FOOTBALL
Seniors
Healesville, Monbulk and Mt. Evelyn are in a tight struggle for a finals berth. Fifth placed Monbulk were at home to the fourth placed Healesville, who were 2 points ahead of them on the ladder. The forecast rain was avoided but a cold wind favouring the top goals was expected to give a two to three goal advantage.
Both sides fielded depleted line-ups as Max Thornton and Bailey Rutherford both played their 50th senior matches. The Hawks were missing Wensley, Barge, Wall, Evans, Hoare, Finlay, Henderson, Dekker, Mutschler and Rickard amongst others. One late out on the morning of the match resulted in Will Hughson being pulled out of the Under 18s game in the second quarter to make his senior debut.
The Hawks were looking for revenge after performing poorly against the Bloods in Round 5 where they went down by 25 points at Don Road. Kicking with the aid of the breeze in the first quarter, Monbulk established a handy four goal buffer by quarter-time. With superb ball movement and pressure the Hawks kicked five goals to none into the wind in the second term to virtually seal the game by half time. Monbulk did not relent in the second half and played out one of their best matches of the season. They again kicked a goal after the final siren, this time courtesy of Will Hughson, but this week it was just for the icing on the cake as the Hawks recorded a solid 83 point win. Monbulk moved into fourth spot and face the third placed Woori Yallock in another anticipated clash this week.
Monbulk 17.9.111 def Healesville 4.4.28
Best: Ziggy Hatherley, Declan Browne, Josh Wentworth, Ben Hughson, Ryan Burleigh, Max Thornton
Goals: Ben Hughson 3, Max Thornton 3, Lochlan Beecroft 2, Ryan Burleigh 2, Ziggy Hatherley 2, Johnathon Hevern 1, Declan Browne 1, Bailey Rutherford 1, Josh Rak 1, William Hughson 1
Reserves
Monbulk only had 20 players this week and Healesville just 18 with the help of a few Under 18s, so it was decided to play 16 a side. Recent recruits Benjamin Wallwork, playing his second game, and Jack Garthwaite from Montrose, making his debut, have given much needed depth with a lengthy list of unavailable players. Ben Grimes was making his long awaited return after a serious hamstring injury back in Round 1 against Gembrook.
The Hawks began the day in fifth place, just percentage ahead of Emerald in sixth while their opponents Healesville were winless on the bottom. Monbulk were a class above Healesville and if not for inaccuracy would have won by over 100 points – they scored 1.8 in the opening term.
Monbulk 15.17.107 def Healesville 3.4.22
Best: Nicholas Heron, Ben Smith, Ben Grimes, Benjamin Wallwork, Jack Garthwaite, Liam Mackin
Goals: Jack Garthwaite 3, Nicholas Heron 2, Harry Fleming 2, Liam Mackin 2, Ben Grimes 2, Matthew James 1, Hamish Emmett 1, Brodie Emmett 1, Ben Smith 1
Under 18s
The Monbulk thirds continue to put up spirited performances but again came up short of their opponents. They face the last placed Woori Yallock this week and will strive to notch their second win of the season.
Monbulk 5.6.36 def by Healesville 11.10.76
Best: Eamon Dawson, Myles Koelewyn, Arley Gray, Ryder Koelewyn, Ben Pratt, Charlie Seamer
Goals: Ryder Koelewyn 2, Cohen Mitchell 1, Charlie Seamer 1, Lawrence Spink 1
NETBALL
A Grade
The top five clubs have all qualified for the finals as there is a big gap to the bottom five. Monbulk are battling with Emerald and Woori Yallock to try and secure the double chance. Last week Peri Reid passed 7000 career goals in the Outer East, having previously played with Woori Yallock and Olinda-Ferny Creek before joining Monbulk in 2023. Her 61 goals against Healesville puts her back in the lead of the Premier Division goal shooting with 618 in 14 matches. The Hawks had too much class and ability for Healesville although the Bloods proved a tenacious opponent throughout and it was only in the last quarter that Monbulk took control with a 19-10 term. The win puts the Hawks into third spot, with the Bombers and Tigers just half a game behind.
Monbulk 70 def Healesville 47
Best: Paige Whitworth, Stephanie Ferguson, Peri Reid
Goals: Peri Reid 61, Stephanie Ferguson 9
B Grade
The Healesville B Grade team have struggled this year and consists of B, C and D Grade players who have to play at a higher level as Healesville don’t field C or D Grade sides. With a win almost guaranteed, coach Christina Puopolo urged the players not be satisfied with a run of the mill victory but to attack the contest for the full match.
Monbulk played an unrelenting game that smashed club records. At one stage they scored a remarkable 45 consecutive goals. They became the first Monbulk side to score 100 goals in a game, and the resultant winning margin was also a record. Jorja Wragg scored an incredible 106 goals, nearly double her previous best of 54. It actually broke the PlayHQ system as the maximum goals that can be entered for a player per game is 99. It is certainly a club record, bettering Lauren Byrnes’ effort of 77 goals against Gembrook in A Grade in 2017, but might even be a League record.
Monbulk 115 def Healesville 5
Best: Jorja Wragg, Olivia Crook, Georgia Wilson
Goals: Jorja Wragg 106, Olivia Crook 9
C and D Grade had byes. Last round’s results for D Grade v Upwey, inadvertently omitted, were:
Best: Beth Sands, Jamie Sands, Shayne Broekhof
Goals: Jamie Sands 20, Macy Giling 16, Shayne Broekhof 3
Under 17s
This match was played last week during the first week of the split round. Monbulk played their best game of the year when they nearly beat fourth placed Wandin. After holding a two goal lead at the final change the Hawks fell short by a single goal.
Monbulk 32 def by Wandin 33
Best: Bridie McCormick, Stevie Mullinder, Ella Flynn
Goals: Ella Flynn 17, Stella Dunstan 15
Under 15s
The two Monbulk teams are sitting third and fourth but faced the top two sides this week. Monbulk Maroon were up against second placed Pakenham Maroon. They were uncharacteristically a little off their game and missed passes proved costly.
Monbulk Maroon 18 def by Pakenham Maroon 35
Best: Isla Stubbs, Bridie McCormick, Stevie Mullinder
Goals: Isla Stubbs 8, Stella Dunstan 7, Bridie McCormick 3
Monbulk Gold faced the unbeaten ROC Blue. Although Monbulk toiled away and tried their best they were unable to match ROC.
Monbulk 9 def by ROC Blue 34
Best: Eila Dewhurst, Olivia Leonard, Ella Longo
Goals: Eden Murphy 4, Amelia Magarry 2, Sophie Pringle 2, Ria Greenaway 1
