Sport
4 July, 2025
Lady Redbacks suffer tough defeat to Devils
The Carisbrook Lady Redbacks travelled to Darley last Sunday to take on the BFLW reigning premiers Darley Devils.
Following an encouraging performance against Bacchus Marsh at home in round 12, the Lady Redbacks were motivated to bring the fight to a Devils team fighting for the minor premiership with Redan.
The Devils wasted no time asserting their dominance on their home ground, kicking eight unanswered goals in the first quarter to build a 51-point lead at quarter time.
With Danae Every providing a sturdy last time of defence and Tamika Loone-Grundy and Maddison Smith producing some great tackles early in the second quarter due to their unrelenting chase, the Lady Redbacks slowed the Devils down in the first half of the second quarter.
Despite the efforts of Every, Loone-Grundy and Smith, the Devils booted another eight goals in the second term, taking the margin to triple digits by half time.
Even with the sizeable deficit, the Lady Redbacks continued to fight after the main break and stepped up in the opening stages of the second half.
Darley remained ruthless, kicking five straight goals late in the third quarter to boost their lead to 152 points at three-quarter time.
The Lady Redbacks produced their best defensive quarter in the final term, but the home side still managed to kick five goals in the last 20 minutes to finish on 28.21. (189) while keeping the visitors scoreless.
Lady Redbacks captain Olivia Butler continues to lead from the front, named among the best players for the third consecutive week alongside Every, Smith, Loone-Grundy, Emme Johnson and Tiani Jardine, who played her best game of the season against the Devils.
Carisbrook now prepares for another road trip to face another premiership contender, this week it's against the ladder-leading Redan Lions, who have beaten the Lady Redbacks by an average margin of 149 points this season.
The Lady Redbacks will be keen to bring that margin down on Sunday at Western Oval as they look to finish their season strongly.
