SFL live stream: Darcy Gardner looks to make impact as Brighton take on Dodges Ferry in round 9

A Jude Saavedra masterclass has delivered the Robins into the SFL top three after a Saturday demolition of Dodges Ferry. Watch the REPLAYS now.

The Robins are certainly rocking in the SFL.

A Jude Saavedra masterclass at half-forward has spearheaded Brighton’s rise into the SFL Seniors top three after a dominant 42-point win over Dodges Ferry.

As darkness took hold at Shark Park, Saavedra booted his fifth goal of the game before teammate Caleb Triffett put the exclamation point on the win with a 40m effort after the final siren.

The Robins ran out 15.12 (102) to 8.12 (60) winners.

WATCH THE SFL SENIORS REPLAY IN THE PLAYER ABOVE, SCROLL DOWN TO WATCH THE SFLW REPLAY

While the Sharks were well and truly out-muscled in the first half, conceding 10 goals to seven before the main break, the home side must be commended for their fightback in the final quarter.

Before Triffett’s booming effort on the siren, the Sharks had won the final quarter by nearly two goals.

Fullback Luke Murphy was easily the home side’s best on ground, working tirelessly to put the clamps on impressive Robins goal machine Max Lamb. Lamb finished with two majors for the game.

But it was a game that belonged to Saavedra with the five-goal hero popping up all over the field, adding speed to the Robins work through midfield and opening up teammates for easier looks on goal.

The Robins now move into third place on the SFL ladder on percentages, while the Sharks are at risk of slipping out of the top six by the end of the round.

SFLW Review: Sharks notch century to down Brighton

Chloe Prouse and Maile Ingall kicked three goals each as Dodges Ferry cracked the century mark in disposing of Brighton in what was a surprisngly one-sided SFLW2 clash on Saturday.

The Robins entered the match higher on the table, but failed to score in the first and third quarters and could only muster one goal and two behinds for the entire match.

Dodges Ferry, who were beaten 98-0 by Hutchins last weekend, kicked four goals in each of the final two quarters and passed the 100-mark with 24 seconds left.

Dodges Ferry v Brighton (Women)—SFL Round 9

PREVIEW

Brighton star Darcy Gardner will try to boost his chances of representing Tasmania in the upcoming interstate clash with Queensland with a big performance against Dodges Ferry on Saturday.

Gardner is the only player from the SFL selected in the 45-man state squad and is proud to represent the nine-team second-tier competition.

“That’s a bit of an achievement in itself,” Gardner said.

“To be the only one, it’s something you hold with pride.”

A good showing against the Sharks would help the former Tasmania Devils under-18 player’s stocks and state selectors will watch closely.

You can catch Gardner LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on KommunityTV as part of a big womens/seniors double header from 12.30pm. Check out the LIVE STREAM details below.

“I haven’t pulled on the ‘Map’ since Devils under-18s,” Gardner said.

“We’ve trained the past couple of weeks and I’ve been going pretty good.

Darcy Gardner is hoping for a big game on Saturday. Pic: Nikki Davis-Jones

“At UTas Stadium last week, we had two 15-minute halves of match play. The ball zinged around and it doesn’t hit the ground, so you’ve got to work hard, otherwise you get run over the top of – they’re quick, but I felt like I kept up.

“I’m still in the squad, so hopefully when they select the team, I’ll be in it.”

Brighton is fifth on the ladder the Dodges Ferry sixth, one win and percentage behind.

Gardner feels Brighton’s best is yet to come.

“It has been a good start to the season,” he said.

“When you look at how we’ve gone – we went alright against Lindisfarne, Huonville and Cygnet, we’ve taken it right up to them.

“We’ve improved from the past couple of years so I think we are going really well.”

Shark Luke Murphy insists his side will be ready to pounce on their home deck.

“It’s an opportunity for us to take our journey that little bit further,” he said.

“We are thereabouts and most of the scorelines don’t show the effort we’ve put it, it’s slight error hurting us.

Dodges Ferry captain Luke Murphy and Brighton’s Darcy Gardner.

“Last week it was nice to take the win against Hobart and we started to play the way we really wanted to.”

Gardner says Brighton can “100 per cent” match it with the big teams.

“When we played Cygnet, there were two or three goals in it all day and then come the final siren you’re three or four goals down, so just a couple of tweaks needed there,” he said.

“Come the end of the game you could be winning if you make those adjustments, so we are right up there.”

The inexperience of Brighton is costing them close games.

“I’m still pretty young myself, but we’ve got a young side and once they get a few games into them and get some more experience that could be the difference, once they get going,” he said.

In other games, Claremont is at home to Lindisfarne at Abbotsfield Park, Hobart travel to Cygnet to play The Port, and Huonville Lions take on New Norfolk at Huonville Oval.