The Standard | TERANG Mortlake is emerging as a genuine contender after ending defending premier Koroit’s 21-game winning streak on Saturday.
Delighted Bloods playing coach Aimee Arundell hopes the seven-goal win over the Saints will re-define their season. After a big pre-season, Arundell believes the win could inspire her players to further elevate their fitness and games.
“I can’t remember the last time we won against Koroit,” she said after the 31-24 victory at Terang Recreation Reserve.
“It would be years and years.”
Arundell, in her second season as coach, said victories in consecutive weeks against the past two premiers, North Warrnambool Eagles and Koroit, had ramped up the enthusiasm and excitement among her players.
“Even after last week, a win just changes everything,” she said.
“Everyone was so excited to get to training. Girls are even making the effort to come back from Melbourne for training, which is great.”
She hopes the unbeaten start to the season continues to motivate players to complete optional boxing and gym sessions they started over summer.
The improved fitness base was evident in Saturday’s game, Arundell said, with the Bloods producing a four-quarter performance — something they rarely did last year.
The key for the Bloods was their start. In slippery conditions, they scored the first five goals of the match with new goalers Katie O’Keefe (goal attack) and teenage shooter Jacqui Arundell dangerous.
O’Keefe’s shooting was precise as she capitalised on fast transition and decoy drives by Arundell, who opened up the circle for O’Keefe to receive several lobbed passes that eluded her opponent Kasey Owen.
At one stage Terang Mortlake’s lead in the first term was eight as it scored 10 of the first 12 goals with goal keeper Jess O’Connor producing several turnovers that not only denied Koroit scoreboard pressure but resulted in goals for her side.
Terang Mortlake unveiled another recruit in goal defence Kelly Mullen, who crossed from Kolora-Noorat. Like O’Connor, she produced several intercepts and provided drive.
Koroit, without goal shooter Amy Wormald and goal keeper Megan Russell, lost dynamic goal attack Teagan Lang to a back injury late in the second quarter.
First-gamer Bridget Roache joined Rachel Dobson in the Saints’ goal circle and she was impressive in the second half.
The closest they got was five early in the third term but late in the final term it ballooned to 10 before the Saints scored the last three goals.
Saints co-coach Kasey Owen was upbeat with her inexperienced side’s effort.
With just three premiership players on the court for the bulk of the match, she said her side should be proud of matching the Bloods in the final three quarters with each scoring 19 goals.
“It was as good as you could feel after a loss. The last three quarters we kept with them,” she said, acknowledging it took time for the new-look side to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
