Good weather for Ducks

Stockies Scribbles is back reporting from the Capital of Australia following the Victorian National Training Centre (NTC) Girls Team as they challenge the very best female youth that Australia has to offer. The Victorian NTC girls are competing at the National Institute Challenge in Canberra this week. The Tournament kicked-off on Tuesday August 21 and finishes on Saturday, August 25 to showcase the very best female football players and to select the Australian National Team. FFA Coaches and scouts are diligently looking over the talent on display as Australia looks to further bolster its depth.

Game Four

NTC FFV 3-0 NTC Queensland (Tiff Eliadis 27’ Jess Au 33’ Steph Catley 42’)

Rain rain go away come again another day. Well it just won't go away. After two days now of solid rain, the Victorian girls required their flippers and snorkels to combat Queensland on a ground that looked more like a lagoon than a football pitch.

In discussion with a local official, I was told the grounds at the AIS have been specially developed on a clay base to withstand severe drought as several years ago lack of water was the major issue facing groundsmen so retention of moisture was important. Not today.

With all this rain falling over the last 48 hours, the rain sat on the ground and turned into puddles before turning into pools (Olympic pools) to really make conditions quite difficult in the end.

Nevertheless, the Victorian girls bravely faced the extreme conditions and went about their work in a professional manner. This tournament has really highlighted the maturity of the team and the synergy Coach Darren Tan has created with the young and the experienced combining nicely and learning from each other.

Today was "Davey day" under the bar as Matilda squad member Brianna Davey lined up for her turn as keeper and she was rugged up in full length skins to take on the attack of the Queensland side.

Starting defensive line again looked strong on paper with Kate Leder, Alex Natoli, youngster Maddie Stockdale and Matilda Steph Catley all shivering from the cold. In midfield was Steph Magro, Cindy lay and Jess Au ready to feed the forward line of Tayla Mure, Tiff Eliadis and pocket rocket Dani Gudelj. Temperature check indicated six degrees as screams of ZOMG came from the pitch.

Passing the ball was a real problem as the water stopped the ball dead in its track so all players were cognisant of the need to kick strongly to ensure the pass travelled the required journey to the target.

Inside the first ten minutes of play, the Victorian girls attacked strongly with several solid shots on goal by Cindy Lay just missing the target. Cindy was handling the conditions very well in midfield and soon another pass to Dani Gudelj was diverted to Jess Au and the ball rolled under the bar only to see the linesman's flag raised for an offside call.

Tayla Mure and Tiff Eliadis were being fed by the two Stephs in midfield and opportunities were abound for the Victorians. It took until the 27th minute mark for a raking kick out of defence by Briana Davey to find Tiff Eliadis who pounced on the ball, drew the Queensland keeper out from goal, cleverly slotted the kick into the right corner and registered the first major for the Victorians.

Smiles and high fives were the order of the day.

With minutes to go before half time, Maddie Stockdale and Steph Catley combined once more and Steph screamed up the left wing and cut a line across midfield. With a sharp pass to Tiff Eliadis who guided the ball with one touch to Jess Au, Jess rattled the back of the net for a 2-0 lead as the whistle sounded to draw a close to a wonderful half given the conditions.
Half time changes came from Coach Darren Tan with Alex Cheal, Bella Scott and Elaina Vatcky exposed to the elements and Maddie Stockdale, Tayla Mure and Kate Leder resigned to the warmth of the sideline.

With Elaina Vatcky up forward she quickly made her presence felt and drew a penalty in the box to bring Steph Catley to the line for a conversion attempt on goal. Needless to say, the left foot bullet found the upper left hand corner of the net and took the Victorians to a comfortable 3-0 lead early in the second half.

Shortly after Dani Gudelj had another opportunity to put one away only for the kick to be rejected by the Queensland keeper.

At the 47 minute mark, Gudelj was replaced with Pheobe Parker up forward and fresh legs was the strategy given the heavy conditions. Cindy Lay was having a really strong game in midfield and twice drew free kicks through a fierce attack on the ball but both Steph Catley and Tiff Eliadis failed to convert the opportunities on goal. Soon after, Steph Magro was replaced for Jacqui Vogt who was quickly making her presence felt from defence through midfield.

In the final minutes of the game, Steph Catley and Elaina Vatcky were victims of crude tackles but the Victorian girls failed to capitalise on the rewards of their hard work.

The irony of the entire day was highlighted by the fact that the Queensland keeper inched out of goal and Jessica Au managed to move around her and kick the ball towards the wide open goal. It looked like it was about to make it across the goal line and add to the score only for the pool of water in the front of the box stopping the ball dead in its track.

The whistle blew and the Victorians had secured a 3-0 win in conditions that did not favour fish let alone our women footballers.

Victorians finish their tournament today with a game against the NTC South Australia.

For all the updates on The Football Sack's own version of the Mighty Ducks, check out the range of Craig Stockdale's articles right here.