s reserve side in the first of a four-game series, with the incredibly young BL&GW side leaving their mark on the more experienced opposition.
The majority of the BL&GW side were teenagers stepping up to the highest level of footy they have played, leading to a first half which saw the Bulldogs control the field position battle and time of
possession.
As well as playing against their toughest opposition so far, a number of the BL&GW side were having their first experience playing on the full-sized oval which has been adopted for the 2021 BL&GW senior women’s season after playing on ‘skinny’ ovals in
2020.
This experience showed early as Centrals used the wings to gain ground and force repeat stoppages, while the BL&GW side continually tried to push the ball through the centre of the ground in admirable
fashion.
Youngsters Dakota Williams and Kate Argent-Bowden stood out with their nose for the footy and appetite for tackling, while Nikita McRostie was the local side’s best with a terrific all-round game that included big marks, big tackles and great contested
work.
While the first half was all Centrals, the further the game went along, the more it was played in the All-Star’s attacking half as they quickly adapted to the speed and physicality of the game.
BL&GW assistant coach and Angaston under-13s coach Matt Bradley said it was a great showing from the local side, despite only having four training sessions to
get to know each other.
“I think this kind of experience in invaluable,” he said.
“There’s only so much you can teach on the training field, but the amount of game sense and savvy you get from playing in these kind of contests is hard to replicate.
“I loved the way they started to come out of their shell and communicate with each other – they’re out here getting a crash course in football, but also making some close friends along the way.”