VFL Women's Round 8 2016 - Knox Falcons v Seaford Tigerettes
- Jun 12, 2016
- 3 min read
Seaford are the frontrunners of their 2015 rivals after eclipsing Knox by 45 points in a scrappy affair at Trevor Barker Beach Oval.
The Tigerettes were slow to establish their tough, hard-running game early as they were rocked by injuries. Stand-out defensive midfielder Jess Hosking was carried from the field inside of three minutes with an injury to her right knee while full-forward Emma Hall was rushed to hospital with a suspected broken finger midway through the second quarter. In a sign of their development, the TIgerettes covered their losses as Katelyn Cox, Natalie Plane and Kylie Vigliarolo displayed fanatical attack on the ball, breaking packs open as they surged forward. As always, they could rely on the strength and skill of Danielle Lawrence and ruckman Kate Gillespie-Jones.
By half time, any doubt of a Seaford win had been snuffed out with the Tigerettes holding a 41-point lead that they blew out to eleven goals by the final break. The win is Seaford’s fourth of the season, leaving them just two games out of the top four.
Knox have had their backs against the wall since the beginning of the season with injuries and even player departures piling up against losses of staggering magnitude. So their effort against Seaford was unquestionably their best so far: 24 is their highest score, 45 points their closest margin and 69 their lowest score conceded. However, it was a step forward with a nagging technicality as the Falcons fielded no fewer than seven Youth Girls, six from the Gippsland and Pascoe Vale competitions allowed to play in the VFL as they all had byes.
After slowly falling behind despite hampering Seaford in the clearances in the first three quarters (Jasmin Harrison, centre half-back Jess Colletti and captain Mel Kuys were all outstanding), the Falcons made the most of Seaford’s rearranged line-up in the last quarter to fight for their pride and win their first quarter of 2016. Kuys booted two as her side won across the forward line, midfield and defence. Knox junior Sarah Farmer more than held her own in the higher level with her accurate disposal, strength in contests and willingness to back herself with a bold game style. She also kicked Knox’s first goal since Round 6 when she ran onto a long bomb in the forward line ten minutes into the last quarter.
As Seaford celebrated the 100th game of stalwart defender Kate Thompson, coach Brett Alexander pointed out the maturity his side showed in the face of early structural changes – a maturity that will be put to the litmus test in this Sunday’s clash with the VU Western Spurs.
“They know it’s a really big game but we’re really looking forward to seeing if we’re up to the contest.”
Knox coach Clint Martin lauded the persistence shown by his battle-scarred troops. “That last quarter was our best of the season, no doubt,” he declared. “Our belief in our ball movement was there… if we can string two or three quarters together like that, they’re our baby steps.”
Seaford 2.2 6.7 10.9 10.9.69
Knox 0.1 0.2 0.2 3.6.24 Best – (S) Cox, Vigliarolo, Gillespie-Jones, Plane, Lawrence, Bonnet. - (K) Kuys, Farmer, Harrison, Colletti, Jolly, Gastin. Goals – (S) Hall 3, Lawrence 2, Conway, S Hosking, Gillespie-Jones, Rolland, Cox. - (K) Kuys 2, Farmer.
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