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FINALS kicked off in style for Division 2 last weekend in the Yarra Valley Mountain District “Community Bank” Football and Netball League with wins to Yarra Glen and Thornton in the Seniors, and Seville and Yea with A Grade wins, while in Division 1, Mount Evelyn snuck into the five in the Seniors and Upwey Tecoma finished on top undefeated in A Grade netball.
DIVISION 1 SENIORS
Wandin 21.18 (144) d Belgrave 12.12 (84)
Wandin has finished the season with a resounding 10-goal win over Belgrave and has finished on top of the ladder. At quarter time, it actually looked as though Belgrave was going to be right in this game as it only trailed by one point but did have more of the play. Wandin, however, kicked into gear in the second term and rammed home nine goals to two in a great display and the margin was out to 41 points.
Wandin stretched the lead to 77 points by three-quarter time on the back of a six goal-to-three quarter before Belgrave pulled the margin back slightly in the last quarter. However this was Wandin’s day and they will be rewarded with a week’s rest to prepare for a clash against the winner of the Woori Yallock/Upwey Tecoma Qualifying Final played next week. Belgrave’s Mitch Collins was a shining light for them as he booted eight of his team’s 12 goals.
Wandin best players: R. Wilson (1 goal), J. Myers (1 goal), J. Bayliss (1 goal). Belgrave best players: M. Collins (8 goals), E. Clasby (1 goal), J. Peagram.
Healseville 15.14 (104) d Monbulk 10.10 (70)
Monbulk will play finals, but they have missed out on the all-important double chance as they went down to Healesville by 34 points. This game didn’t start too well for Monbulk as they couldn’t get the ball forward and they only managed one behind for the term while Healesville booted 2.5 and really should have been further in front.
The second term opened up a little bit and goals came in a bit easier with both teams booting four goals for the quarter which gave Healesville a three-goal half-time lead. Monbulk did claw their way closer in the third, booting three goals-to-two and the margin was just 11 points at the last change. Healesville played a solid last quarter suggested as they ran Monbulk off their legs, booting seven goals-to-three to finish off their season on a very strong note. They have given Monbulk plenty to think about as they go into an Elimination Final against Mount Evelyn next week. Healesville best players: J. Shaw (5 goals), A. Davies, S. Donkin. Monbulk best players: J. Major, D. White, J. Anderson.
Woori Yallock 15.13 (103) d Mount Evelyn 12.13 (85)
Woori Yallock has been rewarded with the double chance after an 18-point victory over Mount Evelyn. Despite Mount Evelyn losing, they have made the finals thanks to other results going their way. Mount Evelyn did lead this game early and went to the first break with a seven-point advantage, but it was Woori who got their running and handball game going as they shared the ball brilliantly, booting six second quarter goals and backing that up with seven third quarter goals while Mount Evelyn could only muster two and one respectively; the three quarter time margin 35 points to Woori Yallock’s advantage.
Mount Evelyn did finish the day reasonably, booting six goals to three but they were never any real threat but they do at least take something into their Elimination Final next week against Monbulk while Woori will take on Upwey in the Qualifying Final. Woori Yallock best players: M. Bonuda (1 goal), M. Witkowski (1 goal), L. Boontjes. Mount Evelyn best players: W. Nicholson, C. Urquhart (1 goal), J. Fellows.
Upwey Tecoma 17.16 (118) d Olinda Ferny Creek 10.12 (72)
Upwey squashed any chance Olinda had of playing finals and they did it early, they started full of run and had six goals on the board at quarter time to just one and Olinda could see their finals dream fading away. Olinda was more competitive in the second quarter but they couldn’t make any in-roads on the deficit as Upwey went into half-time with a 43-point lead. Upwey continued to broaden the gap in the third with a five goal-to-two term and this game was all over bar the shouting in the final change as Upwey had shot out to a 63-point lead. Olinda did outscore Upwey five goals-to-two in the last quarter, but Upwey had this game wrapped up early and will go into next week’s Qualifying Final against Woori Yallock with plenty of confidence. Upwey Tecoma best players: C. Davis, K. Grenda (4 goals), S. Currey. Olinda Ferny Creek best players: S. Horner (3 goals), D. Noorda, J. Rankin (1 goal).
DIVISION 2
A Grade
Seville 46 d Yarra Junction 20
Qualifying Final
Seville was way too good for Yarra Junction and they set their win up early with a 14 goals-to- four first term to give them a good start. Yarra Junction went toe to toe in the second and did stay in the game to an extent trailing by 12 goals at half-time. The second half saw Seville pull away comfortably and finish the day well with a 13 goal-to-three last quarter and will now play Yarra Glen next week with the winner moving onto the Grand Final. Yarra Junction gets one more chance and will take on Yea in a knock-out. Seville best players: Tania Hoare, Zoe Abbruzzese (15 goals), Ashleigh Hardy. Yarra Junction best players: Jenny Gardner (12 goals), Catherine Cook, Amanda Finn (8 goals).
Yea 51 d Powelltown 26
ELIMINATION FINAL
Yea played an outstanding game not giving Powelltown any easy avenues to goal.They got out to a handy 13-goal lead by half-time and looked quite comfortable. The third term was a good contest as Powelly did have their moments but Yea was still able to stretch their lead out to 16 goals by the last change. They then finished in good style adding 16 last-quarter goals to seven to win by a comfortable margin and will move on to play Yarra Junction in another knock-out final next week. Yea best players: Chelsea Spagnolo (33 goals), Gaby Duncan, Lauren Tesoriero. Powelltown best players: Demi Barber, Erin Williams, Jessica Day.
A Reserve
Yea 36 d Yarra Glen 28
QUALIFYING FINAL
This was a great game that Yea had all the answers for, they only led by one goal at quarter time but managed to stretch that lead to four goals by half-time and looked a little more at ease when shooting for goal. The second half was a great battle and Yarra Glen did challenge a couple of times but Yea had the composure to quell any comeback and came away with a great eight-goal victory and will now take on Seville next week for a place in the Grand Final while Yarra Glen get another chance in a knock-out final against Powelltown. Yea best players: Rhiannon Aldous (23 goals), Cindy Hayes (13 goals), Kaylee Turvey. Yarra Glen best players: Nicole Moate, Sharnie Gray (19 Goals), Courtney Chapman, Nicole Moate.
Powelltown 50 d Alexandra 29
ELIMINATION FINAL
This game was a beauty for the first half as it went goal for goal and Alexandra held a narrow one-goal lead at half-time. Powelltown started to get their game gelling in the third quarter and got their defensive structure working well which saw them get out to a handy eight-goal lead. Powelltown really hit their straps in the last term, they ran the ball extremely well shooting 16 goals all while holding Alex to just three to runaway with the win. They will now take on Yarra Glen next week in a knock-out while Alexandra’s season has come to an end. Powelltown best players: Erin Benham, Kerrie Walton (27 goals), Georgie Haynes (7 goals). Alexandra best players: Rachael Manthorpe (16 goals), Jessica Lucas, Stephanie Morten (13 goals).
