The ADF has raced to its fourth straight win against the VWFL in their annual ANZAC Cup clash at North Port Oval today. Kate Lutkins was the star with seven goals for the ADF, as they won 10.4 64 to VWFL 2.6 18.
Lutkins kicked two goals in each of the first three quarters to be the key playmaker for the ADF with her agility, strong marking and run up forward. The Army tall tackled four opponents across the afternoon, with her last VU Western Spurs Alyssa Mifsud able to hold her to one goal in the final term.
Boasting representatives from 21 VWFL / VFL Women’s clubs, the VWFL All Stars took time to warm up, with the well drilled ADF side taking full advantage. While Sarah McKenna (Kew) and Sharma Edwards (Brunswick) performed well in the ruck, the ADF were able to use the ball first out of the middle through the likes of Rhiannon Busch, Lara Pilton, Natasha Sant and Louella McCarthy.
Up by 14 points at quarter time, the ADF restricted the VWFL to no score in the second term as Lutkins added her third and fourth goals, and Liz Buffet and Caitlyn Elleray lent support up forward to see the visitors out to a 36-point half time lead. Cassandra Emery was a rock in defence for the ADF, assisted by the likes of Jenna Mercer and Jess McKinnon who both bad life difficult for the VWFL forwards.
After half time the VWFL side looked refreshed and ready to start the game, and Emily Crawford (Bacchus Marsh) quickly added the home team’s first goal from a free kick. Olivia Aing (Eastern Devils), Jordan Ivey (Lake Wendouree) and Nicole Garner (Gippsland Galaxy) started to get plenty of the ball, and pushed it forward, but it was not long till Lutkins showed her athleticism again with two running goals to push the ADF lead out to 42 points 13 minutes in the third term.
While Jen Plumb (Melb Uni), Kelsie Gill (Sunbury) and Lisa Halfpenny (Darebin) worked hard to repel the ADF attacks, their opponents continued to rebound quickly back inside forward 50. The VWFL had its chances late in the third term, but inaccuracy struck, with four behinds for the term. Joanna Farnell (Chirnside Park) provided a late glimmer of hope for the home team, as the margin was cut to 34 points at the final change.
Despite having the momentum going into the final term, the VWFL were unable overrun the ADF, as the visitors shut down the game. The first score of the final term did not come until the 17 minute mark, as Elleray added her second, while the Lutkins added her seventh just a minute later to round out a polished performance, and provide a 46-point win.
VWFL coach Brendan Major said after the game while the second half was pleasing, it took time for his side to come mould together in the first half.
“The way we finished the game was really good - we struggled in the first half with players from 21 different clubs getting to know each other,” Major said.
“The more players like this get to train together for a representative match – they just trained Tuesday – it gives you a lot of confidence of the skill level and the players coming through in the lower divisions.”
In the earlier game, Vic Metro 9.18 69 defeated Vic Country 8.12 60.
A full replay of both games will be online Sunday night HERE.
VWFL 0.2 0.2 2.6 2.6 18
ADF 2.2 6.2 8.4 10.4 64
Goals
VWFL: Crawford (Bacchus Marsh), Farnell (Chirnside Park)1
ADF: Lutkins 7, Elleray 2, Buffet 1
Best
VWFL: Mifsud (VU Western Spurs), Garner (Gippsland), Ivey (Lake Wendouree), Plumb (Melb Uni), McKenna (Kew), Edwards (Brunswick Renegades)
ADF: Sant, Lutkins, Busch, Doyle, Mercer, Pilton
Last Modified on 24/04/2016 19:20