By JARROD POTTER
VWFL – DIVISION 1
BUILDING on its best quarter of the year, Cranbourne sent a strong message to the other high-ranking sides in VWFL Division 1 as the Eagles brushed aside ladder-leaders North Geelong.
The buoyant start to North Geelong’s season was brought to an abrupt end as Cranbourne ran out 41-point winners.
It was a match played between the halves through to the main break as neither side could crack the other’s half-backs.
Danielle Hardiman and Corrine Cullis clamped down on any North Geelong forward imitative and rebounded instantly.
But as hard as it was through the first half to score – as both sides sprayed their chances and failed to attack the big sticks – the third quarter opened up spectacularly for the Casey Fields’ brigade.
A tightly-contested battle opened up after half-time as the Eagles slammed on five unanswered goals with Bianca Jakobsson and Laura Robinson (2 goals each) stealing the show from the visitors.
“I just thought we were better than them in the first half as well – just didn’t kick the goals,” Cranbourne coach Kris Smith said.
“We kicked 1.5 and didn’t capitalise in that first quarter which was costly.
“Just managed to convert those goals in the third quarter and put them to the sword – that was pleasing.”
Smith said this was a win Cranbourne craved – defending its home soil and knocking off a high-calibre VWFL side given it dual significance.
“We were up and about for this one – the girls were really prepared to take it right up to them,” Smith said.
“It was a bit of an eight-point game – if we missed it up they would’ve had a two-game buffer between us, so it puts us back in the race for that top two and get the shot at the double chance.
“It was our most pleasing win – their coach said we gave them a football lesson.
“As far as an all-around team performance that’s right up there for sure and we can improve on that too.”
Smith praised his defensive maestros Hardiman and Cullis as well as the run-and-carry of Ellie Keatch and the tap-work from Cara Moody.
Most importantly, the Eagles aren’t just being served by the same three or four as Smith thought the whole line-up was worthy of mention.
“Cara in that third-quarter dominated – their ruckman played in the state second side and she absolutely pulled her pants down,” Smith said.
“Couple of girls up forward – Loz Robinson and Steph binder along with BJ absolutely killed it in that forward half.
“We’re not relying on the same players each week and I could’ve put a blanket over 20 of them yesterday and put them all in the best which was really great to see.”
Cranbourne’s Division-3 side was just as emphatic against St Kilda Sharks, smashing the home side by 46 points as Kirsty Roche, Janet Sullivan, Emily Wallace and Rebecca Tiernan impressed.
Cranbourne Division 1 faces Diamond Creek away on Sunday while the Eagles Division-3 side heads to Deer Park.
