By Jonty Ralphsmith
Pakenham local Ava Deszcz has played a breakout game as Gippsland’s girls dispatched Bendigo 11.16 82 to 2.5 17 at a chilly La Trobe University, Bundoora, on Sunday.
The under-16s talent has represented Gippy’s under-18s six times this season, with Sunday’s game seeing her kick two goals, among her 16 disposals, both season-high numbers.
She had a total of five shots on goal, showing her strength, tenacity and footy smarts across the course of the day.
“She’s a boisterous, energetic, high energy kid and she’s a natural talent,” said coach Nathan Boyd.
“She’s quite strong and has explosive moments – she always looks like she’ll halve a contest at worst if the ball comes to her.”
In between her Power commitments, she has also played two games for Pakenham in the Outer East Football Netball League, including a standout performance against Olinda Ferny Creek.
Fellow Pakenham local Abby Hobson, who has been selected to trial for Vic Country on the weekend, kicked three goals from 17 disposals and was an aerial presence inside 50.
Top prospect Ash Centra was at her classy best on her 18th birthday, racking up 36 disposals and kicking 1.5, while bottom-aged star Ella Stoddart’s silkiness and the continued development of rucks Maya Crestani (Nar Nar Goon) and Zahri Burn were also on display.
After a scrappy start, Lilly Leighton stepped through traffic to kick a goal just before the quarter time siren to kickstart a strong outing for her and give her team crucial momentum heading into the first break.
Leighton, a Warragul Industrials local, was another standout on Sunday with her composure and elusiveness.
Gippy then had all the play in the second quarter, with Deszcz and the energetic Acacia Sutton giving them reward for effort.
Hobson kicked the first of her three from Gippy’s first thrust forward in the second half, which extended the margin to 25 points, effectively sealing the result, with the Power kicking four goals to two thereafter.
It puts the Power in a strong position more than halfway through the season, sitting second on the table with a gentle run home.
It is a testament to the growth of the Gippy Power girls program, which is showing with their organisation and structure on-field.
“It helps in the result – it’s pleasing to see a lot of the stuff we’ve worked on is starting to stick and we’re getting really comfortable with it,” Boyd said.
“I think the work that was done from a contest and territory perspective set the game up and allowed us to set the game up and focus in on that defensive setup.”
