Cobras back on top as crosstown rivalry heats up

BACCHUS Marsh senior women’s coach Alan Johnson has shut down talk of the Cobras being premiership favourites, after his side took care of Darley for the second time this season in last Saturday night’s showdown at Maddingley Park.

The Cobras, led by a five-goal performance from Amy Garofalo, catapulted into top spot on the ladder with a compelling 63-point win.

It’s their biggest ever win over the Devils during the BFLW era and is sure to add to the intrigue between the crosstown rivals with finals just a few weeks away.

With two rounds remaining, one of Bacchus Marsh or Darley is guaranteed to claim the minor premiership.

The Cobras were able to get the game on their terms early with a 25–0 opening quarter and never relented, despite a major lift in intensity from the Devils in the middle two quarters.

They saved their best for last, capping a timely victory with a seven-goal-to-one final term.

The margin was far more decisive than their round 5 meeting, which the Cobras won by nine points.

With top spot on the ladder up for grabs, Johnson said the Cobras had been switched on from the first bounce.

“Our start was really pleasing – you give yourselves every chance with a beginning like that,” he said.

“The next two quarters were pretty tight … back and forwards and some good play from both sides.

“But our last quarter was really good – the girls really lifted and pulled away.”

While the official best players list included Garofalo, Jamie-Lee Speakman (three goals), Tara Keenan, Jazmine Dalli, Charli O’Connor (two) and Mel Freeman, Johnson praised a more even spread of contributions.

He hailed the win as up there with the Cobras’ best in his three seasons at the helm.

“There was a game last year at Darley in pretty ordinary conditions, that was a really dogged, hard-fought win,” he said.

“But the way we played in the second half (on Saturday night) was the best win we’ve had against Darley for a while.

“When you sit back and look at it, it was a pretty even performance. That was the pleasing thing, everyone contributing.

“Even the girls felt that.

“They have really developed a good understanding between each other.

“It’s not just one or two, or three or four that we are relying on. Everyone’s playing their part.”

With the game played after Saturday’s senior men’s clash between Bacchus Marsh and Darley and on the same night the Cobras held their reverse draw function, there was a big crowd on hand for the game.

Johnson said his side had relished the support.

“After the game, a lot of the men who had played earlier came into the rooms – and the rooms were chockablock – and they sang the song with the women,” he said.

 

“It was really good to see the guys up on the seats singing away.

“The girls felt it was great.”

Darley, which will look to rebound against Ballarat (coming off a bye) in round 15, was best served by Peyton Watts, Trinity Skenderis, Emmerson Hitch, Sarah Tabone, Tayla Debono and Charlotte Hill.

Kim Bessell kicked three of her team’s four goals.

Despite a 2–0 record against the Devils this season, Johnson shunned suggestions of being premiership favourites.

“I wouldn’t say that. Look, I think there’s three teams that can give it a real shake – Redan, Darley and us – without trying to be disrespectful to others,” he said.

“Honestly, I think it comes down to who is available on the day,” he added in reference to the high turnover of personnel from week to week for most sides.

“We’ve certainly put ourselves in a good position.

“(This) week is another chance for us to learn a bit more about ourselves.”

That will entail another top three clash against Redan, which beat the Cobras by seven points in their only meeting to date this season in round 6, and defeated East Point by 98 points at City Oval last Sunday.

Jess Bokma moved within two goals of the half-century with her second seven-goal haul within three games.

Interleague representatives Bokma, Madison Hayes (two goals), Rose Russell (four), Emma van Egmond and Ellen Werts led the way for the Lions alongside Hayley Reid.

The Lions put their stamp on the game with a five-goal-to-none second quarter to set up a 57-point half-time advantage.

Jessica Robertson, Amy Johnston, Abbey Bertram, Katie McAloon and Rebecca Piper toiled hard for the Dragons, who should snap a five-game losing streak against Lake Wendouree at Eastern Oval this Sunday.

At Carisbrook, the Redbacks secured their second win of the season by 19 points.

Izzy Barby, Emme Johnson (two goals), Arna Tatchell, Tamika Loone-Grundy and Olivia Butler were the Redbacks’ standouts.