Darebin ran away with a 63-point win over Diamond Creek in a match that, for all the hype surrounding it, was decided in the first quarter.
In the Grand Final rematch (VWFL Premier Division), Darebin provided a highly polished display that reminded their competitors in the new VFL Women’s competition that they are the team to beat, winning 17.7 109 to 7.4 46, as Callum O’Connor reports.
Diamond Creek went into the match missing captain Stephanie Chiocci and a number of injured stars including Katie Loynes, Lauren Morecroft and coach Tanya Hetherington, but the first quarter avalanche would have been hard to stop no matter the talent missing. The Falcons slammed home the first six goals of the game, to lead by 38 points at quarter time.
Daisy Pearce was allowed too much space to drift forward for two majors, while Lauren Arnell, Elise O’Dea and Darcy Vescio were all dangerous around goal.
- CLICK HERE to watch a replay of Darebin v Diamond Creek
Diamond Creek mounted a comeback in the second quarter, with the frenetic attack of Millie Barden and Kirsty Lamb netting them three goals to bridge the gap to 27 points. However, that was as close as they got - the Falcons ruthlessly making their opponents pay for their mistakes. Lauren Pearce netted a pair in the final minutes of the half to blow the margin back out to 39 points in favour of the Falcons at half time.
The contest fizzled out in the second half, but Darebin’s Katie Brennan proved the highlight of the final term as she kicked four goals in ten minutes to provide a 10-goal win for her side.
Darebin had a host individual match-winners but it was their cohesive linking that kept the Creekers at bay all day. Time and time again, the Falcons broke stoppages with quick, accurate handballs and then drove to their forwards with strong passes. Their dominance out of the centre clearances, engineered by an outstanding rucking performance from Norieul Kinross, was unabated except for Creeker bursts in the second and fourth quarters. Elise O’Dea was relentless in winning the contested ball all day to be among the best for Darebin, along with Sarah Hammond in defence, Kinross in the ruck and Pearce through the middle.
Falcons coach Jane Lange was impressed with the teams’ freewheeling display.
“We’ve been working on consecutive disposals,” playing coach Lange said. “It’s great when different players can step in and take the roles of that style.”
Diamond Creek coach Tanya Hetherington said her charges had maintained their structures and stuck to their game plan.
“Pressure was the theme of the day, and we did that,” said Hetherington after the match. “Our run and carry when we won the ball back was something I was happy with as well.”
Good performances from recruits Stephanie De Bortoli and Jess Cameron as well as the evergreen Shae Audley, Dianna Haines and Lauren Brazzale provided some highlights for the Creekers, who have now lost the last 10 encounters against their fiercest rivals.
In other games:
- Mo Hope kicked 10 goals to help St Kilda to an 86-point win against Geelong.
- Eastern Devils continued its undefeated start to the season, defeating VU Western Spurs by 24 points, with Sarah D’Arcy best on ground up forward
- Cranbourne won its first game of the season with a tight 3-point win over Seaford.
- Melbourne Uni recorded seven multiple goalkickers – highlighted by four to Louise Stephenson – on its way to a 164-point win over Knox
Round 2 results
Darebin 17.7 (109) d Diamond Creek 6.4 (40)
Melbourne Uni 24.22 (166) d Knox 0.2 (2)
Eastern Devils 9.9 (63) d VU Western Spurs 6.3 (39)
Cranbourne 8.8 (56) d Seaford 6.17 (53)
St Kilda 16.10 (106) d Geelong 3.2 (20)
CLICK HERE to see full results
Round 3 fixture
Cranbourne v Melbourne Uni
Darebin v Seaford
Geelong v Diamond Creek
VU Western Spurs v St Kilda
Knox v Eastern Devils
CLICK HERE for full fixture details
Last Modified on 12/04/2016 14:49
