Port Adelaide ruck Matilda Scholz says finding consistency is the key for the team as they push through the second half of the season, with focus firmly on this weekend’s clash with St Kilda.
Speaking to the media at Alberton, Scholz reflected on the season so far, the focus on finding consistency, and finding her own form this year, while also sharing her pride in sister Poppy’s recent Rising Star nomination.
The Power is preparing to take on the Saints this Sunday at RSEA Park at 12:35pm ACST.
Scholz on the team’s season so far
“It’s a bit disappointing. We haven't had the start we wanted, but I think it's just now about focusing on what we can control, and that's this weekend against St Kilda, and how we get better from last weekend.”
“Every game is so important, regardless of what position we're in. I think it's just focusing on each week at a time. It's hard to not look ahead, but that's our challenge right now. We just need to focus on this weekend against St Kilda and bring our weapons to that game.”
Scholz on finding consistency across four quarters
“We are a really young side, and a lot of it is a mindset thing, which sounds like a bit of a cop out, but I think if we get on top of that, and we can start strong, there's no reason we can't be consistent, and I think we are close to finding it. The messaging (from senior coach Lauren Arnell) has been to just play consistently across four quarters of footy, which I think we can do – it's just a matter of now doing it.”
“It's different for everyone. I think a lot of us have played 25 games or less, so maybe for us younger players it’s about finding what does work best for us and chatting to the staff we have at the club to really work on that pre-game. I think there’s a bit of getting your head off the footy and just getting in aggressive too.”
Scholz on finding her form this season
“I think there's always things that I can be doing better, and the coaches are helping me with that stuff as well. I’d like to work on my consistency. But for the most part I guess I've been happy with the way I've been able to run out games, and I'm playing a little bit more game time as well, so that's been a bit more of a win for me this season – but there's always something more I can be doing, including my defence.”
Scholz on the standard of the AFLW competition
“It's definitely hard, and last year was hard as well. Every club in the competition is good, and you never know what can happen in a game – you never know what each team is going to bring out on the field, and especially playing only a 12-game season, it is challenging knowing what's going to come. I think that we've earned the right to have a little bit of a tougher fixture, and we've enjoyed that, and we enjoy the challenge.”
Scholz on Janelle Cuthbertson’s season-ending knee injury
“It's heartbreaking. Just to see how hard she's worked for a long time and now for it to happen to her again, everyone's heartbroken for her. We know she's a strong girl; she can push through and rehab it again, but we’re heartbroken.”
Scholz on sister Poppy’s Rising Star nomination
“I'm so excited for Poppy. She's having a great time over there, I’m just so happy, and for her to be nominated for a Rising Star… it's awesome, I'm so stoked for her.”
Scholz on the controversial umpiring decision
“It's a little frustrating. But I think frustrating calls happen all the time for players and fans. I don't think it was just that one call that we can really focus on, there was a lot going on in the game. There were seven minutes left in the game still, so anything could have happened. I think for our game, we didn't start as well as we would like to, and our consistency wasn't there across all four quarters. So, while it was disappointing that it had to come down to that one call, we would have liked to have started quicker and be stronger earlier. Ultimately, there was still seven minutes left to play, so anything could have happened, and who knows how the rest of the game could have played out.”
“I think that the AFL handle the umpiring well, and I think that it's good that we can have a junior umpire who was doing well enough to come and umpire us (at AFLW level). And for the most part, I think she’s a good umpire. I’ll leave those sorts of decisions to the AFL, but I think it's cool that we can have a young person who is good enough to umpire our games.”
