Sport
1 August, 2025
Lady Redbacks battle in season finale
While they couldn’t grab that elusive victory in 2025, the Carisbrook Lady Redbacks finished their season with a hard-fought, mud-filled battle with Lake Wendouree, who finished as 35-point winners.
After one of their best performances of the season against East Point, the Lady Redbacks were quietly confident of finishing their season with a win, especially with a complete team available.
With Carisbrook Recreation Reserve heavily affected by last weekend’s downpour, consistent ball movement was challenging for both teams in the first quarter, resulting in limited opportunities.
Looking for a confidence-boosting result ahead of this weekend’s finals, the Lakers took control of the match early, but couldn’t translate it into a sizeable lead, starting the game with three consecutive behinds.
That meant Carisbrook had multiple chances to snatch an early lead midway through the first quarter.
Luck wasn’t on the Lady Redbacks’ side, as an Olivia Rogers attempt skewed just wide to get Carisbrook on the scoreboard, while a moment of individual brilliance from Sherriden Byrne resulted in a shot which hit the post.
Despite that, the Lady Redbacks were on the Lakers’ heels before Alice Walsh gave the visitors some breathing room, booting the opening goal with the last kick of the first term to give her team an eight-point lead.
That goal seemed to give Lake Wendouree a surge of momentum, dominating the second quarter, particularly around the contests.
Even with Carisbrook key defender, Danae Every, making multiple goal-line interventions to turn a certain six points into one, the Lakers scored 15 unanswered points in the second term, extending their lead to 23 points at half time.
Despite the deficit, the Lady Redbacks continued to battle in the second half, creating more attacking chances to begin the third quarter.
However, the Lakers were winning the majority of the one-on-one contests, building the margin to 30 points at the final break thanks to a goal midway through the term.
Striving for a memorable end to their campaign, Carisbrook fought hard in the last 20 minutes, kicking a point to open the scoring in the fourth quarter and only conceding one goal.
That didn’t change the final result, as Lake Wendouree will enter their elimination final with East Point following a 5.8.(38) to 0.3.(3) win over Carisbrook.
Every was awarded for her defensive acumen, named among the best players alongside Olivia Butler, Emme Johnson, Charlotte Metters, Remi and Tiani Jardine.
Despite the defeat, Lady Redbacks senior coach Simon Booker said 2025 was an encouraging campaign.
“I don’t think we played as well as we did last week, to be honest, but it was very difficult conditions and pretty wet underfoot,” he said.
“The numbers were great, we had six on the bench for the first time all year, it just shows how much the girls are keen to play footy, learn and be together as a group.
“The biggest thing I think this year is bringing the younger girls in together with the girls who have been playing a while, there was a little bit of a divide to start the year, but now it’s the one group full of mates.”
After taking the reins from Steve Atkinson and Matthew Johns this season, Booker will return as senior coach in 2026, excited to continue what he called a rewarding experience.
“I think it’s just an awesome program — I’ve got a couple of good mates who coach women’s footy, and when I took it up this year they said to me ‘you’ll find more satisfaction in this than any other coaching role you’ve had’ and they were dead right,” he said.
“Improvements in individual players, particularly the girls who have only just taken up football, have been a great highlight. Their improvement from round one to the end of the year is out of sight.
“The top one for me would be Remi Jardine, who is an example of a young kid having confidence in themselves to know they can play football and compete.
“Their love to learn and play the game has been amazing, I’d encourage any girl, regardless of what they think they can or can’t do, to have a go at it.”
Lady Redbacks captain Butler echoed Booker’s comments, high-lighting the group’s togetherness and positive atmosphere.
“There’s definitely been heaps of improvement over the season, it was good to get some girls back who didn’t play earlier in the season or come back from injuries,” she said.
“A lot of teams who haven’t had a win all season would see their numbers start to drop off, but for us to end with the most players possible is awesome and exciting for next year.
“We have got a really great group, we hang out after the game and just have fun, that’s the main thing.
“Hopefully, in the coming seasons, we are going to get some wins and move up the ladder.”