Diamond Creek snapped a three-game losing streak with a 54-point win over VU Western Spurs at Henry Turner Memorial Reserve.
The Creekers were slight favourites going into the match after a renewed performance against Darebin in Round 7 but the vast improvement of the Spurs this season made the clash an eagerly anticipated one, with both teams trying to keep in contact with the top four.
After the first 10 minutes, Diamond Creek had control of the contest, leading at every change for a 12.12 (84) to 4.6 (30) victory, as Callum O’Connor reports.
Last season’s Premier Division runners-up have had a slow start to the season, frustrated by a lengthy list of injuries. But Diamond Creek produced a strong first half in Round 8, their run and carry, intensity and disposal all gelling as they dominated the Spurs with a six-goal-to-nil run to cruise to a 38-point halftime lead.
Their dominance started out of the centre with another powerhouse performance from Al Downie, now stamping a name for herself as one of the best tap rucks in Swissse VFL Women’s. The Spurs were unable to answer the ferocious attack on the ball of Creekers’ midfielders Millie Barden and Shae Audley and the switching play of wings Lisa Williams and Lauren Brazzale, but their biggest headaches were in defence.
After quarter time, it seemed the Creekers had a forward for any situation: a lead-up tall in Christina Bernardi, small forwards in Jess Cameron, Karly Cobern and debutant Kaitlyn Carlton and a one-on-one options deeper in Brittany Grech. This depth had the knock-on effect of upsetting their opponent’s structure as the Spurs rotated defenders with such regularity that they could never settle down to counter-attack.
Key players Amy Harrison, Ash Guest and Bree White were repeatedly shuffled as Spurs’ coach Debbie Lee attempted to come up with a structure to stop their opponents. Key defenders Danni Teasdale and Lauren Senserrick fought valiantly all day but their rebound was repeatedly outmanoeuvred: Lauren Morecroft and Laura Corrigan acted as watchmen across the wing to repel the opposition.
Diamond Creek were in no mood to take the foot off the pedal when the Spurs tired in the last quarter. Just days after signing a contract with the Big Bash League side Melbourne Stars, Cameron finished with seven goals, kicked from all angles.
Diamond Creek coach Tanya Hetherington lauded the cohesion of her forward line after the match.
“To have all the forwards playing so well and everyone playing a role, that was great,” Hetherington said.
“The forward pressure was something we really talked about afterwards.”
Diamond Creek’s big test comes this Sunday as they face the fourth placed Eastern Devils at CT Barling Reserve from 2pm. The fifth placed Creekers are currently eight-points behind the Devils, so it is a must win game as they reach the half-way mark of the season.
The Spurs face fellow up and comers Seaford at Frankston Oval.
CLICK HERE for the full Round 8 Swisse VFL Women's results
Last Modified on 13/06/2016 00:26
