Key factors behind Darebin Falcons’ big improvement in VFLW season

After winning just one game in 2021, Darebin Falcons took some huge steps this VFLW season. Coach Kate Tyndall gives her verdict.

Mikayla Meyer in action for Darebin.

Darebin Falcons made huge strides forward in 2022 and first-year coach Kate Tyndall is confident there’s more to come.

The Falcons went from just one win from 14 VFLW games in 2021 to five wins this season and were in the hunt for a finals berth before losing their final seven matches.

Unsurprisingly, a season-ending injury to star midfielder Ange Gogos in Round 7 coinciding with the slump.

The former Western Bulldogs gun averaged 20 disposals and nine tackles and would be among the Lambert-Pearce Medal leaders before injury struck.

Illness also hit hard in the second half of the season, Tyndall missing the final-round loss to Port Melbourne with COVID and four players forced to withdraw.

Darebin’s Tannah Hurst in action. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Darebin’s Mia Haas in action. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Despite the second half struggles, club legend Tyndall said there was plenty of promising signs.

“Clearly we just wanted to make progress from last year,” she said.

“It’s not all about wins and losses but we went from one win to five wins and finishing 12th to eighth.

“I thought we were able to implement a different game style this year but that probably fell away in the second half of the season under pressure against better opposition.

“I know some of those scores blew out but if you look closely, even against Essendon and Hawthorn, particularly in the first half we were difficult to play against.

“I was really impressed with our ability to fight out games and compete all year.”

Alongside Gogos, Nicole Callinan was prolific in midfield, averaging 15 kicks, while Sally Lynch impressed in the ruck with 25 hitouts a game.

Darebin saw significant improvements at both end of the ground this season.

The Falcons upped their scoring by 73 points and slashed points conceded by almost 200 points, boosting their percentage by 23 points.

Tyndall paid tribute to her defence as a key factor in the club’s improvement as well as an injection of youth.

Darebin head coach Kate Tyndall.

“Our backline was really strong this year; Gena Lawson-Tavan, Victoria Blackwood and Simone Ruedin coming across (from Footscray).

“I thought the played really well as a unit this year and even when we were playing the best teams I thought they stood up pretty well.

“Our three Northern Knights – Lulu Beatty, Mia Haas and Tannah Hurst – they’re all junior Darebin players and all three came in and impacted at the level straight away.

“As a club we’re really proud that they were able to play four or five VFLW games, they were impressive.

“Most importantly, our younger players got another season under their belts – Mikayla Plunkett, Katelyn Hazlett – and that will benefit them down the track.”

Tyndall stepped up to the top job after being an assistant last season.

With Daisy Pearce set to call time on her AFLW career next season – which is expected to start in August – a quick call could be made to lure the women’s football legend back to Darebin.

Pearce is a 10-time premiership player with the Falcons and could mix a fairytale return with AFL coaching duties in 2023.

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Tyndall jokingly offered to step aside for her old teammate.

The Falcons great stepped up to the top job after being an assistant last season.

After finishing her first season in charge, the former Western Bulldogs AFLW player said she had a new found respect for her former coaches.

“It’s a big job but I was incredibly blessed to have a club that’s so supportive and a playing group was fantastic to work with, so it was a very enjoyable year,” she said.