| WU20 -R10 20 Jun 2026 Sat - 09:00 am - MKO lower | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Best PlayersJemima Graham Bree Hirst Charlotte Denney Matilda Brown Caitlin Gurney Greta Clatworthy |
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Goal ScorersGreta Clatworthy - 2 Matilda Brown - 1 Bree Hirst - 1 |
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Q1 – Wrestle Time
Our girls came together again, with a strong Northwest Lightning representation and a terrific turnout of true-age U20 players ready to take on a talented NSB side. From the opening bounce, the contest was fierce. We matched NSB at the source, applied strong pressure around the ball and established a healthy forward 50 presence. Five scoring shots to two told the story of a side prepared to compete and willing to back its contest work. At quarter time, we held a deserved lead, 1.4 (10) to 1.1 (7).
Q2 – Open Players
The second quarter brought plenty of learning. NSB found greater access to players in space and began linking possessions together, creating opportunities to move the ball quickly into attack. Four accurate scoring shots helped them build momentum while we were held scoreless for the term. As our style of play continues to evolve around close contest work and controlling the game at the source, this quarter highlighted the next step in our development journey: what happens after we win the footy. We don't lose. We learn. At the main break, we trailed 1.4 (10) to 5.1 (31).
Half Time – Composure
Across the women's programme we have introduced three key themes:
• Own the ball at source.
• Control the contest.
• Treasure possession.
Half time gave us an opportunity to focus on composure and ball security. Our ability to win the contest remains a strength. The challenge ahead was making our next disposal purposeful and ensuring we valued every possession we earned.
Q3 – Theme in Action
Our girls took the field with a clear understanding of the task ahead. Jemima and Bree continued their strong work at the source, while Caitlin and Charlotte applied relentless pressure around the contest. Their efforts helped bring the ball into what we call our "treasure chest" — the place where we cherish possession and look for purposeful use. The result was some of our most composed football of the morning. Three scoring shots to two saw us apply scoreboard pressure and edge our way back into the contest. At three-quarter time, we had narrowed the margin to 3.5 (23) to 6.2 (38).
Q4 – Training Together
We are a team that comes together once a week — on game day. Building game style, structure and connection happens largely through playing together, and against well-established sides that train regularly, that can sometimes present challenges. NSB's ball movement and handball chains began to create space in the final term, generating scoreboard pressure that proved difficult to contain. While we adjusted roles and found another goal ourselves, the margin ultimately stretched beyond reach. The quarter also provided valuable learning opportunities as we continue preparing for next week's clash against UNSW.
Final Result
The final siren saw the Demons U20s fall short on the scoreboard but never in effort, going down 4.5 (29) to 8.6 (54). Our ability to compete at the source remains a genuine strength and our football identity continues to emerge as this inaugural group grows together.
Final Words
Source. Contest. Security. Across our women's programme, three themes continue to guide how we play and how we develop:
• Own the ball at source.
• Control the contest.
• Treasure possession.
The exciting part is that these are no longer simply coaching messages. They are beginning to appear consistently in the way our U20s play. This inaugural group continues to grow each week. Their contest work is strong, their willingness to learn is exceptional and, most importantly, they continue to embrace the challenge of building something new together. We know there is still development ahead. We know there are moments where composure and ball security can improve. But we can also see the foundations of a genuine football identity taking shape. And if we can find more opportunities to train together and continue building connection, trust and understanding, the second half of the season could produce outcomes that seemed a long way away back in Round 1.
One final observation.
Against a side with WPD players backing up, our girls scored:
• 10 points in Q1
• 0 in Q2
• 13 in Q3
• 6 in Q4
That is not the scoring profile of a side being outclassed. That is the scoring profile of a young side learning how to sustain good football for four quarters. There is a big difference between those two stories.
Train together. Play together. Have fun together. This is just the beginning.
#BuiltNotBought #NorthwestFooty #ThePlaceYoudRatherBe
Ian Wilkins - WU20s Coach
