Sport
17 July, 2023
Carisbrook Lady Redbacks secure first win in 701 days with 14-point win over Bacchus Marsh
There were tears, cheers and an outpouring of emotion in the Carisbrook rooms on Sunday afternoon. For the first time since round 14, 2021, the Lady Redbacks had finally scored a win. A program that had been reborn over the 2022-23 off-season came...
There were tears, cheers and an outpouring of emotion in the Carisbrook rooms on Sunday afternoon. For the first time since round 14, 2021, the Lady Redbacks had finally scored a win.
A program that had been reborn over the 2022-23 off-season came back to fruition in a big way, with a powerful first half performance helping guide the Lady Redbacks to their 14-point triumph over Bacchus Marsh.
No one can say this hasn’t been coming. In recent weeks, the Lady Redbacks had been improving greatly against more established teams, and their competitive 19-point loss against the Cobras just three weeks ago gave them the impetus to perform on their home deck.
In any case, it was a fast-starting Carisbrook that basically controlled the game from the outset, kicking two of the opening three goals through Sherriden Byrne and Olivia Butler to take an eight-point lead into the first change.
The second quarter saw the Cobras start to ask some questions, particularly in one-on-one clearance situations, but the Lady Redbacks had all the answers. Byrne kicked her second goal from a snap, and in a devastating sucker-punch just before half time, the impressive Anika Munn kicked a goal from long range to suck the life out of the Cobras, as Carisbrook extended their lead to 18 points at the main break.
The third quarter was a dour struggle — not that the Lady Redbacks seemed to mind. They kicked two behinds, but more importantly, held Bacchus Marsh scoreless to extend their lead to 20 points at the last change.
The Lady Redbacks continued to hold the fort as time wound down, with the Cobras kicking a late goal, but to no avail. It was Carisbrook’s day.
Munn was best on ground, while Byrne, Olivia Butler, Ebony Ralph, Tara Kennedy and Tara Curtis were all impressive.
Co-coach Steve Atkinson couldn’t hide his delight at finally securing a drought-breaking win after all the hard work in getting the Lady Redbacks back into the Ballarat Football League Women’s (BFLW) senior competition.
“I’m very proud of all the girls, obviously we have worked extremely hard for this moment to get a win,” he said.
“We’ve been losing to other sides by 20 goals at the start of the season, but we have reduced that to around five goals before finally breaking through.
“Because of the lead we had in the first quarter, the message we had was a quite simple one, to keep them scoreless in the second and third quarter so we could have a good run at it in the last quarter.
“We knew we were going to be tired with the numbers we have had, and we had to make rotations to make sure our last quarters are strong. It all paid off, because as tired as they were, they pushed through and it won the game.”
Atkinson said the Lady Redbacks holding their nerve to lead throughout the day, in a situation they hadn’t experienced all season long, was noteworthy.
“It’s the first time all year we’ve led. Our first score was a point, and I made the observation that it was the first time, but then the goals started to flow,” he said.
“The elation in the last two or three minutes, and seeing them sing the song, there was plenty of tears because of all the hard work they have done.”
Carisbrook captain Caitlin Butler was elated at being able to lead her side to a win for the first time.
“It’s super exciting, great to get our first win. And for the group of girls who have worked hard to ensure we get our team back and finally getting over the line, it’s unreal,” she said.
“It’s emotional getting the win for the hard work everyone has put in on the track. It shows it can pay off. The win goes to everyone on the field, but also everyone off it that helps week in, week out, doing everything possible to make it all happen.”
Atkinson, prior to the game, asked his charges to write a message on their hand to drive their inspiration.
“(Co-coach) Matthew Johns and I asked them to write a message on their hand. We don’t know what their individual message was, but they all played for someone today, including themselves, and Carisbrook are proud of them today,” he said.
Butler confirmed it, while also revealing her message was for sister Olivia.
“Before the game, we all wrote something or someone on our hands for a bit of inspiration for when we needed it in the game. I wrote down “Liv”. We work together in that midfield, and it’s super exciting to be able to play with her this year. We feed off one another,” she said.
Butler said the midfielders were key to forging ahead from start to finish.
“The midfield is really starting to gel together. We have players who are in their first season of football who are learning how to play, as well as learning how to play together, and the intensity in there comes from that midfield. The girls never stopped the whole game,” she said.
“When it all comes together and it pays off, we couldn’t ask for anything more.”
Atkinson said the win was a relief, but he didn’t want to lose sight of the long-term goals.
“From my point of view, it’s like having 22 daughters, and you want to feel their passion and position of having success,” he said.
“The grit they have had from the get-go, learning how to play footy and starting to play good footy by listening.
“To be able to rebound, not having a side for the last few years, all we can do now is recruit more girls, moving into the future, and hopefully the wins become more of a regularity.
“We have seen teams that we know are years ahead of us, such as Redan, who are very good clubs who have extremely good lists and good players. We also have teams like Lake Wendouree, who we’ve had good competition with, that can see us perhaps compete and win with them going forward.”
