VFL Women's Round 6 2016 - Darebin v Eastern Devils

May 15, 2016
3 min read

A scintillating second-half blitz has guided Darebin to their sixth straight victory, reinforced their place atop the VFL Women’s ladder and helped them put yet another competitor in their place, this time the Eastern Devils.

In fine football conditions at Piranha Park, the smooth-running, highly-skilled and unbeaten Falcons came up against the Devils, a side who loves a scrap more than just about any other in VFL Women’s. In the first half, the Devils’ relentless pressure really flustered the Falcons and saw them take the lead seven minutes into the third quarter. What happened in the following fifteen minutes was a champion side emphatically responding to pressure as champion sides do. As Falcon mainstays Katie Brennan, Jessica Dal-Pos and Sarah Hammond took control of the midfield and forwards Meghan McDonald, Georgia Hammond and Jane Lange kept the scoreboard operator working overtime, Darebin slammed on 7.4 through superb play that killed the Devils’ renaissance. With the memory of their recent fourth term fade-outs no doubt in the back of their minds, Darebin showed no mercy in the last quarter and blew the final margin out to 64 points.

The Devils went in as the underdogs and set about making Darebin earn every kick they got in the first quarter. They broke even in the clearances as Hannah Scott and Jess Foster fought tooth-and-nail at the coalface and Sarah Perkins, Sarah D’Arcy and Pepa Randall looked lively up forward. Additionally, the tag of Jess Sibley on the dangerous Darcy Vescio had started as well as it would go all day. However, Darebin were still able to work their usual magic, kicking four straight goals through their precise ball movement. Of particular note were full forward Georgia Hammond and playing coach Jane Lange, who kicked two while martialling her forward line.

The Devils got on top in the clearances in the second and, more importantly, forced the normally unflappable Darebin defence into making uncharacteristic errors. Arguably the most encouraging sign for the Devils was the sight of key Falcon playmakers Katie Brennan and Jess Dal-Pos being pushed into the backline to stem the tide. Foster, Jess Trend and Jaimee Lambert dashed the ball inside 50, testing Darebin like they have never been tested thus far in 2016. The Falcons twice directly turned the ball over from kick-ins as the bustling Perkins kicked two and Lambert put her side in front. However two late goals from Brennan – who seemed to be wherever Darebin needed her in the first half – saw the Falcons snatch back the half-time lead.

A neat snap from Foster had the Devils back in front early in the third…. but that was where Darebin put the foot down and showcased their best play. Brennan and Dal-Pos were electric but hardly going it alone: Nicole Callinan, Claire Heffernan and Sarah Hammond shone for the Falcons and forwards Lange, Georgia Hammond, Stephanie Simpson and Meghan McDonald worked hard to find space and get on the end during fifteen extraordinary minutes. The shell-shocked Devils, having seen their best efforts obliterated, went into the final break 38 points adrift.

Having worked themselves into an irresistible mood, Darebin showboated in the last quarter to pile on a further five goals against their ragged opponents; Dal-Pos volleying through a goal was one for the highlight reel.

Lange, who made a successful return from an ankle injury to finish with three goals, was delighted that her players could stand up so impressively when confronted.

“Our play in the third quarter was just incredible,” said Lange after the match.

“The key is the depth of players who can change in and out of different roles – it’s the best headache I can have.”

The Devils walked off Piranha Park both licking their wounds and with their heads held high: their game style had seriously challenged Darebin and, according to coach Brendan Major, all they need to develop is the belief that they can go on to beat the ladder leaders.

“We had that edge, but I think we started to wait for them to make mistakes,” said Major. “You can’t do that against Darebin.”

Darebin will play Diamond Creek next week while the Eastern Devils face Geelong.

Darebin Falcons 4.0 6.2 13.7 18.9.117 Eastern Devils 2.2 5.5 7.5 8.5.53 Best – (D) Brennan, Dal-Pos, S Hammond, Lange, L Pearce, McDonald. - (E) Lambert, Sibley, Scott, Foster, D’Arcy, Perkins. Goals – (D) Brennan 3, Lange 3, Vescio 2, Dal-Pos 2, McDonald 2, G Hammond 2, Paxman, G Holden, Arnell, Hickey. - (E) Perkins 3, Lambert, Tesoriero, Randall, D’Arcy, Foster.