By JARROD POTTER
VFL WOMEN’S – ROUND 12
CRANBOURNE’S aim for 2016 was simple.
Run out matches, impose its presence on any opponent large or small, but most importantly – it wanted a big scalp.
After 11 rounds and the relentless roller-coaster of life in the Victorian Football League (VFL), Cranbourne achieved the relatively impossible on Saturday as it knocked over one of the former Big Six.
In only the second time this season a former VWFL Division 1 side has knocked over a Premier team, the Eagles claimed a 10.6 (66) to 6.8 (44) triumph over VU Western Spurs.
The first term was a back-and-forth affair as Cranbourne steadied itself from early lapses to storm to the front via Bianca Jakobsson (two goals), Kirsten Mcleod (two goals) and debutant Jas Grierson (two goals).
From there it was neck and neck until the final term as neither side truly dominated proceedings through the middle phase.
Cranbourne’s efforts were bolstered by the usual run-and-carry of Hayley Wildes and Jakobsson but – to the delight of the coaches – they weren’t alone in their efforts.
The Eagles tore apart every Spur at the contest and dished off some incredible link-up footy. The likes of Ash Fennell, Leah Olsen and Tess Thomas made the big moments count while the returning Corinne Cullis picked up where she left off to dictate terms across the field.
Just as pleasing for the young Eagles, when the clash was there to be won, the Eagles’ gut-running and the way they spread across Whitten Oval left the Spurs vastly outmatched.
Eagles lined up to carve up the hosts in the final term as the Spurs felt the pressure of the visitors’ relentless attack.
Virtually spent heading into the final term, Western left Cranbourne unchecked in the runaway triumph as it booted four last-quarter unanswered goals.
Shayla Marsh (two goals) loaded up in the dying minutes to jag a couple of goals and get a chance to sing the Cranbourne refrain for the first time in her short VFL career.
“It’s the one we were chasing – we were after a top six side and we spoke about that a couple of times throughout the day – this is what we’ve set ourselves for and we wanted to make this one count,” Cranbourne coach Kris Smith said.
“We’ve been in winnable positions before – twice against Diamo (Diamond Creek) in particular – where we should’ve really capitalised on it.
“We’ve been in good form in the last couple of weeks … and we brought that and ran straight over the top of them.”
Fitness first paid its biggest dividend for Cranbourne as the Spurs had nothing left compared to the fleet-footed visitors.
“We didn’t start the best in the first five, but then we settled well,” Smith said.
“We matched them well and went in with a bit of a lead, but after that it was real 50/50 football in the second and third terms and we trailed by a couple of points heading into the final quarter.
“But the last quarter, just said to the girls have the belief and we were good enough – we’ve been working hard on our fitness and it just showed as we steamrolled them.”
Smith praised the efforts of Olsen – especially her marking up forward – as well as Steph Binder and Marsh.
Cranbourne faces Geelong next week, and with the Magpies’ shock-loss to Knox over the weekend, the visitors will be well placed to go back-to-back for the first time in the VFL.
VFL WOMEN’S SCOREBOARD
CRANBOURNE 4.1 4.2 6.4 10.6 (66)
VU WESTERN SPURS 2.1 4.4 6.8 6.8 (44)
CRANBOURNE
Goals: B. Jakobsson 2, S. Marsh 2, K. McLeod 2, J. Grierson, H. Wildes, B. Moody, B. Wilder.
Best: A. Fennell, S. Marsh, L. Olsen, S. Binder, T. Thomas, C. Cullis.
VU WESTERN SPURS
Goals: A. Fato 2, J. Maljevac 2, C. Hardeman, A. Quigley.
Best: A. Mifsud, A. Tessari, E. Stanyer, A. Harrison, C. Hardeman, T. Mesiti.
