After a winless 2023, Darebin made huge strides this year in its quest re-emerge as one of the powerhouse sides of the rebel VFLW.
BY THE NUMBERS
Position: 10th
W-L-D: 5-9 (70.0%)
Players used: 35
Played every match: 6 – Sam Baisis, Shannon Egan, Alyssa Mifsud, Simone Ruedin, Olivia Storer, Grace Wake
AFLW players used: 0
Debutants: 14 – Sam Baisis, Lauren Collis, Jasmine Farrugia, Jess Fitzpatrick, Lana Fullwood, Ali Gottliebsen, Georgina Gough, Laura Griss, Chloe Kodagoda, Emily Mirabella, Emily Rayment, Mia Rudzki, Paige Trajkovski, Casey Wright
STAR PERFORMERS
Best and Fairest: 1st: Ange Gogos, 2nd: Caitlin Bunker, 3rd: Monique Dematteo
Lambert-Pearce Medal votes: Ange Gogos (13), Monique Dematteo (10), Caitlin Bunker (6)
Coaches MVP votes: Ange Gogos (83, winner), Caitlin Bunker (38), Monique Dematteo (33)
Leading Goal Kickers: Monique De Matteo 24 (Rohenna Young Medal), Ella Southgate 5, Simone du Parquet 4
STAT LEADERS
(Averages – Minimum 6 matches)
Disposals: Ange Gogos 22.5, Caitlin Bunker 16.1, Nicole Callinan 15.2
Contested possessions: Ange Gogos 16.5, Nicole Callinan 9.0, Alyssa Mifsud 8.7
Kicks: Ange Gogos 14.8, Nicole Callinan 12.5, Caitlin Bunker 11.5
Handballs: Ange Gogos 7.6, Caitlin Bunker 4.6, Alyssa Mifsud 4.1
Marks: Simone du Parquet 3.0, Simone Ruedin 2.5, Steph Simpson 2.4
Tackles: Caitlin Bunker 10.2, Ange Gogos 9.2, Sam Baisis 6.9
Hitouts: Shannon Egan 27.5, Simone Ruedin 6.4, Simone du Parquet 0.7
Clearances: Ange Gogos 8.5, Caitlin Bunker 4.3, Nicole Callinan 3.8
Inside-50s: Caitlin Bunker 2.3, Ange Gogos 2.3, Monique De Matteo 2.2, Alyssa Mifsud 2.2, Nicole Callinan 2.2
Rebound-50s: Riley Christgoergl 3.4, Nicole Callinan 3.3, Ange Gogos 3.2
What went right: The second half of the season was nothing short of magnificent as the Falcons broke a 28-match losing streak against next-door neighbour Carlton and went on to win five of their last seven matches to lay a strong platform for the future. One of several star recruits, Monique Dematteo, charged home to win the Rohenna Young Medal as the league’s leading goal kicker. Ange Gogos will start as one of the favourites for the Lambert-Pearce Medal if she goes around again in 2025 after finishing fourth in this year’s count while also winning the rebel Coaches MVP Award.
What went wrong: The first half of the season put paid to any hopes of the Falcons soaring from last into the finals as it took time for their new-look squad to gel. They kicked just two goals combined in the first three games and it looked like another bleak year at 0-7 before the remarkable revival.
Summary: Has the sleeping giant of women’s football awoken? Aside from beating Carlton twice, they also knocked off Box Hill Hawks when the Hawks were on top of the ladder, convincingly beat grand finalist the Western Bulldogs and ran eventual premiers North Melbourne to one straight kick when the Roos were beginning to make their charge. If they can top up again, finals contention could again be within reach in 2025.
Grade: 7/10
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