Diamond Creek bounces back with thumping win over VU Western Spurs in VFL women’s league clash

DIAMOND Creek snapped a three-game losing streak in style with a 54-point demolition of the VU Western Spurs.

Diamond Creek celebrates a return to winning form. Picture: Callum O'Connor

Diamond Creek snapped a three-game losing streak in style with a 54-point demolition of the VU Western Spurs in their VFL women’s league clash at Henry Turner Memorial Reserve on Saturday.

With their top-four chances on the line against a side that has been climbing the ladder after finishing with the 2015 wooden spoon, the Creekers turned on some of their most confident play of the year.

Just days after signing a contract with Big Bash League cricket’s Melbourne Stars, Jess Cameron ran rings around the Spurs’ defence, kicking five goals by halftime.

After a relatively even start, Diamond Creek grabbed the clearance contests by the throat with Millie Barden, Shae Audley and Stephanie Chiocci coming into their own as a centre-line, while Knox recruit Al Downie is, arguably, one of the best rucks in the competition.

After quarter-time, it seemed the Creekers had a forward for any situation – a lead-up tall in Christina Bernardi, crumbers in Cameron, Karly Cobern and debutant Kaitlyn Carlton, and a one-on-one option in Brittany Grech.

This depth had the happy knock-on effect of upsetting the Spurs’ structure, as they rotated defenders with such regularity they couldn’t settle down to counter-attack.

The Creek went on to score a comfortable, 12.12 (84) to 4.6 (30) win, and coach Tanya Hetherington lauded the cohesion of her forward line after the match.

“To have all the forwards playing so well and everyone playing a role, that was great,” Hetherington said.

“Also, the forward pressure was something we really talked about afterwards.”

After a slow start to the season, frustrated by a long catalogue of injuries, the Creekers may have just turned a very important corner.

Holding fifth position, two games outside the top four, the Creek faces a big test this Sunday, when it faces the fourth-placed Eastern Devils at CT Barling Reserve.