Darbin Falcons still flying high despite injury concerns in VWFL

Darebin Falcons have been hit hard with injuries in recent weeks but their ­results suggest otherwise.

Darebin Falcons captain Daisy Pearce tries to break clear of a pack against Eastern Devils on Sunday. Photo: Paul Loughnan

Darebin Falcons have been hit hard with injuries in recent weeks but their ­results suggest otherwise.

The Victorian Women’s Football League side chalked up its ninth-straight win to remain unbeaten in Premier Division in 2014, the latest victim Eastern Devils who were handed a 129-point belting on Sunday.

Playing for the Catherine Wotton Cup at Mulgrave ­Reserve, the Falcons’ defence restricted the Devils to just four scoring shots for the match in a thumping 23.10 (148) to 3.1 (19) victory.

And proving winning margins were not always everything, Falcons coach Richard Dal Pos said he was more pleased with how his side performed than when it last played the Devils in Round 3 and won by 231 points.

“They’ve improved ­remarkably from when we played them at the start of the year, which is good,” Dal Pos said.

“I was more pleased with our game (on Sunday) than the one at the start of the year, to be quite honest. I was pleased with our girls’ efforts.”

Karen Paxman returned to form to be named the visitors’ best in the match while up forward Darcy Vescio (seven goals) and Katie Brennan (six goals) also starred.

The win came ahead of a bye for the Falcons this weekend, which has arrived at a good time considering their growing injury list.

“It’s good to have the bye,” Dal Pos said.

“We’ve been struggling. The past two weeks halfway through the last quarter we’ve had no rotations left so I’m looking forward to starting to get a full complement back in a fortnight’s time.”

The Falcons have matches scheduled against St Kilda Sharks (fourth), Melbourne Uni (third) and VU-St ­Albans (fifth) after the bye before finals kick-off on ­August 23.