VFL Women's Round 13 2016 - VU Western Spurs v Melbourne Uni
- Jul 24, 2016
- 3 min read
Melbourne Uni claimed their tenth win of the season against the VU Western Spurs on the back of a dynamite opening quarter surge.
The Mugars blew the Spurs out of the water with a seven-goal first quarter and were able to ride out a relatively even second half to win star winger Kaitlyn Ashmore’s 100th game 15.12.102 to 4.4.28.
Following their disappointing defeat against Cranbourne and Melbourne Uni’s emphatic win over Diamond Creek, the Spurs needed a massive turnaround in form for both sides if they were to stand a chance of victory.
However, from the first bounce it was clear that Melbourne Uni had full intention of carrying their world-beating form to Henry Turner Memorial Reserve. Mugar captain Emma Kearney won the first clearance and a clever switch from half-forward Deanna Berry wrong-footed the Spurs’ defence to gift Ashmore the first goal of her milestone match. It proved a foreboding beginning as far as the Spurs were concerned: nearly every Melbourne Uni player played a role in twenty-five dominant minutes as they showcased the fluidity of their ball movement and the strength of their structuring.
As is now becoming a weekly occurrence, the bullocking strength of the Melbourne Uni engine room was where the dominance began. Melbourne Uni’s accuracy by foot and their switching play into space cut through the Spurs’ defence; small forward Sian Wilson enjoyed a purple patch in the opening quarter with four marks and two goals. Nicola Stevens and Elise Hay racked up Inside 50s as the harried Spurs blindly bombed the ball out of defence to the waiting Jess Anderson, whose pace and aerial strength is making her a real weapon out of the goal square.
The Spurs needed a total Melbourne Uni collapse but veteran Mugar defender Cecilia McIntosh set the example two minutes into the second quarter when she touched a flying shot from Naomi Ferres on the line at horizontal extension. Ellie Blackburn capitalised from a fantastic second effort from Sinead Omahony to extend the margin to 55 points.
A triple-figure result seemed a formality but the Spurs gritted their teeth and slowed the Mugars down for the remainder of the match. Ash Guest and ruckman Caroline Hardeman took the fight to the Melbourne Uni midfield, limiting the main source of the Mugars’ dominance. Anderson and returned half-forward Hannah Ibrahim snuck through goals in the last four minutes of the half to push Melbourne Uni to a 68-point half time lead.
The Spurs’ renewed energy in the second half frayed the Mugars’ ball movement, as experienced defenders Danni Teasdale and Ricki-Lee Martinuzzo stopped Melbourne Uni’s forward line and repelled attacks. Alyssa Mifsud slotted the Spurs’ first of the second half to cap off a quarter in which she used her physical presence to become the most influential midfielder.
The Spurs finished the match holding their heads high after their efforts in the final two quarters against a team renowned for mercilessly and mechanically pushing advantages. Melbourne Uni did not kick a goal from the twelve-minute mark of the third quarter to the final minute of the match. The Spurs’ defence showed pride and maturity in their second half efforts while Guest’s bold run and carry was rewarded with a goal in the last.
A final minute goal to Brooke Lochland was the final touch on Melbourne Uni’s tenth 2016 victory but coach Andrew Jago was cautious about overly praising his side after their “unclean” second half.
“We didn’t take the foot off the pedal, full credit to the Spurs’ pressure,” said Jago. “Our structure was really working in the first quarter but that clean chain wasn’t working in the second half.”
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