By Tara Murray
Calder Cannons pushed the Northern Knights in their grand final rematch in the NAB League Girls competition on Saturday.
The match was different to the last time the two teams met, with this clash up for grabs until the dying minutes.
The Knights were again victorious, winning 8.5 (53)-7.5 (47).
New Cannons coach Matt O’Connor said they could look at the match in two different ways.
“Our club versus their club, we kicked seven points in the grand final and we didn’t get a goal,” he said.
“Now the girls have scored 40 points more and we have improved massively.
“Or you look at the growth and development. Two new teams with each team having 10 to 12 new players from the grand final.
“The standard has gone up in the last 12 months. There were good moments for both sides.”
O’Connor said he was really pleased with how the side went about their work and they had shown major improvement since their first practice match.
It was a close game all day, with no more than a goal separating the teams at the breaks.
The Cannons led by two points at quarter time, with the Knights leading by a goal at the next two breaks.
He said the way they worked the ball forward showed some really good signs.
“I said to the girls I don’t care about the results, it’s the process to get the result,” he said.
PHOTO GALLERY: Northern Knights vs Calder Cannons
“There were a couple of things we had done, if we fix them up, it stops two or three goals.
“Everything that we didn’t go as well as we would have liked, is fixable.
“They will be better for the experience.”
Full forward Charlotte Clayton was a target up forward and kicked three goals in a strong performance.
Jessica Zakkour, in her NAB League debut, kicked two goals and showed some good signs.
Tamsin Dee Crook played her best game according to O’Connor while Neve Crowley was everywhere down back taking several intercept marks.
Skipper Laura Cocomello was another standout, while Georgie Prespakis had the most possessions on ground.
“I don’t know if anyone played a bad game,” O’Connor said. “The girls improved and we will play better throughout the season.”
O’Connor said the development of the group going forward is a key with the club looking to have players drafted.
“We’re hoping AFLW clubs have seen a starting point and the growth that is in these players,” he said.
“From the first practice match to the end of yesterday they’ve picked right up and are showing they can be long term footballers.”
The Cannons this week face the Dandenong Stingrays on Saturday afternoon.
