Lions coach lauds ‘spirit and heart’ in gutsy win

REDAN coach Tim Meaney says he is encouraged by his side’s response to its first loss of the BFLW senior women’s season in a win over a dangerous Bacchus Marsh.

Lions, led by a stellar performance from Laura Fitzgibbon, held off the plucky Cobras to prevail by 7 points under lights at Maddingley Oval on Saturday night.

Coming off a bye, which followed a 22-point loss to Darley, they were forced to come from 17 points down at half-time, after a 4-goal to 1 second term from the Cobras put the Lions under threat of a second straight loss.

Meaney could not have been prouder of the fightback, with the win ensuring the Lions will head into a Friday night clash against East Point as one of two 4-1 teams, along with top-of-the-ladder Darley.

“The girls showed a lot of spirit and a lot of heart to come from behind. It was fantastic,” he said.

“Credit to Bacchus Marsh, they are a really good side. It’s good to see we have a really healthy competition at the moment.

“They are a young side and move the ball really quickly and are certainly up and about.

“Bacchus Marsh will definitely be one of the teams to beat.

“I was really proud with how our goals fought back.”

A much-improved second half in which the Lions outscored the Cobras 30-6 came with a big and sustained lift in pressure.

Meaney praised his players’ for taking ownership of a poor first half

“The girls really took the pressure acts to another level,” he said.

“There were a few things the girls weren’t happy with in the first half and to their credit they wanted to change that.

“It was head down, get the footy and work hard.

“When the pressure needed to lift, the girls had the belief in one another and it ended up changing the momentum of the game.

“As the momentum changed, everything else shifted. The girls started playing their natural game.”

Meaney described Fitzgibbon, who alternated between wing and forward, as ‘sensational’, while Georgie Hassell with two goals, Madison Hayes and Rose Russell were pillars of strength.

Up from the under 19s, Laura George and Dneeka Rowe both caught the eye.

Official best for Bacchus Marsh, which slipped to 3-2 and fourth position, were Indi Stanley in her return from injury, Ella Bradbury, Amy Garofalo, Jazmine Dalli, Caitlin Mai and Matilda Rawlings.

Satisfied with where the Lions’ season is headed, Meaney was equally pleased with how the senior women’s competition was developing, with a new threat in Ballarat quickly enhancing its reputation and Bacchus Marsh and East Point still nipping at the heels of the competition’s two recent benchmarks, including Darley.

“The competition is in a good position; the back end of the season is going to be really interesting,” said Meaney, who was an interested on-looker at last Sunday’s Dragons-Swans clash.

“I know our girls are keen for it, as every other team will be.

“(Playing) East Point this Friday night gives us a look at every team.

“From there will look to make a few adjustments; we still have a few players to come back in between those who are injured or away at the moment.

“It will be nice to get everyone out on the track at the one time and see what we’re capable of doing.”

Elsewhere, Darley claimed to top spot with a 243-point win over Lake Wendouree.

Thirteen of 16 players contributed goals for the Devils, led by sharpshooter Kim Bessell with seven.

Vying for best ground honours, Sharni Battye and Ruby Thomas both kicked five, while Leivi Lane and captain Trinity Skenderis booted four each.

Emmerson Hitch and Diamond Stephenson were also among the Devils’ best.

Official best for the Lakers were Mackenzie Ansell, Hannah Pearce, Shannon Hearn, Steph Wilson, Maeve Mensch and Genevieve Blake.

At White Flat Oval, Ballarat turned a 19-point quarter-time deficit into a 19-point win, with Charley Gartlan and Shellby Lonie in great touch for the Swans.