Darebin Falcons score crushing VFL Women’s victory over Box Hill

DAREBIN Falcons are starting to hit their straps in the VFL Women’s competition after recording their third straight win on Sunday.

Darebin’s Karen Paxman is tackled by Box Hill’s Lauren Costello. Picture: Mark Dadswell

DAREBIN Falcons are starting to hit their straps in the VFL Women’s competition after recording their third straight win on Sunday.

Hosting Box Hill Hawks at Northcote’s Bill Lawry Oval, the Falcons proved too strong for the visitors to prevail 11.15 (81) to 2.2 (14).

Darebin Falcons had the better of Box Hill at Bill Lawry Oval. Picture: Mark Dadswell

After conceding the opening goal inside a minute, Darebin struck back through majors to Stephanie Simpson and Eloise Gardner before Darcy Vescio helped her team to a 15-point lead at the first break.

After Lauren Arnell and Karen Paxman kicked the first two goals of the second term, Darebin led by 30 points but a determined Hawks outfit fought back to reduce the margin to 23.

Darebin then took control of the contest with a terrific third quarter, making full use of the wind with long and accurate kicking.

Arnell and Lauren Pearce were the beneficiaries, kicking four goals between them, while Aasta O’Connor also registered a major.

Box Hill’s Jayde Van Dyk and Darebin’s Melissa Hickey compete. Picture: Mark Dadswell

The win was capped by a solid last quarter as Adelaide AFLW player Ebony Marinoff kicked her first goal in Falcons colours from an intercept mark, with the Hawks were held scoreless in the second half.

“We had some good patches today, but we also had some patches of play that wasn’t ideal, so definitely we can go away and have some discussions on things we can improve on,” Darebin coach Jane Lange said.

Attempting to use the switch of play throughout — although not always with the desired effect — Lange said she was pleased with the players’ efforts to stick to their structure.

Box Hill’s Tamara Luke tackles Darebin’s Ebony Marinoff. Picture: Mark Dadswell

The coach was pleased with the performances of O’Connor, Karen Paxman and Vescio, who had some “really good forward pressure and helped keep the ball at our end” in the second half.

New player Annalyse Lister also impressed with clean and efficient ball use.

The Falcons sit fifth on the ladder, having won four of their past five games.

“We knew it would be a tough and slow start, with lots of girls unavailable, in new positions and new faces, but it’s nice to see them start playing some of the footy that we know we’re capable of playing,” Lange said.

“Hopefully we can get that happening more continuously throughout games.”