Darebin Falcons are on the board in VFLW 2021, beating North Melbourne

The Darebin Falcons’ wait for a maiden win in 2021 is over and there’s more good news with possible AFLW and NAB League reinforcements waiting in the wings.

Genevieve Lawson-Tavan in action for Darebin Falcons. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Darebin Falcons are on the board in VFLW 2021.

After a fruitless opening five weeks, the Falcons proved too good for North Melbourne, securing a 12-point win at Arden Street.

Two and seven-point defeats in the first three rounds left the Falcons frustrated at missed opportunities but they weren’t going to let another win slip away.

“Obviously, everyone was very relieved to get that first win. We’ve been working really hard so we enjoyed it,” coach Mitch Skelly said.

“The first three rounds we were in every game but a few things didn’t go our way and the opposition took their chances more than we did.

Samara David in action for Darebin. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“Against Essendon and St Kilda we were just outclassed but we knew there’d be teams we’d come up against teams that would be more even and it was just a matter of taking our chances.”

Trailing by a point at half-time, Darebin broke the game open in the third quarter with 2.2 while keeping the Kangaroos scoreless.

The Falcons led by as many as 19 points in the final term with only two late goals to North denying the visitors a bigger margin.

In just her third VFLW game, Alice Caddy impressed in the win with 20 disposals, five marks, two tackles and a goal, while Samara David had a team-high 28 touches, nine marks and five tackles.

Ruck Sidney Cubash continued her fine form with 23 hitouts, while skipper Steph Simpson led from the front with four goals and 13 possessions.

“From our point of view, it was a game we started to capitalise on our ruckwork,” Skelly said.

“Sid Cubash has been really good in the ruck and we started to get more clearances and allowed us to get a score on the board and our defenders to push up the ground.

“Alice was brilliant, she’s come through our Northern Football League program and made her debut three weeks ago.

Skipper Steph Simpson kicked four goals for Darebin. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“She really quick and fit and as a half-forward can cover heaps of ground, get up to the wing and put defensive pressure on and push back and got herself on the scoreboard.

“Steph had to push up into the midfield early on in the season because we weren’t getting enough ball to give her opportunities.

“On the weekend she showed if we can get the ball in clean and fast then she is one of the best forwards in the comp, we’ve just got to give her the chance.”

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Darebin remains last on the ladder on percentage but have the chance to move up against the Western Bulldogs at Bill Lawry Oval on Sunday.

With the AFLW season over and the NAB League Girls season breaking for the Under-19 National Championships, Skelly is hopeful of some reinforcements.

“There’s nothing locked in yet but there are a couple of former Falcons looking to come back, so we will bring a couple of AFLW players in,” he said.

“There’ll also be a couple of NAB League under-19s players that will be able to have a run around with us while they’re on their break and later on in the season.”