Under 18.1 Girls Team Manager Fran Ioannidis breaks down the team's performance at the Eltham Tournament, where they achieved some solid results against stiff opposition:
After creating Falcons girls' history by qualifying for the state's most prestigious Victorian Championship competition before Christmas, the Eltham-Dandenong Tournament provided the perfect hit-out to kick start the 18.1 girls 2012 campaign.
With the new addition of Katia, who moved up from the 2s, and the return of Maria from overseas, it was the first time that all the girls have played together as a team.
On Friday night after an understandably slow and shaky first half against Nunawading, Coach Elias Palioyiannis settled the team at the break. The girls returned with renewed vision and poise and looked like a completely different team. The girls won the second half, and closed the gap, but not
enough to steal a win.
Continuing their form of the previous night's second half, Saturday morning saw the team battle Knox's tall timber with gusto, to claim its first victory. Whilst battling the typically hot and humid conditions that are synonymous with this tournament, the team recorded a very convincing win against Altona. The girls were then treated to some much needed respite in the afternoon, by way of a swim and BBQ thanks to the Nomikoudis family.
The final game of the comp saw the team head up to Dandenong stadium for a 10pm match against Melbourne Tigers, one of the benchmark teams in the VC comp. Waverley came out firing on all cylinders, and managed to hold the lead for the majority of the game. After staving off a Tigers
mini-comeback in the final minutes of the game, the girls executed down the stretch to tie the game with 12 seconds remaining. Melbourne missed the final opportunity to win the game and the Falcons came away with a 36 all draw.
Whilst unlucky not to make the finals, the team has proved that it will be a serious competitor in the coveted VC comp which tips off on March 9th.
Coach Elias will continue to train the team hard, and use the upcoming practice matches to consolidate his team's fine tournament effort, to ensure that it really will be a force to be reckoned with in 2012.
Thanks to all parents for their support throughout the tournament.
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