Sport
24 April, 2026
Carisbrook Lady Redbacks earn long-awaited win
It’s a result 701 days in the making. The Carisbrook Lady Redbacks secured an elusive victory last Sunday in grand style, dominating Lake Wendouree by 124 points in a memorable moment for the club.
The mother-daughter duo of Sherriden Byrne and Mahli Stone were a family of goal-kickers at CE Brown Reserve, booting five majors each to boost the Lady Redbacks to their first victory in 29 matches.
Fresh off a hard-fought defeat to East Point in round two, Carisbrook entered Sunday’s encounter as favourites against a Lakers team that has so far struggled in 2026.
Following a tense to-and-fro in the opening stages, Stone kicked the Lady Redbacks into gear with a trifecta of goals that gave the visitors the early advantage.
Tamika Loone-Grundy produced one of her patented tackles inside 50 to set up an easy goal following a 50 metre penalty.
While the Lady Redbacks’ defence, led by several composed intercept marks from Danae Every, kept the Lakers scoreless, Stone powered her team to a 33-point lead at the opening break with four first-quarter goals.
Lake Wendouree’s comeback efforts received a major boost early in the second quarter, booting the first goal of the term.
Byrne responded swiftly for the Lady Redbacks, bursting away from a pack of Lakers defenders before the veteran scored Carisbrook’s sixth goal on the run.
In her first game of the season, Charlotte Cain capitalised on some brilliant individual efforts from Loone-Grundy and Tracey Naughton, turning their assists into three goals during the second term.
Despite Lake Wendouree adding a second goal late in the quarter, Carisbrook entered half time with a healthy 50-point lead.
The Lakers demonstrated incredible determination in the third quarter, slowing their opponents to three goals. However, the Lady Redbacks attack exploded in the final term, booting a magnificent 9.1 to complete a 22.8.(140) to 2.4.(16) triumph.
While Stone and Byrne led the way with their bags, Loone-Grundy joined Cain with three well-taken goals.
Every, Olivia Butler, Naughton and Charlotte Metters rounded out the goal-scorers for the Lady Redbacks, with Cain, Loone-Grundy, Metters and Naughton kicking their first senior goals for the club.
Stone and Byrne were also among Carisbrook’s best players alongside Cain, Metters, Loone-Grundy and Tara Curtis.
The Carisbrook Lady Redbacks will now enter their season home opener with the taste of victory coursing through their veins, hosting Bacchus Marsh at Carisbrook Recreation Reserve this Sunday.
The Cobras will also enter the round four matchup off the back of an impressive victory over the Ballarat Swans before their round three bye.