Hawks coach happy to just keep winning
HAWTHORN notched up its sixth win of the AFL Women’s season last night with a hard fought victory over Geelong, and while the Hawks have now won by by single-digit margins, it does not both coach Daniel Webster in the slightest.
Following the 6.6 (42) to 5.5 (35) victory over the Cats at GMHBA Stadium on Thursday night, Webster was asked about the close finishes, with a 23-point victory over St Kilda the only successful result greater than nine points.
“Look to be honest it doesn’t bother me,” Webster said. “We’re here to win games football and I thought tonight’s game was fantastic. “I enjoy the way Geelong play. they’ve got a lot of star power in their side. I thought the midfield battle today was great to watch.
“I thought the ball moved around the ground very well and would we like to win by more? Yeah, but at the moment to beat Geelong in Geelong is huge and they’ve come off three good wins and as I said they’ve got so much star power in their side, so I’m happy to take the wins at the moment.”
Webster said the close results were indicative of the competition being more even with exception of the reigning premiers.
“North’s a little bit in front and kind of smashing everyone, but I think the result’s have shown anyone can beat anyone for the most part, and I just don’t think the gap’s as different. I think the fitness levels of all teams have increased and therefore that’s probably the biggest thing for me in terms of the blowouts of prior years.
“If you have a massive difference in running power and physical power you can get the ball running your way and get on top in that sense, but I think even that’s evened out, the system’s the teams that are playing now are a bit more sophisticated.”
Webster said the chess-like moves that both sides made last night was indicative of just that, praising the increased strategies that coaches could employ, and players deliver having been in elite environments for longer.
“Even today early in the second when they were dropping their fat side winger to generate a plus-one behind the ball which forced us into a decision into what we do with that,” Webster said. “Those things are happening more and more around different strategies in the game which i think is great for the competition.
“I just think it’s improving across the board which is meaning closer games and I’m all for it. From our perspective, as long as we’re winning at the moment and playing good footy and tonight I thought we played really good footy.”
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