{"id":144824,"date":"2023-10-23T13:45:53","date_gmt":"2023-10-23T03:45:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=144824"},"modified":"2023-10-23T13:45:54","modified_gmt":"2023-10-23T03:45:54","slug":"zarlie-strikes-gold-for-giants-second-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2023\/10\/23\/zarlie-strikes-gold-for-giants-second-win\/","title":{"rendered":"Zarlie strikes Gold for Giants’ second win"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

GREATER Western Sydney (GWS) broke through for their second win of the 2023 AFL Women’s season on Saturday, thanks largely to a remarkable Zarlie Goldsworthy<\/a> performance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 18-year-old starred with 24 disposals (14 contested), 12 tackles and five goals to steer her side to a thrilling two-point victory over Carlton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minus the class and experience of Alyce Parker<\/a> (ankle) and Rebecca Beeson<\/a> (suspension), the Giants held on to maintain their near-perfect record at Henson Park and put a dent in Carlton’s finals hopes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Goldsworthy was in inspired form throughout the match, but came up clutch with two quick goals to start term four, before adding another to twice give GWS the lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An assist for Jodie Hicks<\/a>‘ sealing goal proved the cherry on top for Goldsworthy, who has put together a sparkling second season in the competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking almost without a voice post-match, Giants coach Cam Bernasconi<\/em><\/strong> has his tongue in cheek while giving a rather understated assessment of the youngster’s performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Pretty good,” he said. “She\u2019s pretty important to us and I ask a lot of her\u2026 she just adapts and she\u2019s a competitor, competitors want to win.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Somewhat a story of the Giants’ season has been their tendency to fall away in final quarters, having spurned winning opportunities against Sydney and Richmond early in the campaign. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It was awesome for the girls, they\u2019ve really stuck together,” Bernasconi said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The message at three-quarter time was, ‘we’ve been in this position a few times this year and every time we go away from our system, we fall to the other side of the result. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“So we stuck to our system, problem solved. It was a really gutsy win.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Giants scrapped away and despite being thumped at the contest, won enough “moments” to get over the line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Along with a strong breeze, efforts like that of Haneen Zreika<\/a> (16 tackles) and Nicola Barr<\/a> (seven tackles, five clearances) wrestled back the momentum of Carlton’s contested ball beasts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Blues were served well by ruck Breann Moody<\/a> (23 disposals, 12 clearances, 46 hitouts) in the absence of Jess Good<\/a>, along with midfielders Abbie McKay<\/a> and Keeley Sherar<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having been pegged for a return to the top eight, Carlton now sits ninth with two rounds to go, against fellow contenders Essendon and St Kilda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coach Mathew Buck<\/em><\/strong> maintains the Blues remain in the hunt to earn a finals berth despite riding a two-game losing streak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“There’s two games left to go and we’re well and truly in the hunt,” he said. “We’ll dust ourselves off from this one. I can’t control what everyone else does.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Carlton’s postseason pursuit heads to Windy Hill on Saturday, while GWS will hope to end its season with more positivity in clashes against Gold Coast and Port Adelaide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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