A dominant final term has seen Melbourne Uni continue its unbeaten start to season 2016, defeating the Eastern Devils in Round 4 of VFL Women’s.
Faced with a 10-point three quarter time deficit, the MUGARS kicked 4.4 to nil in the final term to cement their pace atop the VFL Women’s ladder, winning 8.9.57 to the Devils 6.3.39, as Callum O’Connor reports.
In blustery conditions at Melbourne University, the Devils put a lock on University’s best playmakers to make it difficult for the home side early.
Thanks to the courageous efforts of rover Jaimee Lambert and the defensive composure of Jess Sibley, Meg Hutchins and Elisha Murrowood, the Devils went into the first break with a six-point lead.
Jess Foster goaled in the opening minutes of the second term, and the Devils’ camp held the advantage on a day when scoring chances would be hard to come by. The MUGARS were looking unsteady in their attempts to move the ball forward, with Eastern’s Sophie Casey restricting the influence of the normally dynamic Ellie Blackburn. The spark they needed came from their talls, as Catherine O’Bryan slammed through a goal on the run and a fantastic sustained effort by Alicia Janz gifted Kaitlyn Ashmore a major as the home side led by eight points at half time.
If that late burst had rattled the Devils, they didn’t show it. They locked the ball in their half in the third term and broke the stoppages without allowing Melbourne Uni rebounding run in what was arguably the most efficient play of the day. Sarah Perkins (two) and Lauren Tesoriero nailed goals to push the margin out to 10 as the Devils’ pressure and patient ball movement took a heavy toll on the MUGARS’ control. The Devils were showing the superiority of a cohesive team unit that had adjusted better to the conditions.
In the final term Melbourne Uni moved Ashmore, their most reliable on-baller, to the half-forward line and gave Emma Kearney licence to follow the ball. Both moves paid off handsomely, but not easily. Sibley and Hutchins just got better for the Devils as the match went on, refusing to allow marks near goal and soaking up some of Melbourne Uni’s best efforts. However sheer weight of entries from Ashmore, Kearney and running defender Nicole Hildebrand meant the MUGARS were always going to find a way to kick goals. O’Bryan, who dominated in the ruck all day but was arguably more impressive on the ground, bridged the gap to three points and Chelsea Moscript threaded a brilliant goal from the forward pocket to put her side in front for the first time all match. After three quarters of ugly toil, Melbourne Uni was suddenly running all over the Devils. Kearney had stepped up when her side needed her most and forward Jess Anderson’s last quarter saw her take as many marks inside 50 as the rest of her team combined.
Veteran Cecilia McIntosh kicked the sealer with four minutes to play and Louise Stephenson tapped through another from the goal square to ice the match. The Devils had just three forward entries for the final quarter, which told the tale on the term.
Melbourne Uni coach Andrew Jago paid credit to one group in particular after the final term comeback.
“Obviously our fitness staff are doing their job,” Jago quipped.
“We didn’t handle the wind well at all, but it was good to see our lesser lights stand out, as well as Catherine O’Bryan.
“(She was) best on for mine, she’s the ultimate team player.”
For Devils’ coach Brendan Major, any idea of a ‘brave’ defeat was meagre consolation for the end of their unbeaten run.
“At three quarter time we really needed to push the advantage but we didn’t quite capitalise Inside 50, I think we had three marks there all game,” Major surmised.
Melbourne University will travel to Geelong in Round 5 while the Eastern Devils face Seaford.
In other Round 4 games:
Seaford recorded its first VFL Women’s win for the season with a 20-point victory over Geelong. In a close tussle all game, three goals to Emma Hall proved the difference.
Darebin started strongly against St Kilda, establishing a 34-point quarter time lead with a five goal to nil first term. While the Sharks kept the Falcons to just one goal after quarter time, they were unable to peg back the sizable quarter time deficit, losing by 17 points in Moana Hope’s 200th game.
Cranbourne put a scare through the Diamond Creek camp in Round 4, leading by 18 points at half time. But in captain Steph Chiocci’s 150th game, the Creekers fought back in the second half kicking nine goals to nil to run out 46-point winners.
In the final game, Kylie Nicolaci and Jess Francke led the way for VU Western Spurs with four goals apiece in their 137-point win over Knox, moving the Spurs to fifth spot.
CLICK HERE for the full Round 4 results
Round 5
VU Western Spurs v Darebin
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Diamond Creek v St Kilda
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Geelong v Melbourne Uni
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Eastern Devils v Seaford
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Cranbourne v Knox
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Photo: Arj Giese
Last Modified on 03/05/2016 21:32