Cobras taking challenges in their stride

BACCHUS Marsh senior women’s coach Alan Johnson believes his team’s ability to overcome most of the challenges it has faced this year will hold them in good stead at the business end of the season.

Coming out of the King’s Birthday long weekend break, the Cobras sit on top of the BFLW ladder with six wins and a whopping 507.74 percentage, ahead of Darley and Redan, also on six wins.

The Devils (6-1) have a game in hand on both of the top three rivals, with the Cobras and Lions both having suffered two losses in eight games.

Impressively for the Cobras, their ascension to the top after nine rounds has come with weekly fluctuations in personnel due to injuries and other unavailability.

Given the constant changes, the Cobras have done well to set themselves up as a genuine premiership contender.

“We’ve played some good footy and we’ve got a few girls back, but we still have a couple of girls from our core base out,” Johnson said.

“Hopefully, we will get them back.

“We’ll lose one for this week’s game, but should get one back.

“It’s a bit like Russian roulette.

“But for us, it’s a matter of keeping focused on what they have got to do.

“There has been some really good games and signs along the way.

“But we’re just trying to keep everyone as fit as possible and keep working on our game.”

The Cobras owe much of their massive percentage to a pair of shut-out wins against bottom side Lake Wendouree in mid-to-late May.

Johnson said he had the utmost respect for the Lakers, praising their resilience during a challenging season.

“They’ve been beaten quite well in a number of games, but they keep turning up to play and they keep sticking together,” he said.

“I reckon that is a great effort and shows a lot of character.”

Johnson was confident of some positive news on the injury front with Mel Freeman (hamstring) and Amy Curtain (vertigo) closing in on a return.

“With Amy, I just want her to be healthy … that’s the main thing. Forget footy,” he said.

“She is a lovely person and we want her to be healthy.”

 

Johnson revealed that Freeman, who has not played since being injured during the round 6 loss to Redan, had put her hand up to be selected in the 31 May game against the Lakers, but the Cobras elected to err on the side of caution.

Bacchus Marsh remains the only side to have beaten reigning premier Darley this season, with the Cobras’ two losses coming in round 1 with as many as seven players missing against East Point and by seven points against Redan in round 6.

Key performers for the Cobras so far this season (in no particular order) include Isabella Faralla and Jamie-Lee Speakman, who both kicked six goals in the win over the Lakers, skipper Amy Garofalo, who kicked four, Ella Bradbury, defender Tara Keenan, Charli O’Connor and Indi Stanley when available.

Under-19s player Jazmine Dalli has also impressed in her three senior appearances.

Johnson said the Cobras’ long-term prospects would hinge on a continued wide spread of contributions.

“All I’m saying to the girls is to play their role and contribute,” he said.

“You don’t have to be the best, you just have to play your role.

“If you are doing it for the team, you are doing the right thing.

“It’s nice being up top (at the moment), but as long as you get to finals, anything can happen,” added Johnson drawing on his own elite-level playing experiences.

“I played at Perth when we finished fourth in 1976. We weren’t supposed to win, and we won the grand final from fourth.

“Anything is possible when you get to finals.”

The Cobras should be well prepared for finals when they arrive, with their last four home and away games comprising clashes against Ballarat (currently fourth), Darley and Redan, followed by Ballarat again.

Their season continues this Sunday against East Point at White Flat Oval, with the ledger between the two sides this season sitting at one apiece.