The top four is starting to take shape in the VFL Women's competition nearing the completion of Round 7.
Four games were played on Sunday in a split Round 7, with Eastern Devils creating a two game gap between themselves in fourth and the rest of competition.
We recap the action, with a focus on the continued winning streaking of the Darebin Falcons.
Falcons continue winning run over Creekers
Darebin has continued its unbeaten run in 2016, defeating old rivals Diamond Creek at CT Barling Reserve, but had to pull out all stops to overcome the gritty Creekers by 17 points.
The Falcons were wrong-footed by Diamond Creek’s ferocious attack on the ball and bold style of play early and were slow to acclimatise to the unexpectedly tight contest. Accurate disposal however proved the key for the Falcons, enabling them to find avenues to goal and eventually outlasting their opponents, running out winners 8.10 (58) to 6.5 (41), as Callum O’Connor reports.
Darebin captain Daisy Pearce was rested for the Round 7 clash but the Falcons were still expected to comfortably. However, from the outset it was clear that the home side had come to play. It’s hard to remember a side playing against Darebin that was a favourite to win but the Creekers had a point to prove after their humbling loss to Seaford in the previous round.
However champion Falcon forward Katie Brennan stood up when her side needed her, finishing with five goals (including all four of Darebin’s second half majors) to continue her white-hot 2016 form. Brennan, well held by Kirby Hicks early, dominated the second half with her hard leading, strong hands and pinpoint goal kicking. Whenever Diamond Creek got close – pulling to within five points at three quarter time - Brennan found a way to keep them at bay, kicking her fifth goal halfway through the final quarter finally sealed the topsy-turvy contest.
Elise O’Dea was best on ground in her 50th match while the Falcons could always rely on the inside grunt of Sarah Hammond and the dynamic Lauren Arnell.
Led by a sterling ruck performance by Al Downie against her much-vaunted opponent Norieul Kinross, Diamond Creek’s midfield fought all day to win the clearance contest. The hard-nosed Shae Audley and Millie Barden were excellent extractors.
Although Darebin playing coach Jane Lange conceded her side had struggled without the on-field leadership of Daisy Pearce (who was rested), she was quick to point out that the win was the fourth time this season the Falcons have overcome challenges to steady, claiming their eleventh straight win over the out-of-form Diamond Creek.
“In that last quarter, our girls took it upon themselves to stand up,” said Lange.
“And Katie Brennan, she gets everything, defenders just batter her and she comes through. I can’t fault her.”
Although the loss is Diamond Creek’s third on the trot, coach Tanya Hetherington called the performance her side’s “best four-quarter effort” thus far.
“As far as a four-quarter effort, believing we could win, shutting them down goes,” says Hetherington.
“That’s now our barometer. I said that to the girls, we don’t fall below that standard now.”
In other results:
St Kilda’s Moana Hope closed in on 50 goals for the season (44) with her second double digit haul for the season, kicking 16 goals against Knox in a bit 176-point win.
Melbourne Uni ran away from VU Western Spurs in the second half, kicking six goals to two to record a 33-point victory. Emma Kearney and debutant Deanna Berry kicked three each, CLICK HERE for a replay of the game
An eight goal to nil first term helped set up Eastern Devils’ 138-point win over Cranbourne, with Jaimee Lambert leading the way with four goals. The win creates a two game gap between the Devils in fourth and Diamond Creek in fifth.
One game completes Round 7 with Geelong v Seaford, while over 20 VFL Women’s players will line up for Western Bulldogs against WA – both games being played on Sunday. CLICK HERE for details on the Bulldogs squad.
Round 8 will begin on Saturday June 11 with the top of the ladder clash between Darebin and Melbourne uni at Casey Fields, in a double header with the Peter Jackson VFL clash between Casey Scorpions and Collingwood.
Round 7 results
Melbourne Uni 9.12 (66) d VU Western Spurs 4.6 (30)
St Kilda 27.15 (177) d Knox 0.1 (1)
Eastern Devils 20.21 (141) d Cranbourne 0.3 (3)
Darebin 8.10 (58) d Diamond Creek 6.5 (41)
Round 7 fixture cont.
Sunday June 5:
Geelong v Seaford (Piranha Park)*
*VFL/VFL Women’s double-header
Photo: Cameron Grimes
Last Modified on 31/05/2016 18:22
