Crucial win gives Dragons breathing space

EAST Point has enhanced its BFLW senior women’s finals chances, winning a key clash against Carisbrook.

The Dragons (4-4) moved three wins ahead of the Redbacks (1-6) with a 7.10 (52) to 6.0 (36) victory at Carisbrook Recreation Reserve last Sunday.

A gutsy win was achieved with the Dragons again missing key personnel, as has been the case throughout an injury-riddled season.

Coach Jeromy Jones said it was hoped the return of assistant coach Katie McAloon, Abbey Bertram, and hopefully a few more players in the weeks ahead would both stabilise and strengthen the team in time for finals.

The Dragons were pushed all the way by an accurate Redbacks, hoping to keep their own finals hopes flickering, particularly early.

Carisbrook led by 16 points at quarter time and 11 at half-time in what Jones always viewed as a danger game.

“Carisbrook has delivered some really good football against other opponents this year and really brought the heat to us,” he said.

“We knew we had to be in from the start, but we kicked nothing but behinds for the first half of the game.

“We were 1.9 at one stage and they were three or four goals straight.

“We nearly kicked ourselves out of the game early on. It took us time, but we got there.

“The key was slowing them down in the second quarter, which was our best quarter, even though the scoreboard doesn’t reflect that.

“We got on top in the third, but it’s amazing what can happen when you kick straight.

“Needless to say, we’ll be practicing our goal kicking next week.”

Trading her usual midfield role for the half back flank, captain Rebecca Piper led from the front to be the Dragons’ best, adding a new dimension to her game.

On-baller Larissa Muphy excelled as the Dragons link-up player, while Millie Stewart relished her new role in the midfield.

Lead-up forward Jessica Robertson booted three goals, while ruck Vanessa Jones worked tirelessly around the ground.

The Dragons will next play Bacchus Marsh on 14 June, with the teams having only met a fortnight ago for an 82-point Cobras victory.

It was revenge for a nine-point win by the Dragons in their season-opener.

Underlining the enormity of the challenge ahead, Jones said Bacchus Marsh was playing as well as any team in the competition at present.

“They are playing seriously good football, Bacchus Marsh,” he said.

“We played some good football against them (in round 8), but we weren’t in the ballpark unfortunately.

“We know our standards have to lift and we’ll give it a crack, but it will be tough.”

The Cobras clash the start of a tough three weeks for the Dragons, with Darley and Redan to follow.

Jones was hopeful of having Bertram (foot injury) back in some capacity for the Cobras game, with McAloon’s return about two weeks off.

Sadly, midfielder Gemma Ford’s season is over with a broken collarbone sustained in the last clash against Bacchus Marsh.

Quetta Holloway-Jinks, Charlotte Cain, Charlotte Metters, Olivia Butler, Emme Johnson and Danae Every were the official best players for the Redbacks.

Abbey Klemm did the most damage on the scoreboard with three goals.

 

Elsewhere, Redan rebounded from a loss to Darley to defeat Ballarat by 45 points at Alfredton Recreation Reserve.

Holding a narrow five-point lead at quarter time, Redan blew the contest open with three unanswered goals in the second term to lead by 27 points at half-time.

The Swans were unable to kick a goal after quarter time as the Lions, who were without key forward Jess Bokma, ran out winners 8.9 (57) to 1,6 (12).

Ever-reliable Rose Russell, Sally Riley, Ingrid Duffy, Lauren Drabsch (two goals), Willow Manford and Kristen Prebble led the charge for the Lions.

For the Swans, who will head to the King’s Birthday weekend break at 4-4 in their first season in the competition, lone goal scorer Macy Irvin Macy, Pearl Perkins, Alexandria Gladman, Felicity Potter, captain Shellby Lonie and Matilda Ferguson were all prominent.

At Mars Stadium, Bacchus Marsh jumped to the top of the ladder with a shut-out win over Lake Wendouree.

Jamie-Lee Speakman and Isabella Faralla kicked six goals apiece and Amy Garofalo five in a 32.19 (211) to 0.0 (0) victory.

That trio, along with Indi Stanley (two goals), Ella Bradbury (three) and Charli O’Connor were the stars of the win, while Matilda Rawlings also finished with three goals.

Jordan Chettleburgh, Shannon Hearn, Hannah Pearce, Alaya Humber toiled hard for the Lakers.

The Cobras head the ladder at 6-2 with a massive percentage of 507.74, with Darley (6-1) and Redan (6-2) poised to pounce in second and third respectively.