By JARROD POTTER
VFL WOMEN’S – ROUND 10
CRANBOURNE might not have taken the points on Sunday, but it certainly sent a strong message throughout the VFL in its 35-point loss to Diamond Creek.
Going toe to toe with the Creekers throughout a freezing-cold slog at Casey Fields, the Eagles made it their mission to hold off the Diamond Creek onslaught from the back.
Usual midfield tandem Hayley Wildes and Bianca Jakobsson toiled to keep the opponents off the scoreboard across half-back.
Kayla Ripari continued to make the most of her limited time in the Eagles’ jersey this season as she racked up the contested footy.
The Eagles interceptions followed the same formula as they looked to ride the boundary line to the pavilion side throughout the windswept first term.
Their strategy proved problematic though as Diamond Creek just held on and waited for the opportune moment to kick through the traffic.
A gutsy second term slashed the deficit to seven after booting goals through Wildes, Breann Moody and debutant Nicole Garner – making the switch for the week from Gippsland.
But when the match was in the balance, Cranbourne couldn’t find the finishing blow.
Diamond Creek snuck out the back door to rapidly turn the eight-point gap into a five-goal blow-out at the death.
“Considering how undermanned we were – not an excuse but just a fact – to put on a performance like that to the pressure, the tackling, was really pleasing,” Cranbourne coach Kris Smith said. “Kelly Thompson in second or third game and led the tackling for us – three or four run-down tackles and a couple on Steph Chiocci.
“We didn’t miss the mark by much on the weekend – even though it was 35 points, we weren’t far behind.
“We’re a three, three-and-a-half quarter team at the moment – it’s just if we can find that extra 15 minutes.
“Just starting to realise they belong at this level and if we’re good enough for long enough we’ll be able to get them.”
It’s back to square one for Cranbourne, taking on ladder leaders Darebin at home in the replay of the round one shellacking. This time around though Smith is convinced a four-quarter Cranbourne performance wouldn’t let such a result happen again.
“Got the acid test this week – Darebin at home,” Smith said.
“I’m looking forward to it – if we can play in that same style and headspace as we did this week, we can go pretty well.”
Ellie Keatch and Ash Fennell are set to return while and another Gippsland region debutant – Power Youth Girls Academy player Shayla Marsh – is set to become an Eagle for the clash.
“Everything is looking good going forward – the morale around the club and the group is good,” Smith said.
“We’re in a good place as a club, just not getting the Ws.”
The match starts at 2pm on Sunday at Casey Fields Oval 2.
VFL WOMEN’S SCOREBOARD
CRANBOURNE 1.0 4.1 5.1 6.3 (39)
DIAMOND CREEK 4.1 5.2 7.4 11.8 (74)
CRANBOURNE Goals: K. McLeod, N. Garner, B. Moody, H. Wildes, B. Jakobsson, T. Tomamichel. Best: H. Wildes, K. Thompson, B. Jakobsson, L. Olsen, T. Thomas, A. Johnson. DIAMOND CREEK Goals: C. Bernardi 5, S. Chiocci 3, L. Brazzale, A. Downie, B. Richmond. Best: L. Williams, S. Chiocci, K. Hicks, C. Bernardi, L. Corrigan, S. Cappello.
