Thirty wins in a row has the Gunnedah and District AFC Poochettes women’s side sitting atop of the North West AFL women’s ladder.
A resounding 44 point victory in round two of the competition was the highlight for the Gunnedah Bulldogs club on the day – conversely the men’s side went down 154-15 against premiership favourites the men’s Tamworth Swans side.
The Poochettes, though, reciprocated their form in round one albeit missing key forward Gyarn Waugh.
Alice Mitchell, fresh off selection in the inaugural Sydney Swans AFLW squad in the Sydney Summer Series, filled the void of Waugh in the forward line for the side and kicked five majors on the day.
Goals were also kicked by forward pocket Meg Foster who bagged two for the match and Katrina
Rekunow was rewarded for her gut running efforts on the wing by slotting one.
Coach Jakob Vearing has endeavoured for defense to be an attitude for season 2022 and thus far his side has responded.
Particularly impressive in that aspect on the weekend was the forward half defensive work of half forward Annabelle Ottery.
The tackling pressure applied by Ottery enabled the likes of Mitchell to reap the rewards as Vearing labeled Ottery best on ground for her efforts.
“She was awesome, gave everything in defense and attack.
“Had a blinder,” put simply by Vearing.
Although winning the match by a commanding 44 points, Vearing was quick to credit the tenacity of the Swans side in the first half.
He believes the resolve of his side ensured the win in the second half, where the Swans in the first put their own mark on their match through their intensity and pressure at the ball.
“There was some big shots early on, we had to weather it and once we got the footy on our terms we thought it would be okay.
“But we did have to rally as a side and full credit to the girls they did just that.
“Can’t fault the Swans effort, the scoreboard didn’t really reflect how tough a game it was.
“A good tough and clean game of footy really,” Vearing said.
The Bulldogs men’s side didn’t fair near as productive having fronted a Tamworth Swans juggernaut.
Premiership credentialed Swans showed class and structure.
Despite the best efforts of back men, John Woolaston who is nearing 200 games for the club and staple of the backline James Mack, the Swans were too hot and slick for the trying Bulldogs.
