Team eyes state final

By Marc McGowan
LAST year’s Hallam Senior College girls’ football side was full of individual stars.
But coach Brett Alexander hopes a more even team performance from the 2009 version will help the school progress to next month’s state final.
Hallam moved into the semi-final stage for the second year running when it outlasted Rosebud Secondary College by 12 points in the Southern Metropolitan Zone final last week.
That performance followed success in the Casey District final over Lyndhurst and victory over Noble Park and Mentone Girls School in the Southern Metropolitan Zone qualifying finals.
Captain Danielle Lawrence, onballers Riplee McLachlan and Tara Bagby, half-forward Carly Clarke and ruckman Karen Nabalarau have played pivotal roles for Hallam.
McLachlan is also representing the inaugural Victorian Secondary School girls’ team in an exhibition School Sport Australia tournament against Western Australia and Queensland starting this Sunday.
But Alexander said it was not about individuals this year.
“The whole team has been more solid as a unit. They’ve really covered and played for each other with a lot of passion,” he said.
“The individual standouts haven’t been as important this year.
“It’s been a very even team performance across the backs and forwards and onballers – everyone has done their job and have had to step up.
“I’m hoping that’s the difference.”
Alexander also thanked Hallam Junior Football Club officials for letting the school host games there during the preliminary rounds.
The semi-finals, which include the four metropolitan and country winners of the southern and eastern zones, will be played at Casey Fields on Thursday, 13 August.
“The girls who played last year are really keen to do well and try and go that next step and make it to the state grand final,” Alexander said. “They know what to expect as far as the level of intensity and the skills of the other teams we played (last year) are a lot better than what we’ve come up against apart from last week in the grand final.
“It will be a good challenge for them because you don’t know what turnover they’ve had as well.”