By JARROD POTTER
Victorian Women’s Football League
DIVISION 1
ON THE big stage for the first time, Cranbourne VWFL made the most of the opportunity to give the demanding VFL crowd something to talk about.
Bringing VWFL and VFL together for the first time, Casey Scorpions invited the Eagles to play as the curtain-raiser on Saturday as part of Pink Ribbon Day and the Eagles soared when given the chance.
The expansive Casey Fields VFL Oval was made even more difficult to traverse by the frigid, wet conditions, but the Eagles managed to fly across the wings and hit up the forwards when the moment mattered most.
‘Hundred-metre’ Hayley Wildes – thusly named for her hard-running, bouncing attack on the footy in the third term before booting it long for a goal, was electric through the centre in her usual manner.
With the conditions bringing the high-flyers down to ground-level, it was the hard-working Eagles that relished the chance as Ash Fennell, Tess McEvoy and Corrine Cullis led the charge.
Cranbourne failed to kick away – waywardly spraying 3.8 (26) through the first half – before Knox cut the margin in half to set up an interesting final term.
But with the wind at their back, it was a matter of bombing it long and letting the forwards sort it out as Bianca Jakobsson (3 goals) and Kirsten McLeod (2 goals) slammed home the match-winners.
“How good is this ground – you won’t play on a better ground,” Cranbourne coach Kris Smith said. “This is amazing and I thought we used it pretty well but the conditions were odd.
“We don’t seem to play that well when we’ve got to adjust from quarter to quarter – just not switched on enough I guess – but we’ll take the win.
“38 points is 38 points I suppose – especially after the draw last time.”
The win gives Cranbourne second place outright in Division 1 and face Eastern Devils from 12pm on Sunday.
DIVISION 3
St Kilda Sharks were absolutely pasted by the relentless wrecking machine known as Endeavour Hills. The Falcons have proven their best standard is well above the rest in Division 3 and that was made evident with a 17.13 (115) to 0.0 (0) victory. Georgia Punton booted eight in tandem with Siona Pilkington (4 goals) as the forwards remain difficult to stop in this campaign.
The Falcons continue to sing the song every week – remaining unbeaten in Division 3 nine-from-nine to start their club journey – and face Cranbourne at Casey Fields on Sunday.
