BY KIERAN ILES
Eaglehawk coach Jannelle Hobbs is urging her side to embrace a tough early test against the competition benchmark Kangaroo Flat at Canterbury Park tomorrow.
The Hawks will go into the contest with momentum following a stirring 33-goal win over impressive round 1 winners Golden Square.
It followed an ultra-competitive performance to start the season in a 21-goal loss to perennial powerhouse Sandhurst.
The Hawks were with the Dragons until half-time, but had their structure thrown out with an injury to goal keeper Sienna Hobbs, who subsequently missed the clash against Golden Square due to concussion protocols.
In her absence, Rani Madden stepped up from A-reserve to be one of the Hawks' best in a confidence-boosting 72–39 victory over the Bulldogs, with both sides harbouring ambitions of playing finals in 2026.
The Hawks were also without midcourter Jemma Finning due to a football injury sustained over the Easter weekend.
Hobbs hailed a full four-quarter effort from the Hawks, who signalled their intent with a polished 20–9 opening quarter and were just as potent in the final term, outscoring the Bulldogs 22–7.
"We are slowly getting it together with a bit of a new-look team," she said.
"Mia (McCrann-Peters) and Chloe (Langley) were brilliant alongside one another shooting 73 goals and we were able to keep them at bay at the other end.
"Rani and Allira Holmes and Morgan Keating out at wing defence were really able to shut their attack end.
"I've been happy with our form across both games; we were right in it against Sandhurst until we lost Sienna.
"It was obviously a bit disappointing it (the margin) went out to 20, but the scoreboard didn't really reflect the effort.
"It's the closest we have come to Sandhurst for quite a while, which is a sign of improvement, but I do want us to do a lot better.
"I'm optimistic we can mix it with every team, it's just a matter of finding some consistency."
With Finning's injury leaving a void in the midcourt rotations, Imogen Brown was promoted from the
Hawks' 17-and-under and played what Hobbs termed some 'significant minutes' alongside Gracie Berryman and Ella Flavell.
Hobbs said there were more than enough encouraging signs from the Hawks' first two hit-outs to suggest they could be competitive against the reigning premiers.
She was clear on what she wanted to see from her players
"I really want to see us execute everything we have been working on at training and during the pre-season," Hobbs said.
"In the past, we've done it all at training, but against the top sides we've gone into our shell and got away from the process.
"I'd love to see us stick to what we've been doing. We've got some good strategies and structure, but we need to try and apply some pressure for four quarters and get the game on our terms early.
"We have been slow starters against Flat in the past, but the last two games (against Golden Square and Sandhurst) we've actually started well.
"That's an improvement.
"Flat are a great side, but I'm sure our goalers can test their defenders.
"We haven't got close to them the last few years, so we've really got to improve, be disciplined and play to our structure."
The Roos – one of two 2–0 sides in the competition alongside Sandhurst – will be coming off an imposing 96–17 victory over Castlemaine.
In other round 3 games, Gisborne (1–1) hosts Strathfieldsaye (0–1) at Gardiner Reserve, with the Bulldogs backing up from a 47–40 win over South Bendigo and the Storm returning to action after a bye.
Castlemaine (0–2) hosts South Bendigo (2–1) at Camp Reserve and Broadford (0–2) clashes with Golden Square at Harley Hammond Reserve.
Sandhurst, which defeated Broadford 99–28 last weekend, has the bye.
