The drought is finally over for Knox after claiming their first ever victory in Swisse VFL Women’s.
It has taken 12 rounds, but the Falcons finally claimed their first scalp against Geelong with a four-point win – 7.9 (51) to 7.5 (47), as Callum O’Connor reports.
Knox booted the first four goals of the game to set up the biggest lead of the afternoon of 24 points, but Geelong fought back to create an even contest for the remaining three quarters.
Captain Mel Kuys was the star for the Falcons in the first term, kicking three goals in the opening term – as her side enjoyed its biggest scoring quarter for the season.
The Magpies awoke in the second quarter and erased Knox’s lead in a burst of champagne football. Youngster Lily Mithen and the formidable Richelle Cranston combined to dominate the clearances as the Magpies played hard-running, linking football. Although the ruck contest between Geelong star Maddie Boyd and Falcon pair Jamie Head and Brielle Koludrovic was evenly fought, Boyd’s speed and strong marking were turning the contest.
When Cheryl de Groot kicked a superb goal from the boundary, Geelong had narrowed the half time margin to one point against a side well out of practice when it comes to defending leads.
Knox dug deep to reverse the trend of the match, steadily regaining control of play but receiving no favours from the Geelong defence. Laura Williams, Melanie McNamara and Madisen Maguire were cool and effective while Riley Shapter, Madison Janssen and Cranston’s attack on the ball continued unabated in the second half.
Kuys was pushed into the midfield and began to dictate terms in the clearances before reclaiming her side’s lost lead with a long goal. Gradually the Falcons were able to shut out Geelong’s playmakers. Siobhan Mooren converted an equally impressive major to push the margin out to 11 at three quarter time.
Knox’s biggest challenge in the final quarter was not Geelong but their own nerve: a side accustomed to heavy defeats suddenly had to hold a lead. Forward Cassandra Papadopoulos kicked the all-important first to extend their break to 18 - this fired the Magpies into action. Mithen and Boyd were frenetic as Geelong seized the run of play and began to pepper the goals, with de Groot snapping her second to cut the lead back to 12. The Falcons once again held off their more experienced opponents: Jasmin Harrison, Dana de Bondt and Emily McIlvena saved their best performances for the last quarter as the clock ticked past twenty-four minutes with that two goal margin still intact.
But this match had one last twist in its tail: an errant Knox kick-in went straight to Fedele, who calmly marked, played on and converted to put Geelong within a goal. Knox made one last sustained effort and the siren went with the ball pinned to Kuys, completing a breakthrough win for Knox.
“(We) couldn’t have done it any better,” declared Knox coach Clint Martin. “At three-quarter time I wanted them to keep attacking and keep that composure.”
Knox will be full of confidence when it hosts Diamond Creek in Round 13.
In other games last round:
- It took St Kilda until the 19-minute mark of the last quarter to hit the front against Eastern Devils, kicking three final-term goals for a two-point win. Phoebe McWilliams gave the Sharks the lead, enabling the home side to go a game and a half clear of the Devils on the ladder. Mo Hope kicked four goals and Bri Davey was unstoppable as the club raised money for R U OK Day.
- Cranbourne claimed its first win against a former Premier Division opponent, with a 22-point victory over VU Western Spurs. The Eagles kept the Spurs scoreless in the final term and kicked four of their own to run away with the win.
- Darebin was challenged early against Seaford, leading by just eight points at quarter time, but a nine-goal second term proved the difference, eventually helping the Falcons to a 104-point win. Katie Brennan kicked six and Lauren Arnell four as the ladder leaders remain undefeated.
- Melbourne Uni bounced back from a draw the previous round with a convincing 94-point win over Diamond Creek. Jess Anderson kicked five goals as Uni dented the Creekers’ finals hopes, as they sit a game and 100 percentage points behind the fourth-placed Eastern Devils.
Photo: Adrianna Bof
Last Modified on 14/07/2016 00:09
