Let’s just dig in hey. It’s a couple days late, but Sunday evening drives back up the Midland Highway to return home means weekend wraps will be later in the week on Away/Hobart match days.
No Saturday Matches
Yes, this meant I could finally do that bit of clothes shopping I’ve been meaning to. Of course Ulverstone pull out what’s been dubbed as ‘their best display yet’ the one time they play on a Sunday.
But seriously the scheduling hasn’t been good this season. This weekend it was all the more poignant, with three matches on within half an hour of each other. It’s understandable when games clash with 10+ strong team competition. That’s not the case in the WSL. There are literally three games to schedule each weekend. One should always be a Saturday for the travelling team, this is immovable. The others should be at interchanging times, for instance 12pm and 2.30pm.
‘Why is it that I get annoyed at this?’ you ask. Is it merely because of selfish gain to watch all the matches? Partly, but no. It’s because the first season I covered games were spread out. Given, there were more teams and matches in the eight team competition. But on weekends when all the matches were in Hobart, someone wanting to watch women’s football could catch at least two, if not three comfortably. In addition, the strongest support for the game is the players themselves. Of course they want to snoop on the competition, but also to support their friends.
So yeah, I’m kinda mad Ulverstone played in Hobart on a Sunday instead of a Saturday. But the rumblings from across the grounds is the scheduling has been poor, both with the ‘set time’, along with how the matches are spread out themselves.
And let’s face it, the idea of playing on Sunday matches is a fizzer. The midweek game between the ladder leaders appealed to a larger crowd than its weekend comparison in similar conditions. Next season’s scheduling needs to listen to the players and leaders in the women’s game.
Finally a Pirate Beanie Owner
If you have been near me as a Taroona beanie has wandered by, you would’ve heard me speak sweet nothings about it. Black and white, with orange thrown into the mix for the pom-pom. It’s busy without wanting to make me puke. And I’ve always loved them.
All season long I’ve been meaning to head to ‘The Theatre of Dreams’ AKA Kelvedon Park to grab a beanie myself. Unfortunately, every weekend Ulverstone is in Hobart, Taroona’s women’s teams are the away side.
As I was departing to take some snappy shots on the sidelines, with the promise to buy one next weekend, I heard an “oi”. The boss, also known as Karen Willis, throws me her near new beanie.
There was no way I was going to take it off at my next stop of Wentworth Park. A couple comments were made, but I suspect mostly everyone knew I’d had eyes on this beanie for well over 12 months.
Ultimately I was disappointed having to take it off when I went to bed.
Sandown Beachside v Taroona
The match I would’ve loved to watch in the Southern Championship was Beachside v Taroona. Inevitably, that too was at 2pm on Sunday. Luckily the Championship 1 team was down there, and what a joy to watch. It’s where real football lives. The young players who have the potential to be ‘big name – watch this space’ types, to the footballers who have plied their trade for well over a decade and will always be found at a pitch kicking a ball around, even as legs begin to jade.
For the most chance, I took the opportunity to natter to those on the Taroona bench and take some photos on the sideline.
Wentworth Park Woes
Weather to fly a kite is the most adequate description of Wentworth Park. A puffer was definitely warranted, despite the sun emerging for the second half.
The match itself had moments of inspiration. Bonnie Davies produced a solo effort worth archiving as a perfect birthday present to herself. Olympia dictated the first half with the wind in tow. The ideas didn’t go too far off their play book, but the execution showed more hunger, along with the element of luck so often needed in this sport.
My biggest takeaway from the half was Sophie Leszcynski’s attacking runs from centre back. I’m feeling like a broken record at this point. However Leszcynski was often left unchallenged, with space opening up before her as all eyes were on stopping Madi Chambers, who was too on the left side, but without the ball. The confidence of the defender meant I required at least two hands to keep track of the number of forward runs she made. Olympia has exploited this avenue before, but boy. I’d be looking at how to really use this route to create more opportunities as teams shut down the more attacking players in the squad.
For Clarence Zebras, there were adjustments made that could have led to their demise. Did they miss the experience and pace of Louisa Marmion at fullback against Madi Chambers, as she instead produced a subdued performance in midfield (given an ankle knock early did look painful). Was the hunger to win the ball in heart of the field left on the bench in Bronte Gadon? Or is it again a matter of not enough fire power upfront, with the top three looking disjointed despite some moments of brilliance by Allie Berry. At the end of the day, Olympia gave CZ little to work with. The Warriors wanted the win more and didn’t give away corners or many free kicks near the area.
MOLLY'S FOOTY RANTS 