Jesse Wardlaw made AFLW history by scoring a hat trick of stellar goals. Her dazzling display had St Kilda on course for a 52-point win against Essendon at Windy Hill. On Sunday, St Kilda really struggled to get back on track. With the victory they snapped a three-match losing streak and bettered their season record to 2-3. Meanwhile, Essendon fell to a 3-2 mark after this loss.
Right from the very beginning, Wardlaw’s game day was a key indicator as St Kilda quickly set the tone in the opening stages of the contest. The team represented a collective, coordinated frontline response. Names like Kate Shierlaw, Tahlia Randall, Jenna Bruton only scratch the surface. Players like Bruton were largely responsible for the success. Suffice to say the Saints’ attacking talent was overwhelming, evidenced in a winning offensive efficiency of 9.6 to Essendon’s 1.2.
A Milestone Performance
Jesse Wardlaw’s achievement in the match was not only significant for her personally but for her team’s morale. Her hat trick scoring made her the most valuable player in the match that restored St Kilda’s early season competitiveness.
Following the match, Wardlaw proclaimed her excitement about the game, saying,
“It was so much fun to be out there today.”
Ashleigh Richards and Hannah Priest added to the Saints’ phenomenal lead with their two goals apiece. Their amazing contributions just matched up beautifully to her performance. It was the nature of the teams offensive pressure that really stood out and showed their hunger to return after losing back-to-back home games.
Overcoming Adversity
Wardlaw suffered a knee injury late in the match, which caused alarm to fans and teammates alike. After some evaluation by medical personnel, he was right back in action.
Her resilience proved her dedication to the team. This was a noteworthy gesture that mirrored the joyous spirit inside that team locker room on the night of their amazing win.
“I managed to get back out there, so it’s nothing major. It should be fine moving forward.”
Mia King, another star performer for St Kilda, recognized it was the result of a great team effort after the big win. She wrote about the impact of that game with Essendon, writing,
Team Synergy and Future Prospects
King reiterated that the goal was to prioritize team success over personal achievements, and continued,
“We knew it would be a good fight and they brought it … so the girls are really happy with the win.”
The team’s energy and determination were evident from the start of the match until the finish. After this win, St Kilda will look to keep the ball rolling in their next few games and start climbing the ladder and finding themselves in a Playoff position.
“We try not to think about being undefeated. We’re just really focusing on the group, week-in, week-out.”
The team’s energy and determination were palpable throughout the match. With this victory, St Kilda aims to build momentum for upcoming matches and improve their standing in the league.
