With the Senior, Reserves and Women’s football teams all having byes it was left to the Under 19s and Netballers to represent Monbulk this week. With a smaller but enthusiastic crowd, Monbulk had a different vibe than a normal Saturday at the Nest.
The Under 19s began proceedings in the morning with a clash of likely finals aspirants Monbulk and Emerald. Third-placed Emerald was a game ahead of Monbulk in fourth, but a Hawk win of greater than two points would be sufficient to usurp the Bombers from the Top 3. The fixture was to favour the home side as a number of Under 19s playing in the Seniors were able to drop back for this match, giving Monbulk a squad of 24 players, compared to just 14 players that Emerald was able to muster. This resulted in Monbulk having 10 players on the bench.
The two sides were evenly matched and it was the Bombers who gained an early lead, although the Hawks managed to wipe out the deficit by halftime. Monbulk was then able to extend the margin out to 18 points by three-quarter time before an Emerald rally reduced the margin to 8 points by the final siren. The Hawks had done enough to secure third place on the ladder but face another challenge next Saturday against the undefeated Narre Warren side at Kalora Park.
Monbulk 7.7.49 def Emerald 6.5.41
Best: Benjamin Grimes, Nick Taylor, Gary Ross, Max Thornton, Jayden Spencer, Riley Finlay
Goals: Benjamin Grimes 2, Gary Ross 1, Ben Hughson 1, Max Thornton 1, Harry Fleming 1, Jai Farmer 1
The 3 netball teams were to meet the stand-alone Beaconsfield Eagles netballers who had remained in the Outer East competition after their football counterparts decided to try their luck in the Eastern League. It was to be a big day for the Monbulk netball teams who were making their debut on the newly opened courts at the Monbulk Recreation Reserve. The impressive infrastructure added to the recent improvements to the ground over the last 3-4 years and will stand Monbulk in good stead for the seasons ahead.
The C Grade netballers were to christen the new courts by playing the first official match on the new facilities. Both Monbulk and Beaconsfield have not had the best year in C Grade, being level on the ladder in 8th and 9th places respectively in the 10-team competition, both having tasted success on just two occasions. In a spirited contest, there was little separating the sides but Monbulk gradually drew ahead by 5 goals by the time hostilities concluded. For the record, Jamie Hicken had the honour of scoring the first goal on the new courts.
Monbulk 27 def Beaconsfield 22
Best: Chloe Schmidtke, Rhiannon O’Connor, Sammy Beecroft
Goals: Jamie Hicken 16, Chloe Schmidtke 11
The Monbulk B Grade girls were gunning for their 8th consecutive win. Even though they were still missing their regular GS and GK, the depth of this squad is such that they were able to cover the absentees and comprehensively won each quarter except for the second. This week they will meet the only side that has been able to better them during the current season when they meet Narre Warren.
Monbulk 48 def Beaconsfield 32
Best: Dayna Walsham, Georgia Himmelreich, Rihanna Kelly
Goals: Dayna Walsham 34, Olivia Crook 14
By the time the A Grade players took to the court the sun was starting to break through in the late afternoon to create a pleasant atmosphere. Both sides were determined to put their best foot forward and an intense contest took place in the first half which included a vigorous play by both sides. Just 4 goals separated the teams by that stage, with the Hawks ahead by that margin. Monbulk then exerted themselves in the second half and they were regularly able to create turnovers as they accumulated 28 goals to the Eagles’ 16. Tiana Mancarella and Paige Whitworth clamped down in defence while Stephanie Puopolo, who had previously had stints at Adelaide Thunderbirds and Queensland Firebirds in the national competition, was unstoppable up forward.
Monbulk 55 def Beaconsfield 39
Best: Stephanie Puopolo, Tiana Mancarella, Nicole Macdowell
Goals: Stephanie Puopolo 42, Sophie Stubbs 13
