Diamond Creek Women’s 1 got off to a strong start in their 2025 Heidelberg Golf Club Division 1 campaign, after defeating Heidelberg by 21 points at Warringal Park.
The Creekers were able to keep the scoreboard ticking for much of the match, producing three consecutive two-goal terms and holding off any fightbacks from the Tigers along the way to pick up the 6.9 (45) to 3.6 (24) victory.
Captain and reigning competition best and fairest winner Maykaylah Appleby was superb once again in midfield, and was also one of her side’s three individual goalkickers for the afternoon.
Adele Coppola was the biggest threat in attack and finished with three goals. She was difficult for Tigers defenders to handle when she found open space inside forward 50 and was always creating scoring opportunities for her side. Grace Addamo was the other multiple goalkicker with two.
Whilst not getting on the scoreboard, Linda Thorp played a crucial role for the Creekers at centre half forward, while at the other end Stacey Cross held the fort well in defence and absorbed many attacks from the opposition.
Heidelberg midfield trio Mia Tascone, Isabella Hayes and Emily De Sando got plenty of the football between them and were constantly delivering threatening entries inside 50.
Ameile Gilchrist was also recognised for her defensive efforts and finished in the home side’s best after doing so in seven of 16 games in 2024.
Heidelberg looked the better of the two sides during the first term and assisted with a handy breeze towards the Yarra River end, they were able to generate repeat inside 50 entries.
Emma Rowe was busy during the quarter, but was unable to convert some initial opportunities, leaving the door open for the Creekers to capitalise on the other end, which they did courtesy of Addamo and Coppola.
Trailing by 11 points at the first change, the Tigers didn’t shy away from pressing hard in attack during the second term, but they were still unable make it count on the scoreboard.
Diamond Creek Women’s on the other hand had little issues converting their chances, particularly Addamo, who kicked her second at the 10-minute mark to make it a 19-point ball game.
To Heidelberg’s credit, they didn’t put their heads down after conceding a third goal and went to work to immediately get back in the contest. That work would be rewarded almost immediately with Isabella Hayes and April Thompson both finding the big sticks in quick succession to reduce the deficit to single digits.
The Creekers would have the final say of the first half against the run of play when Coppola booted a second major to ensure her side held a 13-point half time lead.
Under new coach Angelo Lammana, the visitors would continue to impress in the third term, and within 13 minutes, had produced another two goals to reach a game-high 26-point margin.
With their backs against the wall, Heidelberg mounted another charge, with Rowe getting an important goal to set the chase to 21 points at the final break.
Both sides would create opportunities to score in the final term, but two behinds would be kicked by each team for the quarter.
The Tigers’ defensive unit impressed to ensure their opponents got no easy looks on goal, but they were unable to make any drives forward themselves, with the full-time siren confirming the Creekers’ 21-point victory.
