It was an interrupted preparation for Ulladulla's favourite daughters on Saturday as Dockerlands Stadium played host to a top-of-the-table clash between Ulladulla and Dapto. The Ulladulla coaching staff had their expected squad of 22 on Tuesday night cut to just 16 by start time, with injury, illness and travel culling Dockettes left, right and centre.
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It was a physical contest from the first ball up, with rucking superstar Lux and new on baller Jodie throwing their power around and sending Dapto players sprawling. Their physicality enabled the elite fitness, speed and skills of Mel and Meg to pump the footy forward early and it was Meg*** who opened the Dockers' account with a silky shot through the sticks. Ulladulla continued to dominate the field position but lacked a certain polish when trying to link mids to the forwards.
The move of Shannon Bradley from back to forward to reunite with Shan up front proved to be the perfect remedy, with her physicality and strong marking getting the Dockers locked into the forward 50. From there newly crowned co captain Shan Lloyd did what she does best, going back and slotting a crucial goal. The Dockers were really warming to the task when just prior to quarter time a vicious collision left Lux with a dislocated knee cap.
The loss of Lux was felt even more with 'Malibu' Mel having to leave five minutes into the second quarter, but she certainly made the most of her time in the middle, zipping around and pumping the ball forward. With some of the Dockers big names out, the troops rallied. Skip1 Shazzle moved from fullback to a defensive midfield and looked right at home, working hard and nabbing intercept marks across the Dapto attacking 50. Jodie was at her damaging best sending a few Dapto players to the bench from bruising collisions, Mia was working hard to break a tag while Em was showing the class Dockettes fan have grown accustomed to, competing at every contest and coming up with some deft handballs around the breakdown that enabled partner Shan to add her second. The Dockers squandered a few more chances in front of goal but were clearly frustrating the Dapto team. The siren sounded and the Dockers took a 3 goals 5, 23 point to 1 lead into the main break.
The Dockers were cut down to 14 for the remainder of the game with super sub Toni having to depart at the beginning of the third stanza, but it just meant the Dockers had to dig a little deeper. The third quarter was a real arm wrestle and the backs stood up. Evie Powell's good form continued from the week previous, as she charged in to every contest. Nic Higgins was showing just how far she's come as a footballer, demonstrating great leadership and directing traffic across the halfback line, while despite carrying an injury, Lucy moved into the midfield and found plenty of footy hovering a kick behind play. The Unicorns full bench was starting to show with the Dapto side having the better of field position and having a little more wind in their sails. The score a nervy 24-1 at the final change.
After nearly being run down by Dapto late in round one, the girls in purple knew they had a fight on their hands. The Dapto side scored a goal early, but a reshuffle of Co skip Shan to centre half forward and Shan Bradley returning to the back line steadied the Dockers ship. Rachel and Shazzle were combining well in the backline, with Jodie continuing to bash her way through traffic. Dapto had their chances and narrowed the gap to 20 points, which could easily have been closer save for some wayward shots. The Dockers then put together their goal of the season, some trademark Shannon B and Nic Higgins toughness along the back line got Meg into space, who ran through and found the injured and seizing up Lucy in space on the half forward line. Together the pair held the ball up with some crafty play, before Lucy dished off the Sherrin to the ever present Shan L to add her third major to seal the game for the Dockers, all the while Riss displaying her toughness trailing towards the goal line with a peg leg. The final score Dockers 4 goals 7, 31, to Dapto's 1 goal 4, 10.
It was an amazing effort from the Dockettes side as they ran out the game with only 11.5 fit players, but 14 on the field. After a run of easy wins there were some questions as to whether the Dockers could stand up to real contest, especially under-manned, but they did so and more. Players' player went 3 Meg Buchanan, 2 Shannon Lloyd, with 1 point tied between Jodie Maclaren and Lucy.
Thanks as always to Steve for running the canteen, Annette for running water, Tim & Paul for ground managing, Mike and Brett for goal umpiring and a special thanks to Tommo and JD for their on field umpiring. The Dockettes travel to Bay & Basin next week to take on the third place Bombers in what promises to be a good clash. Go the Dockers.
