ASHLEIGH O'Leary's coaching tenure at Barellan got off to a good start with a come-from-behind 36-32 win over Northern Jets clearing the way for a clash against former side Charles Sturt University this weekend.
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Defender O'Leary made the switch to the Two Blues after winning the Marilyn Brooks Medal as the Farrer League player of the year with the Bushpigs in 2019.
She said it was comforting to win the first game with Barellan after they had the bye in the first round, with the team unsure where they stood with a vastly different team and taking last year off.
"I think in the last quarter it was a nine-goal turnaround. We really had to dig deep and keep our heads, and not let the scoreboard do the talking," she said.
"I'm really proud of the girls for being able to persist, and keep pushing hard. It was really encouraging to come away with a win.
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"It's basically a completely new Barellan side, apart from Paige Kenny. We've got lots of fresh faces, we've had a good recruitment drive and the girls are attracted by the community and social side of things.
The versatile Louise Robertson and defender Steph Reynoldson have added some experience to the group, and O'Leary is looking forward to the challenge against the Bushsows, who are looking to break through for a flag after a string of grand final losses.
"CSU will no doubt be challenging, but we're all excited," he said.
"I'm excited to see everyone again. I know CSU basically still has half their first grade side from 2019, there's a fair bit of familiarity in that team and they know how to play with each other.
"They do have a different defensive end but it's not a completely different side like us, so we'll get better each game."
O'Leary said playing and coaching at the same time is a "big learning curve".
"It was difficult. By the fourth quarter I started playing my own game," she said.
"The first three quarters I was preoccupied with coaching, so that's something I need to be mindful of coming into the next few games.
"I need to focus on playing my own game and come to the girls after quarters and after the game to collect my thoughts."
Meanwhile Coleambally and North Wagga registered their first wins of the year against The Rock-Yerong Creek and East Wagga-Kooringal respectively, while CSU accounted for Marrar.
ROUND TWO RESULTS: CSU 69 def Marrar 40, Barellan 36 def Northern Jets 32, North Wagga 47 def East Wagga Kooringal 25, Coleambally 58 def The Rock-Yerong Creek 21.
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