BRISBANE Lions AFL Women’s coach Craig Starcevich has his team humming at the right time of the year, moving to a 7-1 record in Season 7 following a 22-point win over reigning premiers Adelaide. The Crows lead by three points at quarter time, but the Lions dominated the second term to boot 4.1 without conceding a score, setting up a memorable 8.5 (53) to 4.7 (31) victory.

Though admitting it was “only one game” essentially, Starcevich did place extra importance on the win given the Crows are one of the Lions’ biggest challengers for the flag, and noted how important the morale boost would be.

“A great win, just probably the method tonight that our players showed, that they could out-pressure the opposition and then go ahead and hurt them on the scoreboard,” Starcevich said. That was pleasing the way we went about it, was just the relentless pressure opened them up and we were able to score.”

Having defeated the other key flag contenders in Melbourne, North Melbourne and now Adelaide, the Lions will take on top four side Collingwood in the final round. Before that though, the Lions take on expansion side Hawthorn who are on a three-game tear but have far less experience than Starcevich’s side.

“We’re probably learnt from coming off the Melbourne victory a month ago and then had a bit of a let down against the Tigers, so we’ve got to be on guard for that,” Starcevich said.

“I think our girls were stung that week a little bit with how you need to be on and concentrating week-in, week-out, so that type of thing is still a bit of a worry, but we’re hoping they’ve learnt from that experience and won’t take anything that’s coming up lightly, because those top two spots on the ladder are absolutely vital if you’re in a final eight because you obviously want to have some home finals later on.”

Playing in just her second AFL Women’s game, Mikayla Pauga was impressive, picking up 12 disposals and providing plenty of pressure inside the forward 50. Starcevich said Pauga is constantly learning to become a better player on and off the field, and was pleased she could take her opportunity.

“Mikky was finding her way, she’s been on the list now for two years,” he said. She’s trying to find out still what level I need to train at, how do I prepare. It’s great for her confidence that she can have a game like that against good opposition.

“One thing about Mikky is she’s very clean, so that’s vital in footy. The better male and female players are all one-touch players, so she’s very clean, good for her to get a dozen touches and I think 11 pressure acts as well. That’s a complete performance in your second game in terms of contribution both ways.”

Starcevich said the game was suited to the smaller players in the side and praised them for heir pressure and scoring opportunities they created. He described the smalls as “enormous” in getting the job done, highlighting one in particular.

“I think if I want to grab one it’s probably Belle Dawes from the get-go,” he said. Her energy right from the first minute, right through to the end was superb, around the middle of the ground but also helping out in the front half as well. She’s just one, there’s a heap of mates around about her size that were all doing similar things.”

Brisbane returns to Metricon in a fortnight to take on Collingwood, with the Lions fans heading south for the trip against the Crows. Acknowledging how vocal the fans were, Starcevich said he hoped to see even more against the Magpies in Round 10.

“It’s always important, I wish we had more,” he said. I know it’s a bit of a trek down the highway on a Friday night, but it would have been nice to have a few more, but they were here and they were vocal and the girls ride on that, which is fantastic so we always hope the Brisbane Lions supporters are proud of team, not so much the winning and the losing, but the way we go about it.

“We’re hopeful we get more people come and watch us, we think we play an attractive and intense brand of footy, so if you like that, keep watching us.”