In another big weekend of games to shape the top four, Darebin continued its winning streak to see St Kilda drop a game behind second placed Melbourne Uni.
Eastern Devils are now a game clear inside the top four, while Diamond Creek did not help its final chances, dropping their match against VU Western Spurs.
We review indepth the Darebin v St Kilda clash, and Eastern Devils v Cranbourne match as part of our Swisse VFL Women's Round 14 review.
See the full Round 14 results HERE:
14 straight for Darebin
Darebin has rallied against another strong opponent to extend its unbeaten run to 14 straight games with a win over the St Kilda Sharks at AH Capp Reserve.
In a match dictated by a strong breeze, the Falcons were cleaner than the Sharks when it mattered, winning Darebin 12.4 (76) to St Kilda 6.5 (41), as Callum O’Connor reports.
Darebin won the crucial toss and kicked with the wind in the first quarter. While St Kilda conceded just five scoring shots against the top team, unfortunately for them, Darebin just couldn’t miss in front of goal. Darebin did their scoreboard damage when they found space to spread and link. Nicole Callinan, Karen Paxman and Katie Brennan all kicked long goals aided by the breeze, Brennan added a second then a last-minute soccer goal to Lauren Pearce really hurt the Sharks, who found themselves 30 points down at quarter time.
Despite the one sided scoreboard, Brianna Davey and Phoebe McWilliams started strongly for St Kilda, with Ellie George anointed the role of running with Darebin captain Daisy Pearce.
An equally engrossing match-up was fought in the ruck between Darebin’s Norieul Kinross and St Kilda’s Rachel Achampong. The hit-outs were touch and go all day as the poise of Kinross clashed with Achampong’s more physical approach.
Darebin looked to counter St Kilda full-forward Mo Hope by double-teaming her with Shevaun Hogan and the dynamic Darcy Vescio in the second term. At first, this seemed a blessing in disguise for the Sharks as it took one of the Falcons’ most dangerous players out of the play. However, despite the presence of key forwards Jasmine Garner and Jenna Bruton, St Kilda couldn’t convert from their chances with the wind. Despite having more scoring shots, the Sharks went into the main break 13 points down, kicking just two goals in the second term.
Darebin returned with a vengeance in the third. The gut-busting running of Lauren Arnell saw her kick two goals and when VFL debutant Natalie Exon slammed through her first halfway through the term, the margin was 38 points and St Kilda looked out of the contest.
The Falcons stretched their lead to 52 points early in the last quarter before taking the foot off the pedal and allowing St Kilda to bridge the final margin to a more respectable 35 points. It was a game in which Darebin mastered every challenge thrown at them, and while the final margin was six goals, inaccuracy cost St Kilda’s getting much closer.
Devils go clear in fourth spot
The Eastern Devils overcome Cranbourne in arctic playing conditions to claim a 76-point win and shore up their spot in the top four for at least another week.
The Devils’ ferocity at stoppages and run and carry into the forward line was the difference that defined the first half and set up a hard-fought win, 14.7 (91) to 2.3 (15), as Callum O’Connor reports.
Cranbourne were desperate to return to producing their best football after their shock Round 13 loss to Geelong. They were encouraged by the absence of key Devil playmakers Lauren Tesoriero and Sophie Casey but it quickly became apparent that the battle-hardened Devils had the depth to cover both.
The match was evenly balanced early as a neutral wind howled straight across the ground. Although the Devils were winning plenty of the ball, the Eagles pressure helped turn over the football.
The Devils got a crucial break when full-forward Sarah Perkins converted from a strong mark. They received an unexpected bonus when Perkins roosted a long goal in the final minute to push their quarter time buffer to 25 points.
The Eagles needed to strike first but they were overwhelmed in the second quarter. The Devils’ disposal improved but more pivotal was their contested ball domination: Jaimee Lambert, Hannah Scott and Alice Ryan were relentless in the clinches as the sheer weight of possession sent the Devils flying forward. However, their real wild card was forward Sarah D’Arcy, whose willingness to take the Eagles on with the ball saw her kick two goals and set up two more.
During the second quarter, Cranbourne seemed to have no answer to the bullocking Devils. Kirsten McLeod, Hayley Wildes and Bianca Jakobsson were stretched thin filling the holes but the Eagles defence were under constant pressure. In conditions that made ball movement a real slog, the Devils had far too many uncontested possessions in their forward half.
Fifty-seven points down at halftime, Cranbourne hit the Devils with renewed vigour in the second half. A series of Devils’ errors opened the door for talented youngster Jas Grierson to kick her side’s first from a superb snap. In defence they showed more composure as Shannon Barnes, Stephanie Binder and Jess Olschyna turned away the Devils’ forays.
Although they couldn’t extend their half time lead until late in the fourth quarter, the Devils never really lost control of the match. Jess Foster continued a sterling display across the middle while Bec Privitelli showed poise in the air and by foot. The electric D’Arcy finished with three goals and had a hand in many others while Stephanie Carroll’s engrossing one-on-one battles with the dynamic Jakobsson denied the Cranbourne captain the freedom to dominate play as she did against Geelong.
The wind and freezing cold kept the players on their toes right up until the final siren but ultimately, the Devils had too many players who relished the hard scrap that such weather required. They also seem to have unearthed yet another key forward, as Tenaya Phillips slotted two goals in her SwisseVFL Women’s debut.
Devils’ coach Brendan Major said his side’s first half display had been a non-negotiable if they were to win.
“For a team like Cranbourne, who have serious talent, you have to put pressure on them right away, right from the first quarter.”
The Eastern Devils face the VU Western Spurs in Round 15 while Cranbourne will take on Knox.
In other games:
- Melbourne Uni produced its 11th win for the season with a 67-point win over Geelong, Kaitlyn Ashmore (3), Deanna Berry (3) and Ellie Blackburn (2) the multiple goalkickers.
- VU Western Spurs dented the finals hopes of Diamond Creek with a 34-point win. A four-goal opening term and five-goal third quarter helped set up the win, with Alexandra Quigley kicking five goals for the Spurs
- Seaford was relentless against Knox, keeping the Falcons scoreless to record a 77-point win. Emma Hall kicked three goals for the Tigerettes while Plane, Ebb and Hosking were among the best players
Photo: Cameron Grimes
Last Modified on 26/07/2016 21:05
