Tara Murray
Burnside Heights will take plenty out of its first two matches of the Essendon District Football League women’s division 1 season.
The Bears are undefeated after two very different performances against Greenvale and then Tullamarine on Saturday.
Bears coach Michael Davis said it had been a bit of a slow start for them.
“We had seven girls leave to various clubs or not play for various reasons,” he said.
“We have four new girls that are learning the system and there’s a new coach and a different style of football.
“We are playing more defensive and looking to lock the ball in and have repeat inside 50s.”
Davis said that their leaders, led by captain Kayla Ravanello, had been doing a really good job directing the side on field.
On Saturday, it was a frustrating win for Davis to watch on the sidelines.
The Bears struggled with accuracy but were able to do enough, winning 3.13 (31)-1.0 (6).
“It was terrible,” Davis said of the goalkicking. “Most were 15-20 metres out and the wind was going straight down the middle of the ground.
“It wasn’t panic stations, we were in complete control. We just didn’t take our opportunities.”
Bella Negri kicked two of the three goals for the Bears.
Nikkita Asani-Davis and Ashley Zahara were named their best.
Davis said while it was a frustrating game to watch, it would give them plenty to take forward.
“The good thing about the outcome of the Greenvale game, we played good clean football, which was different to the weekend,” he said.
“We’re slowly getting information to work with that we can get right over the coming weeks.”
Davis, who is coaching the side for the first time, said it was a different challenge coaching women.
He had previously coached under-18 boys and under-18 girls teams before.
For him the biggest thing is about building the culture.
“It’s about continuing to build on the platform on what has been done in previous years.
“We want to build something for the future and for the under-18s to come up into senior football.”
The Bears this Saturday face Strathmore-Pascoe Vale, which is yet to win a match.
The Bears men’s side is also undefeated after two rounds in the division 2 competition.
The Bears faced the Northern Saints on Saturday.
After the Bears led early, scores were level at half time. It was the Bears leading by 23 points at three quarter time.
They were able to hold strong in the final quarter, winning 14.11 (95)-11.9 (75).
In division 1, Hillside caused an upset win against West Coburg.
The Sharks came from 21 points down at three quarter time to win a thriller, 17.9 (111)-16.12 (108).
In the women’s premier division, Hillside had a big win against Westmeadows, 13.17 (95)-0.2 (2).
