Depleted Poochettes push Saints all the way

The Gunnedah Poochettes had an encouraging start to the North West women’s AFL season as they sustained a 10-point defeat against the Inverell Saints at Varley Oval last Saturday.

After the two clubs squared off in the past three grand finals – the Saints winning in 2022 and 2024 – the Poochettes faced a tough start to this season as they barely had enough players for a starting team.

The hosts meanwhile had several interchange players, although the result was in doubt almost until the end as the gallant Gunnedah outfit never gave up.

Strong defence from the Poochettes was a highlight as the Saints were kept scoreless in the first quarter, while the visiting team managed one behind.

The second quarter was much different as Inverell landed three goals and one behind, while Gunnedah again scored a solitary point.

The Poochettes fought back in the third term with two goals and three behinds while keeping the Saints goalless, leaving Inverell with a shaky 3.3.21 to 2.5.17 lead.

The hosts eventually prevailed 5.5.35 to 3.7.25, with Clare McCosker and Katrina Doak kicking two majors while Sarah Drew landed one for the victors.

Macey Carlyon booted two goals for Gunnedah, and Gyarn Waugh landed the other one.

Carlyon, Bethany Ostini, Zoe Palmer, Chelsea Palmer, Laura Ewington and captain Alexa Walker were among Gunnedah’s best players, with coach John Woolaston later saying the Palmers “worked hard all game, putting their body on the line” while Zoe took some big hits but kept going.

With his team having no interchange players, Woolaston said he was “really pleased” with the efforts of the Poochettes.

“We sort of had to rely on positional rotations just to give people a rest and whatnot, without trying to weaken the side too much,” he said.

Woolaston gave credit to the Poochettes for the tackles they made, as well as ball movement and a lot of the disposals.

“They had sights on their teammates. (It) wasn’t just getting the ball and rushing a kick,” he said.

Woolaston said the Saints “probably capitalised with their forward 50 entry compared to us” and that the Saints “worked a bit better than we did, (which) enabled them to kick a bit straighter”.

Woolaston didn’t identify player numbers as an excuse, and said he wasn’t thinking about “the what-ifs and all that sort of stuff”.

“I feel like it’s taking away (from) the effort of the girls who turned up there, and how hard they worked,” he said.

The Poochettes are expected to be closer to full strength for this Saturday’s away match against the Tamworth Kangaroos, who had their first win for 648 days when they thrashed the New England Nomads 12.17.89 to 0 last Saturday.

Gunnedah’s coach said “good on them” for breaking their drought, while he looked forward to seeing how the Poochettes go against them.