VU Western Spurs can take some positives from its meeting with unbeaten powerhouse Darebin Falcons in the Women’s VFL on Saturday, despite a 50-point loss.
The Spurs have one of the youngest and most inexperienced sides in the competition.
The Falcons, on the other hand, are a battle-hardened side with aspirations to win this season’s flag, so it was always going to be a tough ask for the home side.
Predictably, the result was not in doubt after the Falcons raced to a 53-point half-time lead at Henry Turner Reserve.
But after the main break, Spurs coach Debbie Lee got to learn about the character of her side.
With Darebin and Melbourne University both undefeated and jostling for first and second, percentage will be hugely important for both sides down the stretch, so no doubt the Falcons had their sights set on a cricket score against the Spurs.
But the Spurs did not allow it, going out after half-time to restrict the Falcons to just two goals, while kicking three of their own.
It was a small consolation for the Spurs and a little victory for a side in a development phase that is building towards a bright future.
“It was a huge challenge,” Lee told
Star Weekly.
“At half-time we talked about pressure acts and ensuring everyone was accountable for a player. It’s a team effort to stop Darebin, so we needed all 18 girls on the park to do that.
“Keeping the Falcons to two goals in the second half is a win for us.”
The Spurs are sixth on the ladder with a 2-3 record. They now face Cranbourne, who have an identical record, in a huge game at Casey Fields on Saturday.
“People have underestimated how they’re going,” Lee said. “They’ve actually challenged the top four teams and we can’t be complacent.”
