Sport
13 June, 2024
Stern test for Lady Redbacks
Carisbrook will face a significant test on Sunday as they travel to second-placed Darley. The Devils have been in good form this season, having only dropped one game, and their winning run included a 107-point win over Carisbrook in round three...
Carisbrook will face a significant test on Sunday as they travel to second-placed Darley.
The Devils have been in good form this season, having only dropped one game, and their winning run included a 107-point win over Carisbrook in round three.
However, the Lady Redbacks have been improving against quality opposition in the Ballarat Football League Women’s competition this season, and they will look to reduce the margin again.
Prior to the King’s Birthday break, which also marked the halfway point of the season, the Lady Redbacks were competitive against Lake Wendouree, with two quarters which saw them concede two goals realistically their undoing as they lost by 36 points.
Still, all current signs point to this season being quite a step forward.
The Lady Redbacks have more than doubled their percentage from last season, currently sitting on 17, and realistically, much of that could be attributed to their losses to the Devils and Redan, losing both by a combined 225 points.
Take out both of those games, however, and the average losing margin has been slashed to 30.5 points.
When you consider that the average losing margin has been slashed from 139.6 points to 57.8 points at the same time last year, it speaks to the remarkable job done by co-coaches Steve Atkinson and Matthew Johns to continue to instill improvement into the group.
In their loss to Lake Wendouree, Julianne Baldock, Olivia Butler, Tiani Jardine, Caitlin Butler, Maddison Smith and Tara Curtis were all named in the best as they fought right to the end.
Meantime, the under 16s will have a tough task this week at home against North Ballarat, who currently lead the competition in dominant fashion.
The under 16s are still seeking their first win of the season, and were very close to breaking the streak in their last game before the break, leading at half time against East Point by four points, before they were run over, losing by 10 points.
On that occasion, Emme Johnson, Rhani Evans — who kicked two goals — Eden Weaver, Georgina Bates, Remi Jardine and Amber Hogarth were all named in the best.
Carisbrook have already played against North Ballarat once this season, their opening round away game, which saw them lose by 141 points, and will be hoping for a closer contest at home this time around.