By JARROD POTTER
VFL WOMEN’S – ROUND 13
ONE step forward and sadly for Cranbourne … the intensity of VFL competition has forced it to take one step back.
After last week’s glorious victory over VU Western Spurs – its first against a former Premier Six team – Cranbourne went into Sunday’s road-trip clash against Geelong brimming with confidence.
While Cranbourne was undermanned – missing a number of first-choice players like Ash Fennell and Courtney Clarkson – the squad it put on the park had what it takes to battle Geelong.
Cranbourne’s usual tenaciousness and pressure at the contest was missing as the hosts slipped tackles and generally lead the visitors around Osbourne Park.
But despite its lacklustre effort at times, Cranbourne found a way to boot ahead at the half as Bianca Jakobsson (3) and Kirsten Mcleod (2) weaved around the Magpies’ defence.
The ebb and flow of the match went both ways … until Geelong cracked the game open in the dying minutes of the game.
From 49-50 down at one stage in the last, Cranbourne faded away as Lucy Degroot (3) and Richelle Cranston kicked the hosts into a 9.10 (64) to 7.7 (49) triumph.
“Missing a lot of girls so the job fell on a few others and we just didn’t stand up,” Cranbourne coach Kris Smith said. “When push came to shove they wanted it more.
“At their home deck they’re pretty hard to beat and just had more want, more effort, ran harder and worked harder than us.
“We tried hard, we were in the game and had a good 10-15 minute burst in each quarter … would gain control and dictate terms and control the footy after that but just didn’t put enough scoreboard pressure on them.
“That’s been our problem all year and haven’t been able to turn possession into goals.”
Smith praised Jakobsson for yet another starring performance out of the Bulldogs AFL utility – as she reeled in 30 marks and almost singlehandedly dragged the Eagles to victory.
He also thought Shannon Barnes down back alongside two players Smith believes should be in the Exhibition Series squads – Kirsten Mcleod and Cara Moody.
“Macca when she got off the leash exposed them for speed up forward as she’s probably one of the best small forwards going around and maybe doesn’t get the credit she deserves,” Smith said.
“I’d be disappointed if she doesn’t get drafted as she’s raw and explosive.
“Cara Moody is the same – she annihilated them in the ruck all day … killed (Maddie) Boyd in the ruck all day, but we didn’t capitalise on those hit outs and got beaten around the stoppages.
“I still think she’s one of the better rucks in the competition and doesn’t get beaten often – I struggle to think of someone who has beaten her properly.”
Brittany Read made her VFL debut, another Eagle to transition from the South East Juniors Youth Girls program into the club’s senior ranks.
The eighth ranked Cranbourne have five rounds left in the maiden VFL season, starting on Saturday afternoon when it battles Eastern Devils at Casey Fields.
“We learned a lot of lessons, I suppose, you need those bad losses every now and then,” Smith said.
“We might’ve got ahead of ourselves after the Spurs win, as we’re still a young group on the way up and have to learn as many lessons as we can and work hard on the track.”
VFL WOMEN’S SCOREBOARD
GEELONG 2.2 3.5 7.8 9.10 (64)
CRANBOURNE 1.3 4.5 5.6 7.7 (49)
GEELONG
Goals: L. DeGroot 3, R. Cranston 2, M. Fedele 2, M. Boyd, L. Mithen.
Best: L. Williams, M. Boyd, L. Mithen, R. Cranston, J. Woollett, A. Wilkes.
CRANBOURNE
Goals: B. Jakobsson 3, K. McLeod 2, M. Tatham, H. Wildes.
Best: B. Jakobsson, T. Thomas, K. McLeod, S. Barnes, C. Moody, A. Johnson.
