“IT'S A good feeling.”
After a tough loss on the road in Round 6, Darcy Vescio couldn’t be prouder of their side’s ability to bounce back in the face of adversity with a comprehensive 27-point victory over the Saints on Friday night.
In control from start to finish, it was perhaps the Game Changers’ most complete performance for season seven, which was the most pleasing element for Vescio.
“I feel like we've had a rough first six games. We've obviously had some good results but it's nice to have a game where you feel like you're in control, where you can really attack hard and play in your front half,” Vescio said.
“We were really trying to spring back this week and focus on what we could do – play a really exciting, attacking brand rather than get caught up in defence mode.
“I hope that was on show tonight and hopefully all the players are feeling like we can play some really good footy when we're able to have that confidence in each other and in ourselves as well.”
In a team-first display, Vescio thrived taking on a new challenge in the backline, providing a fresh perspective for AFLW Senior Coach Daniel Harford, who hasn’t been afraid to mix up the magnets over the past seven weeks.
Utilising their attacking mindset, Vescio was crucial in setting up teammates further afield, finishing the game with 15 disposals (10 contested), as well as 10 intercepts and 340 metres gained – both game-highs.
And in typical Vescio fashion, they were as humble as ever doing it.
“I didn't mind it,” they said of the positional switch.
“I'm happy to play anywhere and it's nice to be able to see the game, run through the footy and just continue on.
“I’ve never really started there in AFLW so it was a bit different but I'm really appreciative that ‘Harf’ gave me the opportunity to do it.”
Heading into the tail end of the season and remaining just in touch with the competition’s top eight, the Round 7 victory was crucial for the Blues not only in terms of banking the four points, but the group’s mindset for the remaining three games of the home-and-away season.
“We’re just trying to lighten the load a bit. I feel like in-season, if things aren't going your way, you can get quite down as a group and lose that confidence,” they said.
“Everyone gets to a walk a bit taller into training this week and feel like we can achieve some really exciting things if we're able to work together and do that.
“I’m pumped for the group. We've got a long way to go and we want to keep building from here so hopefully the next three weeks we can show even more of what we're capable of.”
