Cobras and Devils to challenge Swans

BALLARAT senior women’s coach Dean Pidgeon can think of no better preparation for finals than a trio of games against the BFLW competition’s best.

Guaranteed to play finals in their first season in the senior women’s ranks, the Swans will play second-placed Bacchus Marsh twice and reigning premier Darley in the run home in a perfect gauge of what will be required on the big stage.

The Swans completed a clean sweep of the Dragons in their home and away matches with a 6.6 (36) to 0.0 (0) victory under lights at Alfredton Recreation Reserve last Friday night.

Ballarat, which temporarily moved to third spot on the ladder before Redan’s big win over Carisbrook on Sunday, finds itself on an impressive three-game winning streak ahead of this weekend’s interleague break.

The Swans have conceded just seven points in those three games, while scoring 330 points of their own.

Pidgeon declared the wins as one of his side’s best-executed performances so far this season.

“They threw a bit at us. They are big and strong and physical and our girls stood up,” he said.

“It was probably the best footy execution we’ve had all year. A lot of stuff we’ve worked on came together.

“The girls were very happy.

“We were a bit wary going in coming off some big wins. We needed to make sure we turned up to play and to their credit the girls certainly did.”

While East Point was missing upwards of five key players due to injury and unavailability, the win may have proved vital in helping the Swans establish a bit of a mental edge over the Dragons, with the two teams on track to clash in this year’s elimination final.

The Swans, who moved three wins ahead of the Dragons, could theoretically make the jump into the top three ahead of finals, if they can get past the Devils and Cobras in the coming weeks.

The Swans are under no illusions how tough that will be.

“There’s probably a gap between us and the top three; we are aware of that,” Pidgeon said.

“We’ll soon find out with Bacchus twice and Darley in our last three games.

“That will tell us where we are in no uncertain terms.

“We don’t mind that; we’d love to test ourselves against the best before finals.

 

“Bacchus Marsh have clearly improved since the last time we played – hopefully we have.

“I saw what Darley did to East Point (two weeks ago) – the bar is pretty high at the moment.”

The Swans have not had a glimpse of Bacchus Marsh since round 2 when the margin was 18 points the Cobras’ way.

Ballarat ended the first half with just one goal, but added three after the main break to reduce the margin from 25 points.

As a shut-out win would suggest, Pidgeon said his backline, led by the strong rebounding duo of Chloe Everett and Ally Gladman, was superb and at times impassable.

Midfielder Shellby Lonie led from the front, doing plenty of the heavy lifting, while Sunday Doddrell again showed why she is in contention for a place in the BFLW interleague team against Central Victoria this weekend with another classy performance.

Doddrell is among five players in the BFLW squad, alongside Everett, Tilly Ferguson and two of this year’s newcomers Yasmin O’Keefe and Molly Daly.

Other standouts against the Dragons included tough winger Penny Lightfoot and Crystal Thomas up from the under-19s.

The Swans had six single individual goal kickers.

Their win was achieved without quality ruck Charley Gartlan, who is currently overseas, but expected back in time for finals.

The Swans are also expecting speedy midfielder Zoe Burke (also overseas) to be back for finals.

Burke has played only one game, the Swans’ season opener against Darley.

Elsewhere on the weekend, Darley put its foot down in a 240-point win over Lake Wendouree at C.E. Brown Reserve on Saturday night.

Goal kicking machine Kim Bessell booted 12 goals and Melina Ciavarella and Leivi Lane six apiece, with Taylah Brady, Tayla Debono and Trinity Skenderis also starring in the win for the Devils.

It was enough for Darley to regain top spot on the ladder with Bacchus Marsh on the bye.

At Carisbrook on Sunday, Redan defeated the Redbacks by 137 points.

Jess Bokma kicked seven goals and Ellen Werts four, while Rose Russell booted three in a best-on-ground display.

Madison Hayes, Rachel Middlin and Portia Hughes were other big contributors for Redan.

BALLARAT’S

RUN HOME

11 July: v Bacchus Marsh (at Maddingley Park)

18 July: Bye.

25 July: v Darley

(at Darley Park).