WAFL Women's Captain Lyons Recaps Huge Weekend Win

Our Women’s and Roger’s teams had a flying start to the season with both teams coming home with a win against East Perth The Women scored a whopping 18 goals and won (18.6) 116 to (3.3) 21. The Roger’s won (8.8) 56 to (4.3) 27. Here’s what Women’s captain, Tess Lyons, had to say after their victory.

Congratulations on completing your first match of the season! How does it feel to finally hit the ground running with the team after a long pre-season?
It's great to have the first game of the season under our belts. I know the girls were eager to get out there and have the opportunity to showcase the hard work we have put in over preseason with a solid win being a nice reward for effort. 

How did the team prepare leading up to the match, and what role did you have in this?
In the hours leading up to our game we supported our Rogers team who put on an awesome display and their energy and success was incredibly motivating for the League side. On the back of that our leadership group checks in with all our players, makes sure the vibes are high and keeps the energy and excitement up. Ultimately, lead up can be individualised as we have a pretty diverse group that each like to prepare differently and we recognise and provide the space for that.

How do you evaluate the team's performance overall? Are there specific areas you think were strong and others that might need improvement?
Overall we had a strong performance as a team - we went out and played a really exciting brand of football. For me, the connection we had as a team on the field was a clear strength that really sets the foundations for us to build and play the way we want to play. We had a fantastic conversion rate and really brought the pressure. In saying that, I think at times the excitement and nerves of round 1 may have got to us and moving forward we can look to be cleaner with the ball in hand and be smarter in switching between methods of ball movement.

How significant is this first match in setting the tone for the rest of the season?
Hugely significant. Seeing our hard work come together gives us confidence that we are connected as a team and we are on the right track. 

Can you share how the team is feeling post-match and their outlook for the next game?
As a team we are really proud of our efforts and obviously pretty pleased with the result. Looking forward, we recognise this is just the beginning and we have a long way to go, but take confidence into round 2 that the foundations are there for us to build on. We understand East Fremantle has been the benchmark in the WAFLW competition for a number of years and we are looking forward to the challenge.

How do you plan to keep the team motivated and focused throughout the season?
We have a team that is highly motivated by being together and just enjoying our footy. I think it's about not overcomplicating it, taking each week as it comes, knowing that we have the foundation, and building little by little. 

Lastly, what message do you have for the fans who supported you on Saturday and those looking forward to the rest of the season?
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I know I speak on behalf of the team when I say the support we felt on Saturday was incredible. From the club staff, players, members and other supporters in the stands, we absolutely felt the energy and encouragement, which played a huge role in setting us up for success in round one. To say we appreciate it is an understatement. For those looking forward to the rest of the season, firstly so are we and secondly we can't wait to see you!