Macca hopes for more games

Geelong Falcons Girls coach Brendan McCartney directs traffic during pre-season training. (krockfootball.com.au Image/Marcel Berens)

GEELONG Falcons Girls coach Brendan McCartney hopes his players get a chance to show their wares again in 2020.

The NAB League season, as well as training, has been halted until May 31 in response to the COVID-19 threat.

The Falcons have played two matches in a 10-round home-and-away season that was due to conclude on May 9.

McCartney is unsure what is planned for the competition.

“Whether we can I play all the games, I don’t know,” he said.

“There are two things at play here – the reliance on local competitions to get the girls back, and also the VFL pathway.

“So there’s an above and below element to it.”

The former Western Bulldogs AFL coach would be happy for a shortened season.

“The stronger clubs might play each other a three-week period, and the less performing clubs play each other, so that’s there some games for girls to play in,” McCartney said.

“In the end, the key thing is young girls get an opportunity to play.

“The more they play, the better they get, and the product improves because they’re playing more footy.”

While disappointed at the postponement, McCartney said the players were “philosophical” about the decision which was relayed to the players at training on Monday night.

“Over the two-hour period, I saw them shift from a little bit of annoyance and real disappointment towards understanding that there is a bigger thing at play here and the health of the community outweighs everything,” he said.

McCartney said while training has been cancelled for now, he will continue to maintain contact with the group.

“We gave them the commitment we would stay connected with them and keep sending them stuff, so I’ll keep coding vision and sending it to them,” he said.

“We might be able to keep educating kids who can’t play the game through some online stuff.

“They can keep developing their game in the backyard with their family, or in the park with their mum and dad.”

Twitter: @tom_king79