Lions mark Hassell milestone with a win; BFLW newcomers push powerhouse to the brink

BFLW powerhouse Redan has survived a major scare from competition newcomers Ballarat, escaping last Sunday’s round 3 clash at Alfredton Recreation Reserve with a nail-biting one-point win.

A lone point in the final quarter from the Lions was enough to break the deadlock after scores were tied at 20-20 at three-quarter-time.

The final result was a rare instance where the team that kicked the most goals did not win, with the Lions prevailing 2.9 (21) to the Swans’ 3.2 (20).

Both of Redan’s goals – singles to Jess Bokma and Madison Hayes – were scored in the first quarter, with the Lions taking a 17-point buffer into quarter-time.

From there they added just four points, as the Swans added two goals in the second quarter and one in the third to tie the game up.

A relieved Lions coach Tim Meaney was thrilled to see his side pull through in a tight one after a pair of massive wins over Carisbrook and Lake Wendouree to kick off the season.

He paid full credit to the Swans for a tough contest and predicted they would become only tougher to overcome in the weeks and years ahead.

“They played a ripping game … a great challenge for us,” Meaney said.

“Our girls knew that they would be in for a challenge; a young team, sunny weather – you knew they were going to be quick and enthusiastic.

“It was a really great game of footy. Ballarat were fantastic and my girls were up for the challenge.

“Swans are going to be a fantastic team to watch and to play against.

“Our girls really enjoyed the contest. We probably didn’t play our best footy for the day, but that comes back to the way Ballarat went about it.

“They played a fantastic brand of football.”

Satisfyingly for Redan, the Lions made Georgie Hassell’s 150th game a milestone to remember with the toughest of wins.

Meaney paid tribute to the Lions’ 2018 premiership captain, who again played a key role in the backline.

“Georgie is just a wealth of knowledge, fantastic around the group and always leads by example,” he said.

“She is always looking to get the best out of herself and out of her teammates – very supportive and a fantastic person to have around your club.

“Especially when you have some young players coming through.

“We had a couple of under-19s play their first senior game on the weekend in Chloe McArthur and Dneeka Rowe and both played great games.

“But it helps with the experience of people like Georgie around them.”

 

McArthur and Rowe were backing up after playing well in the Lions’ under-19 win over North Ballarat earlier in the day, in which McArthur was named best on ground.

The Lions benefited from outstanding performances on the wings from Ingrid Duffy and club newcomer Keeley Abbott, while Hayes, Beth Heard and Kristen Pebble all performed well.

A 3-0 start has thrust Redan into a blockbuster Anzac Day eve clash under lights against arch-rival Darley at C.E. Brown Reserve.

It will be the two powerhouses’ first meeting since the Devils clinched a premiership three-peat in last year’s grand final.

Meaney said his side was looking forward to another big test against Darley.

“We’ve just got to play to our fundamentals and give it our best, as the girls do every week,” he said.

“Darley is the yardstick for the competition, winning the last three premierships; we’ll just put our trust in our natural game.

“The girls need to have the confidence they can do it, which they do.

“We are a bit different side to last year, the same with them, so it will be interesting to see where things stand.”

Shattered not to have emerged with their first win, Swans coach Dean Pidgeon said he could not have been prouder of his side’s “amazing” effort.

“We had plenty of opportunity to score in the last quarter; we had the ball in our forward half quite a bit, but we just couldn’t muster a behind or a goal unfortunately,” he said.

“Similar to last week (against Bacchus Marsh), the mature heads at the end told.

“Regardless, there were so many positives. You couldn’t question the effort.

“To take on a powerhouse like Redan and to not be intimidated at all was amazing.

“The girls didn’t take a back step at all.

“It was our best game so far, but we’re improving every week.”

Pidgeon praised the performances of defenders Sunday Doddrell across half-back, Chloe Everett, Molly Dally and Yasmin O’Keefe, who started the game on Lions sharpshooter Jess Bokma, who came into the game with 22 goals from the first two games of the season.

Ruck Charley Gartlan and on-baller Tilly Ferguson were tireless throughout what proved an absorbing contest.

Remy Callender made the most of her opportunities with two goals.

Pidgeon said the Swans were hopeful of breaking through for their first win of the season, when they take on Lake Wendouree at Alfredton on Anzac Day.

“It’s possible we’ve had the three toughest teams in the competition to deal with in the first three weeks for three honourable losses,” he said.

“We deserve a bit of a reward for effort, but we’re expecting a tough fight.”

Elsewhere, reigning premier Darley warmed up for its showdown against Redan with a 95-point win over East Point.

The Devils restricted the Dragons to just one behind for the match, scored in the third quarter, while kicking 14.12 themselves.

Trinity Skenderis, Tahlia Tschujasehenko (two goals), Rhiannon Carra, Sharni Battye and Ruby Thomas (two goals) featured prominently for the Devils, while Kim Bessell led the way on the scoreboard with four goals.

Vanessa Jones, Gemma Foord, Jaslyn Skilbeck and Jess Mills rated as East Point’s best.

At C.E. Brown Reserve, Carisbrook celebrated its first win in style with a convincing victory over Lake Wendouree.

Led by Sherriden Byrne, Charlotte Cain, Charlotte Metters, Mahli Stone, Tamika Loone-Grundy and Tara Curtis, the Redbacks won 22.8 (140) to 2.4 (16).

Byrne and Stone led the goalkickers with five apiece, while Cain and Tamika Loone-Grundy booted three each.

The Lakers’ lone goal scorers Kaitlin Taylor and Roberta Slorach, Alice Walsh and Maeve Mensch were named their side’s best.