In a highly anticipated contest between two top five sides, Darebin 1 claimed a 12-point victory over West Preston-Lakeside 1 at A.H. Capp Reserve, climbing up the Winning Edge Division 1 Women’s ladder as a result.
With finals set to begin in a fortnight’s time, the four points was critical for two sides who were looking to secure a top three spot and while the Falcons’ win hasn’t assured them of that feat just yet, they’ve given themselves every opportunity to grab the double chance by season’s end.
Shannon Egan made it back-to-back best on ground performances for the home side while Sacha Kenna and Chloe Williams were vital up forward, each kicking two goals.
For the visitors, Trinity Mills was impressive, so too was Tallia Pulcino who did all she could to contribute for her side by kicking a season high three majors.
It was the Roosters that came out the blocks from the first bounce and initially looked the better of the two sides, but they could only muster one behind for their early efforts.
Darebin then countered and kicked the first of the afternoon after Dallas Rowland made the most of the Roosters’ ill-discipline.
The Falcons then got on a roll, kicking the next two goals via a set shot conversion from Kenna and a ground ball get that Susan Cadman turned into a major, allowing the home side to lead by 17 points at quarter time.
As they did in the first, West Preston-Lakeside started the second term well and this time were able to find the big sticks with Pulcino making the most of a shot on goal.
Darebin quickly responded through Emily Ivanka who kicked her first goal of the season.
Accuracy started to become an issue for the Roosters despite having most of the play in the quarter. They would finish the term with just one goal from their six scoring attempts and still trailed by two goals at the main break.
The third term belonged to West Preston-Lakeside as goals from Mills and Pulcino cut the deficit to a single point in the closing stages of the quarter.
After the Falcons were kept to a single behind for the whole term, a touched behind for the Roosters tied the scores at 25 apiece with moments to go in the quarter before Pulcino slotted home her third major to give the visitors a six-point lead at three quarter time.
West Preston-Lakeside very nearly got to push the margin out even further with their first score of the final quarter, but the ball hit the post. It would prove to be their only score of the term as the Falcons charged home.
Kenna kicked her second to cut the margin to a point before Chloe Williams not grabbed the lead back for her side, but then kicked a second major shortly after to seal victory for the Falcons.
