VFL Women's Round 1 2016 - Melbourne Uni v Seaford

Apr 4, 2016
3 min read

Melbourne University have given State League fledglings Seaford a baptism of fire in their Round 1 clash.

The Mugars pounded out a 76-point win on their home turf on the back of a first half in which their star on-ballers and quicksilver forwards ran rings around the overawed Tigers.

Melbourne didn’t look as if they were going to blow Seaford out of the water early as they struggled to make the most of their domination. An overcrowded forward line and a resistant opposition made it difficult for the Mugars to find enough space to shoot steadily and it showed on the scoreboard: an 18-point lead was a poor return for the total control they had enjoyed through the ascendancy of Emma Kearney and Kaitlyn Ashmore. With co-captain Ellie Blackburn and ruckman Candy Adams both leaving the ground, there was the faintest concern in the Mugar camp that they had frittered away the best chances they were going to get.

Ten minutes into the second quarter, it became clear that inaccuracy was but a mere hitch for Melbourne. Once they shook off that limp, they moved through Seaford with curt efficiency. Ashmore, Hannah Ibrahim and Sian Wilson had purple patches up forward as their speed and accurate disposal overwhelmed the besieged Seaford defence. Despite the best efforts of Danielle Lawrence, Lana Bonnet and Kate Thompson down back and Kate Gillespie-Jones in the midfield, Seaford were simply under the pump too much to defend for any extended period of time. To compound their woes, Blackburn had returned and taken the match by the scruff of the neck, burning through tackles to repeatedly drive her side forward.

57 points up at half time, Melbourne relaxed in the third quarter and Seaford capitalised with their most dominant period of play all day. Through the ferocious half-back attack from Kim Ebb and Sarah and Jess Hosking, Seaford repelled many of Melbourne’s forays whilst getting on the board themselves: Lawrence snapped the Tigers’ first State League goal halfway through the term and Bonnet then followed it up with a slick finish on the run. Ebb set up a third goal to Jess Hosking with what was arguably the most commendable individual effort of the day: she sprinted nearly one hundred metres to compete for the ball twice against three Melbourne players to win a free just outside 50.

Whilst the difference between the two sides had always been Melbourne’s experience and the finesse of Blackburn and Kearney, it was the Mugars’ lesser lights who shone in the last quarter. Nimble Irish recruit Sinead Omahony was crucial up forward while the engine room grunt and rebounding thrust of Nicole Hildebrand and Marinella Salafia earned the post-match praises of Melbourne coach Andrew Jago. “They were both excellent, and that’s the way they play,” said Jago. “They may not be the best skilled players but they’re so hard working and I know what I’ll get out of them every time: they’ll get the ball out of the bottom of the pack.”

“Our run and carry was what I was really pleased with, when we were doing that in the second quarter that’s when we were best.”

Jago also commended Louise Stephenson and Alicia Janz, who rotated ruck after Adams’ first quarter injury. Not only did the pair shoulder the duties all match, but they provided Blackburn, Kearney and co with first use of the ball.

Seaford were well beaten on the day but coach Brett Alexander says his charges never allowed the Mugars the total control that they were constantly intent on.

“We talked about being caught out in the first half and cutting out the run they got out the back and to their credit they did that,” said Alexander. “They were rewarded for that in the third with our forwards getting more purpose.”

Melbourne Uni now look towards their Round 2 clash with Knox while Seaford face fellow State League debutants Cranbourne.

Melbourne University 2.6 8.9 10.10 15.13.103 Seaford 0.0 0.0 3.3 4.3.27 Best – (MU) Blackburn, Kearney, Ashmore, Stephenson, Pound, Janz. - (S) Gillespie-Jones, Lawrence, J Hosking, S Hosking, Bonnet, Webb. Goals – (MU) Blackburn 3, Stephenson 3, Pound 3, Ashmore 2, Kearney, Anderson, Wilson, Ibrahim. - (S) Lawrence 2, Bonnet, J Hosking.