General News
22 July, 2021
Giant’s visit inspires Bloods
TERANG Mortlake’s female footballers are daring to dream following a visit from an AFLW star last week.
TERANG Mortlake’s female footballers are daring to dream following a visit from an AFLW star last week.
Greater Western Sydney Giants captain Alicia Eva ventured to Mortlake last Wednesday to conduct a training session for the Bloods, much to the excitement of the playing group.
Terang Mortlake female football manager Noel McConnell said Eva spent 90 minutes training the group before she mingled with players and supporters over dinner.
“She took them through kicking drills first and then she went through spatial awareness drills,” he said.
“Our girls just tend to run around and follow the ball whereas she was teaching them to be on the fringe of the contest and creating the next option which was the focus for most of the session.
“The drills were performed around a centre square stoppage and winning the ball and hitting a forward target but it was all about spatial awareness.
“It was clear she was a competent coach, it came naturally for her to coach the girls.”
McConnell said Eva’s appearance, who is a best and fairest winner at the Giants and an All-Australian, instilled belief in the Bloods’ players that they too could go on to achieve bigger things in football.
“She’s not a big player so I think a few girls thought with her size and slight that maybe they can (go on and be good footballers),” he said.
“She was excellent in her rapport with the girls and by the end of the night I’d say the Giants had got a few new fans.
“We had really good attendance – some of the girls at training aren’t old enough to play so it was good to expose them to what it’s like and what to expect.
“It was good to have them come onboard and hopefully it guarantees us some players in the future.”
One “very excited” Giants fan who plays at Hamilton also got the chance to rub shoulders with Eva, while McConnell said the playing group was hopeful of luring the midfielder back to watch the WVFFL finals series later this year.
