By Nick Creely
VICTORIAN WOMEN’S FOOTBALL LEAGUE
REVIEW – ROUND 5
Cranbourne has played with guts and vigour to register a six-point victory over Seaford on Saturday afternoon at Casey Fields.
After breaking through for their maiden victory last round against Box Hill, the Eagles’ momentum was well and truly carrying through after skipping out to a handy nine-point quarter time lead.
The big guns – Hayley Wildes, Kirsten McLeod, Breann Moody and Kim Cunico – were all looking ominous, but inaccurate goal kicking left the door open for the opposition.
And the Tigers swooped, kicking three goals in the second quarter to hold some sway, before the Eagles steadied and lent on their leaders to scrape over the line in a thrilling finish.
“Considering we didn’t have Bridie Kennedy, Darcy Guttridge, Holly Whitford and Jasmine Grierson out there I’m happy – the kids that came up did a great job,” Coach Sein Clearihan said.
“We were a rotation down midway through the second quarter, and in the third we had more injuries so we virtually didn’t have a bench for the last quarter and a half, so it was really pleasing.”
After battling through the opening month of the season, Clearihan said that their brand is now starting to take shape, and pointed out a certain aspect of their game that is starting to deliver them the wins.
“I was impressed with our press and the way they’re defending now – they just kept at it all game and got the result,” he said.
“We are starting to get a lot of belief happening – Kirsten McLeod is starting to get going and so are a couple of others – Steph Cutting was also really good off a half back flank and a lot of others stepped up which was great.”
Others to impress were Steph Brown and Bianca Jakobsson – who both kicked a couple of majors and looked a constant threat in attack.
Now with a 2-3 record and in eighth spot, the Eagles face seventh placed Eastern Devils in a massive clash on Sunday at Casey Fields.
“We’ll have a couple of changes – I’m really looking forward to this weekend and trying to get three wins in a row – we’re improving and starting to play some consistent footy and that’s what it’s all about,” Clearihan said.
CRANBOURNE 2.3 3.5 5.7 7.7(49)
SEAFORD 1.0 4.0 4.0 7.1(43)
CRANBOURNE
GOALS: S. Brown 2, B. Jakobsson 2, C. Clarkson, S. Marsh, K. McLeod.
BEST: S. Phillips, B. Moody, K. Cunico, H. Wildes, A. McDonough, R. Pearce.
SEAFORD
GOALS: D. Lawrence 3, G. Walker 2, B. Rogan, T. Sheldon.
BEST: M. Macdonald, M. Goodwin, J. Barker, K. Cox, G. Walker, J. Eberle.
