'Stand-out' Cora Staunton kicks two goals on Aussie Rules debut
Cora Staunton kicked two goals on her Aussie Rules debut for the Greater Western Sydney Giants, writes Stephen Barry.
Staunton took the pre-season opportunity to show what she’s learned since making the move last month, with the club’s match report noting her as "one of the stand-outs".
Head coach Alan McConnell summed up her performance, saying: "She showed us why she’s here".
In a 50-point win over the Brisbane Lions, Staunton also contributed a number of assists and marks. However, the highlight was her classy left-footed goal on the spin, before tumbling to the ground (at 2:34 in the below video).
Hear from @LadiesFootball legend @duckie15 who hit the ground running in her first game of @aflwomens.#NeverSurrender pic.twitter.com/DvCrLrzWwz
— GWS GIANTS (@GWSGIANTS) January 20, 2018
"We wouldn’t really celebrate many goals (in the GAA). We obviously celebrate at the end of the match, so it was lovely," she said.
"It was nice to kick one off the left. I was getting a bit of a slagging off some of the Brisbane girls about my kick, so it was nice to put that one over. But I don’t know if there will be too many for the rest of the year."
Kicking the oval ball is still a "huge struggle", she said, as she continues to seek a technique that works for her.
"The biggest improvement I’m trying to make is my ball kicking. That’s still a huge struggle.
"I have to keep working on that, day in, day out. I’m not going to get it right by eight weeks’ time, but I have to get my own technique and what fits for me."
Dear @LadiesFootball,
— GWS GIANTS (@GWSGIANTS) January 20, 2018
Thank you so much for @duckie15, she’s a star. Can we keep her?
Regards,
Australian Football.
She’s kicked two for the game and her last - a snap over the shoulder - was class. #NeverSurrender
Generally, she found the game more hard-hitting than she’s used to with Mayo and Carnacon.
"It was very tough. It’s a lot different to what I expected. It’s more physical and I wouldn’t be as used to that at home.
"There are plenty of things to work on, plenty of mistakes, but I enjoyed it. It was nice to kick a goal or two and set up a few as well.
"In our game, we’re used to playing on all the time so it’s to train the brain not to play on, and stop.
"I was annoyed with myself a few times I got tackled when I probably should have shot or passed it off. I need to get a split second quicker with that."
