By Armin Richter
FOOTBALL
Seniors
Second placed Woori Yallock was seen as the most likely challenger to Wandin this year. On Saturday the Tigers journeyed to Monbulk to meet the fifth placed Hawks. The first wet round of matches were played for the year as persistent showers and a south-westerly wind greeted the players. The ground was firm but the greasy ball meant that a contested game would ensue.
Monbulk gained the early ascendancy, establishing a 15 point buffer by half time. Two early goals by the Tigers in the third term brought the margin back to within a point. It was to be an arm wrestle from then on until the final siren as both sides threw everything at the contest. The Hawks again established a small lead and were to prevail in an entertaining match with their biggest scalp of the season.
Monbulk 8.7.55 def Woori Yallock 7.6.48
Best: Campbell Evans, Ryan Burleigh, Lachlan Sheppard, Pat Barge, Lochlan Beecroft, Riley Finlay
Goals: Ryan Burleigh 2, Lochlan Beecroft 1, Declan Browne 1, Kai Linde 1, Ziggy Hatherley 1, Adam Banks 1, Joel Wensley 1
Reserves
The Monbulk Reserves have had their best start to a season since 2008 and were sitting in second place with a 4-1 record. Woori Yallock by comparison were in seventh but the weather made it a closer tussle than expected and the determined Tigers took it up to the hosts. A six goal straight first quarter by the Hawks established a margin of 3 to 5 goals that was maintained to the final siren.
Monbulk 11.4.70 def Woori Yallock 5.9.39
Best: Jacob Defina, Brodie Emmett, Jack Downard-Pengilly, Cameron Griffiths, Nicholas Heron, Steven Shankly
Goals: Johnathon Hevern 4, Brodie Emmett 3, Trent Purcell 1, Coby Passingham 1, Jacob Defina 1, Dylan Werts 1
Under 18s
The Hawks were sitting winless and last on the ladder and looking for their first scalp of 2025. They had been training well and considered fellow stragglers Woori Yallock as beatable. Monbulk played a scintillating first half and by early in the third term had kicked the first ten goals of the match. The Tigers fought back to kick six of the last ten goals but it was the Hawks who celebrated a 50 point win in opening their account for the year. Monbulk moves to eighth and will have a bye this week.
Monbulk 14.9.93 def Woori Yallock 6.7.43
Best: William Hughson, Brock Downey, Eamon Dawson, Arley Gray, Finley Ede, Myles Koelewyn
Goals: William Hughson 4, Riley Broadbent 2, Cooper Palmer 2, Myles Koelewyn 2, Lucas Ibarra 1, Mitchell Clark 1, Arley Gray 1, Finn Horsfall 1
NETBALL
A Grade
Monbulk (2nd) and Woori Yallock (5th) would play a fast paced match where the Hawk’s edge in class ultimately contributed to their 11 goal win. They will face another challenge from the fourth placed Emerald this week as spots at the top of the ladder are being hotly contested.
Monbulk 58 def Woori Yallock 47
Best: Paige Whitworth, Jamie Clark, Stephanie Ferguson
Goals: Peri Reid 40, Stephanie Ferguson 17, Sophie Stubbs 1
B Grade
Last week Monbulk scored 94 goals (Wragg 54, Walsham 26, Crook 14) to remain undefeated on top of the ladder. With Jorja Wragg and Dayna Walsham unavailable, the match against fifth placed Woori Yallock was always going to be a danger game. It was a very even contest with only a few goals separating the sides throughout. When the final siren sounded the Tigers emerged victorious by a single goal as the Hawks dropped to second on the ladder.
Monbulk 45 def by Woori Yallock 46
Best: Olivia Crook, Elizabeth Cutting, Georgia Wilson
Goals: Olivia Crook 29, Chloe Carmichael 15, Chloe Schmidtke 1
C Grade
The Hawks and Tigers were fifth and sixth on the ladder respectively and an even duel was anticipated. Woori Yallock grabbed an early lead which they were able to maintain to the end.
Monbulk 33 def by Woori Yallock 38
Best: Sammi Kelly, Chloe Schmidtke, Chloe Carmichael
Goals: Maddy Buckland 23, Chloe Carmichael 6, Grace Sands 4
D Grade
The Hawks were setting their sights on finals pre-season but were sitting mid-table with a 2-2 record as they came up against top team Woori Yallock. Playing their best netball this year, Monbulk burst from the blocks to score 12 to 2 in the opening quarter. The lead got out to 15 before the Tigers pegged back some pride in the last.
Monbulk 36 def Woori Yallock 26
Best: Macy Giling, Jamie Sands, Tara Donald
Goals: Jamie Sands 29, Macy Giling 7
Under 17s
The Under 17s have had a tough run to date and have yet to win a game. Playing Woori Yallock for the second consecutive week produced a similar result to last week as they went down by eleven goals. They play a good game at times but are battling to find consistency across the games.
Monbulk 17 def by Woori Yallock 28
Best: Bridie McCormick, Maddison Bedet, Isabelle Cross
Goals: Ella Flynn 9, Maddison Bedet 8
Under 15s
Both Monbulk teams played side by side in a double header. Monbulk Maroon came up against Woori Yallock while Monbulk Gold met Pakenham Gold. The Maroons scored an emphatic win, taking control of the game after quarter time.
Monbulk Maroon 29 def Woori Yallock 10
Best: Tully Caccia, Stella Dunstan, Jessica Verheyen
Goals: Isla Stubbs 14, Jessica Verheyen 9, Stella Dunstan 6
On a wet slippery court Monbulk Gold played out an enthralling encounter with bottom side Pakenham Gold. Trailing all day, they came from three goals down at the final change to claim victory in the dying stages.
Monbulk Gold 19 def Pakenham Gold 18
Best: Daphne Mitchell, Ruby Irwin, Olivia Leonard
Goals: Eden Murphy 16, Amelia Magarry 2, Sophie Pringle 1
