Olinda Senior Women v Monbulk @ home 4:45 Saturday
Olinda is a strange place. Driving to the ground looking out the window at sunny blue skies, you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s perfect conditions for a game of football.
On arrival at the ground though, you are sometimes greeted with an icy, blustery wind that comes straight across from Victoria’s snowfields.
Such was the case Saturday night, when Monbulk drove up to the top of the Mountain to take on Olinda at home.
In what was an entertaining, yet sometimes messy contest, Olinda came away with the win 9.10.64 to 3.3.21.
Olinda won the toss and kicked with the arctic blast towards the pavilion end. Olivia (The Weapon) Edwards was locked and loaded at the first bounce and fired immediately, kicking three goals in the first quarter. Liv had a great night, finishing with four goals but having a hand in most of the others, as well as creating a plethora of scoring opportunities. Liv’s skill on both sides of her body, game sense and work rate were on display for all to marvel at.
It was a vintage display from Captain Courageous Claire Hyett. Claire is the epitome of life in the fast lane- everything all the time, and you could add the word everywhere to that. Claire seemed to be in and under or bursting out of every contest, no matter what part of ground, and her ball use for the evening was exceptional. Claire capped off the evening with a goal.
(Laser) Lily Carlin continued her purple patch of form and was instrumental in many of Olinda’s forays forward for the evening. Whether laying crushing tackles or her skills by hand and foot, it was another quality performance.
For a good part of the evening it seemed that every Monbulk kick into their forward line was getting picked off by Anna(Goanna) Hughson at half back, and deposited back over their heads with interest. Hughson is a famous Monbulk name, but it was Anna’s best game in Olinda colours so far, and may there be many more.
Besties Chloe (The Smiling Assassin) Kanally and Claudia Pitts are small in height and young of age, but their output was massive Saturday night. Chloe’s ferocious tackling and contested ball was a highlight, as was Claudia’s strong hands and ball delivery in the forward line, earning her a goal. Leah (The Lion) Cody is relishing her new role forward, where her strong marking and thumping kick are an advantage. Leah finished the night with two goals.
Emmalee (Bruce) Keegan did what she does best all night, roaming the ground haranguing the opposition and setting up scoring opportunities. Emm finished with a goal but with a little luck could have easily had three.
Anja (Onions) Hulston had a great game in the midfield, not simply blanketing Monbulk’s best, but winning plenty of footy herself.
All other Olinda players got their hands on the ball and had moments that contributed well to the win.
Overall it was a challenging game for both teams, but Olinda will look forward to getting four of their best players back in the next two weeks, and consolidating a finals spot in the second half of the season.
Juniors
U17 Boys
At home under grey skies, Olinda had another top of the table clash against Upwey-Tecoma. In what was a competitive game going goal for goal, Upwey Tecoma finally broke away towards the end of the third quarter to take a 10-point lead a three-quarter time. Upwey-Tecoma dominated the last quarter to run away with a 35-point win.
U15 Boys
Round nine saw Olinda missing a few key players and hosting a strong outfit in Mt Evelyn.
Mt Evelyn’s five goals to Olinda’s one in the first quarter meant Olinda were always up against it, and despite Olinda outscoring Mt Evelyn in the third quarter off the back of some outstanding midfield running, Mt Evelyn ran away in the last quarter for a convincing victory.
Tom Ford (two goals) was a strong physical presence all day, while Aden Bates (2goals), Lenny Barry and Kael Johnston were in everything.
As usual, Will Meyer held strong in defence along with Liam Jennings, while U13 Jarrah Bellemo, playing his third game for the day was outstanding against far bigger bodies.
Olinda’s consistency wasn’t quite there but Mt Evelyn are a very good team, with Olinda’s side showing they can mix it with the best when at their best.
Final scores.
Mt Evelyn 16.12.108 d Olinda 5.5.35.
U14 Girls
With a full side, Olinda rolled out to play ladder leaders Upwey on a sunny Olinda morning and the girls were pumped to see how their game was developing.
Despite bigger bodies and some pretty handy footballers, Upwey found Olinda’s determination around the contest difficult to penetrate as the home team were able to lock the ball down when they went forward.
A contingent of U12s come up each week and they have proven to be an integral part of Olinda’s growing team, getting to the bottom of packs to win hard footy and generating run on the outside. The regular U14s are really starting to work well together as a unit and understand how to move the footy and get into to positions to support each other.
U13 Boys White
What a turn up for the books with 26 players making themselves available for the clash with Upwey’s second U13 team. The boys certainly turned up in the first half, challenging Upwey around the ground and going into half time with a three-goal lead. Upwey were having none of it though and could see a path to victory. Upwey’s intensity lifted as Olinda’s dropped and a five-goal second half saw Upwey them snatch the win. It was a real game of two halves but gives Olinda’s boys plenty to work on for the remainder of the season.
U13 Boys Red
Another strong performance by the Under 13 boys in their Round nine clash against Upwey-Tecoma.
A focus of today was to get off to a good start as the boys have been a bit “slow off the mark”in recent weeks… Pleasingly, the lads responded with the game being played in Olinda’s forward half for most the quarter. With the ground not in great condition at the golf course end, scoring was difficult and Olinda managed to kick 1.5 for the quarter.
Efficiency up forward was much improved in the second and third quarters as Olinda kicked six unanswered goals to take a strong lead into the three quarter time break.
Jesse Deste, Hugo Fishburn and Xavier Grimes were dangerous up forward and Spencer Garrett celebrated his 50th game in style having a great game as the boys finished with off with another convincing victory.
U12 Girls
It was a beautiful morning up at Olinda home ground to take on the top team, Upwey.
The team were well aware of Upwey’s skills and were keen to apply everything they have learnt this season in the match. The team, with a strong midfield and backline, were able hold off a flurry of goals holding Upwey to a six-goal win.
A stunning passage of play by Olinda’s midfield and forward line in the second quarter turned into a goal from a little rocket player giving the team a real boost and points on the board. That signature pressure Olinda applied was impressive and continued to be the side’s strength.
With smiles on their faces, the team left the ground proud, knowing their team work and skills had come a long way since round 1 along with great lessons learnt and great memories made.
U11s
The rain overnight had left players with a soggy Olinda oval for the home team’s round nine clash with top of the ladder Upwey.
Olinda’s gutsy boys were up for the challenge, piling on the pressure, and some quality ball use, saw the scores at a goal a piece at half time.
Upwey showed their class in the third kicking two unanswered goals and certainly looked like they had the momentum heading into the fourth.
The young bloods refused to lie down though and put together the toughest quarter of team footy that we had seen all year, keeping the unbeaten ladder leaders scoreless and kicking two goals, only run out of time three points down.
Final score
Olinda 3.4.22
Upwey 3.7.25
U9s
Fresh off the bye weekend, the U9’s young bloods hit the ground running on what was a boggy Yarra Junction oval.
Healesville and Yarra Junction presented another big challenge for us, but in a ding dong battle it was a close result.
Mud was flying everywhere and goals were being scored from all angles… it was a fantastic sight!!
