Eastern Devils finish strongly to see off St Kilda Sharks in opening round of VFL Women’s competition

RESOLUTE defence from Meg Hutchins and two final-quarter goals from Lauren Tesoriero help Eastern Devils get past St Kilda Sharks.

ST KILDA had Mo Hope. But in the end it seemed to have no hope, not with Eastern Devils veteran Meg Hutchins defending so grandly.

As the Sharks fought desperately to get ahead in the final quarter of yesterday’s Round 1 match in the new VFL Women’s competition at Mulgrave Reserve, the experienced Hutchins held them back with a series of strong grabs.

She read kicks off the boot and positioned herself to mark as easily as she would read the morning newspaper.

And she displayed courage to stand her ground and take a heavy hit when she knew a pack was bearing down.

It was enough to give the Devils a stirring victory, extended to seven points when former Shark Pepa Randall ran into an open goal right on the siren.

Despite kicking into the breeze, Eastern kicked four goals to two in the last quarter, two of them to Lauren Tesoriero.

Hope booted four goals for St Kilda and soccer star Briana Davey lapped up the leather, but the visitors tired late in the game, fatigue producing mistakes.

Coach Shaun Smith acknowledged Hutchins’ heroics.

“She was always going to be a problem for us, ‘Hutchy’,’’ he said.

“She’s very experienced and does it really well, picks you off when you bomb it in.

“But it’s a learning curve for us. We’ve got a young group and a lot of new girls. They’ll be better for it. We’ve got some things to work on but we’ll get there.

“We probably lack a bit of height but we can make up for it with our speed and our skills’’

Mia-Rae Clifford, Alexandra Whitehead, captain Penny Cula-Reid, Laura Bailey, Carlee Porlock and ruck Rachael Achampong did well for the Saints.

Cula-Reid has been named captain this season, with Davey vice-captain.

Phoebe McWilliams, Jasmine Garner, Clifford and Hope round out the leadership group.

Former AFL forward Smith is back in women’s coaching ranks after a short break, and he said the standard had “gone through the roof’’.

He said football supporters who hadn’t seen a game should take a look.

“Get down and see what the girls are doing. Seriously, you’ll be surprised and you’ll be entertained. Some people think it’s kick and giggle. Years ago it probably was. She’s a serious competition now and it’s going to be professional next year with the AFL women’s comp coming in. Exciting times.’’

The Sharks celebrate a goal. Picture: Russ Canham.

Eastern Devils 3.1 5.2 7.3 11.4 (70)

St Kilda 2.3 6.7 7.8 9.9 (63)

GOALS: Eastern Devils: Tesoriero 2 D’Arcy 2 Perkins 2 Randall Foster Casey Lambert Scott

St Kilda: Hope 4 Gilder McWilliams Whitehead Garner Walsh

BEST: Eastern Devils: Nestor Casey Carroll D’Arcy Thorn Steiert

St Kilda: Davey Clifford Whitehead Cula-Reid Bailey Portlock