BOASTING a ridiculous pressure rating peak of 311 during the third quarter and holding an average game rating of 260, Sydney Swans coach Scott Gowans could not be more pleased for his side’s work in that area during the Swans’ 15-point win over Collingwood in the AFL Women’s season opener.

Gowans’ Swans could not miss in the first half, but it was their brave defending that helped them get the win, as Collingwood levelled the scores at the main break, albeit with eight scoring shots to three. Once the game opened up in the third term, the Swans pressure proved deadly and they piled on 4.1 to 0.1 in the premiership quarter to set up the 8.2 (50) to 4.11 (35) victory.

“I felt our pressure was fantastic,” Gowans said. “At one stage in the third quarter we got it up to 311 which is elite, it’s better than elite it’s off the charts. “When you pressure like that you’re never out of the game and that’s the bit I was really proud of. “We sat at about 260 for the game, so that’s just us.

“If our pressure’s up there, then things are going to happen. I felt that our pressure was able to be a little bit inaccurate and disrupt their ball movement which was a focus. We then doubled down on that in the third quarter with a couple of moves that we’ve got, then the last quarter it was all about just coming forward at them and making the game as messy as we could.”

Sydney had an even team contribution across the board with Laura Gardiner picking up a team-high 23 disposals and eight tackles, while she was complemented by the likes of Lucy McEvoy (17 disposals, four tackles and a goal) and Sofia Hurley (15 disposals, seven tackles). They had to overcome some clearance dominance for the Magpies, with Brittany Bonnici (seven clearances from 24 disposals), Sabrina Frederick (seven from 21) and Mikala Cann (six from 15) in order to get the win.

Gowans admitted his side was an “outside running team” and sent a message to the rest of the competition.

“f you’re going to play us, bring your runners because you’re going to have to run,” he said. “When we do get the ball on the outside we try and be as liberal with the rules if you like and allow the girls to play footy. “But behind that, there needs to be a really firm team defence and tonight I felt we probably have a bit of work to do with our team defence.”

After a breakthrough second season last year which saw the Swans reach the finals series, Gowans said the game at times was “simple” if you took a “back to basics” approach.

“If you get the ball in the front half, protect it, and that’s the game in a nutshell,” he said. “I felt we did it quite well. On this ground being a smaller ground though, what happens is if you don’t pressure when they win the ball, if you don’t pressure that first handball then they’re out and kick it forward.”

Collingwood came in with a plan to clear the area by foot, which Gowans through about countering, but his side managed to get the game back on their terms and described it as a “great victory for a young side” against an inaugural team.

Coming into the match there were doubts over ruck Ally Morphett‘s fitness, but Gowans said he was “100 per cent confident” in her readiness to play, having done all the work required, and would just gain more match fitness over the next few weeks.

Collingwood coach Sam Wright said while it was disappointing to lose, he was “excited” about moments within the game where the Magpies were able to play to the prepared game system and won the hitouts, clearances and inside 50s, as well as contested possessions.

“I think both sides came out and it was really hot in the contest and we knew it would be, and there was patches where we were right on top and patches where they were on top,” Wright said. “I think for us what I was really excited about and we saw our game system come through and when it did come through, we scored and we scored quickly. We’d just love more goals than point.”

Wright said he was pleased with the culture the players showed right to the final minute, drawing within 10 points after kicking the first two goals of the fourth quarter, but conceded they wasted opportunities in the third term by kicking 1.4.

“I think especially on this ground to really lock it in your forward half is really important,” he said. “It’s a short ground. From where we stand you’ve got to score against good sides. When you lock the ball in you’ve got to put some scoreboard pressure on, we didn’t quite do that, but in saying that our system’s there and that will turn around.”

Sydney head south to RSEA Park next Sunday for Round 2 with a nine-day break before taking on St Kilda, while the Magpies have an eight day break before hosting another third-season side in Hawthorn at Victoria Park.