VFL Women's Round 13 2016 - Cranbourne Eagles v Eastern Devils
- Jul 24, 2016
- 3 min read
The Eastern Devils have overcome Cranbourne and Arctic playing conditions to claim a 76-point win and shore up their spot in the top four for at least another week.
For four quarters, the Devils showed the mettle required for victory in steely winds and intermittent rain and hail at Frenken Homes Oval. Their 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 to 2.3.
Cranbourne were desperate to regain 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 were applying so much pressure that hardly a hurried snap forward found its target.
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 and repeatedly to make up that margin but they were overwhelmed in the second quarter. The Devils’ disposal marginally 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 let themselves down with sloppy marking in defence. In conditions that made ball movement a real slog, the Devils had far too many uncontested possessions in their forward half.
57 points down and with only pride to play for, Cranbourne hit the Devils with renewed vigour in the second half. A series of panicked 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. Jodie Foster continued a sterling display across the middle while Bec Privitelli showed such poise in the air and by foot that she seemed to be playing in different conditions to everyone else. 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 she showed 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 VFL 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 from right away, right from the first quarter.”
The Eastern Devils face the VU Western Spurs in Round 15 while Cranbourne will take on Knox.
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