Anakie’s young Joeys are showing signs of improving on their nine-win record from last season, but coach Doug Mitchell knows the end game is a long process.
The Roos finished two games outside the top five last season and although Mitchell has faith that his young side can improve on that, he said the learning process is more important – at least in the short term.
“We lost three of our tallest players from last year and the league’s second-highest scorer, so we lost a bit of height,” he said.
“So we’re not a very tall team this year, but we’ve got the youth. I’ve got a couple of new young girls – a 15-year-old shooter (Merania Tippett) and a 16-year-old defender (Mikayla Tito). I think we’ve got seven that could still play in the Under 19 competition.”
Mitchell said it would take “12 or 13 wins to make finals” this season.
“The longer we play together the better connections we can get,” he said.
“It’s funny this year because we’ve got a few young girls so they have their off game where they’re just put under a little bit too much pressure by the bigger bodies.
“But I think they’re learning from that and even if we get beaten by the big teams, it’s good learnings for them.”
While the Roos are only outside the top five by percentage, they face a huge test against second-placed East Geelong this Saturday.
“I was talking to their coach at the interleague match and they’ve got a couple of their shooters away (this week),” Mitchell said.
“I’m preparing my girls well this week. No shooting over the hands, we’re going to try to have a moving circle and shooting circle.
“We worked on our box of defence, which seemed to work well against Bell Post Hill so it’s about trying to stop the balls from going so fast to their shooters.”
Anakie overcame a tenacious Bell Post Hill on the weekend 55 to 42 to put a two-game game between the two sides on the ladder.
“We’re underdogs in most of the games we play so we’re not expected to beat everybody,” Mitchell said.
“So it just means we’ve got to work a little bit harder. But our expectations are definitely rising.”
BELMONT Lions defeated Winchelsea 58 to 44 with Ella Wasik superb in attack and Molly Gribble again starring at wing attack against Zoe Tennant, who was Winch’s best.
INVERLEIGH defeated Corio 37 to 22 with defender Bailey Ryan best.
TOP side Thomson showed no mercy on bottom side North Geelong with an 80 to 10 win. Bree Caldwell (45 goals) and Emma Witham (33) were good in the ring while Camden Riccardi withstood the onslaught at goal defence for the Magpies.
EAST Geelong smashed Geelong West 72 to 13. Claudia Cook was great at wing defence and Mary Waldron shot 44 goals. Kirsten Martin did her best for the Giants in defence.
WERRIBEE Centrals stayed in touch with the top five with a 47 to 30 win against Bannockburn. Goal defence Mikaela Minns did well for Banno while Alual Garang was named best for Centrals.
