Olinda women’s team took on the mammoth task of facing the undefeated ladder leaders and premiership favourites Healesville at Olinda on Saturday morning.
In eerily similar circumstances to the last 4 minutes of the third quarter in the round 10 loss against Berwick Springs, Healesville piled on 19 points in the first four minutes of the game, the first goal coming in 20 seconds.
And 19 points was the final margin of the game; Healesville taking the win 8.4.52 to 5.3.33. That Olinda was able to match the competition’s best for more than three and half quarters will give them incredible belief which is timely, Olinda driving out to Healesville next Sunday for the return bout, the elimination semi final/
Healesville kicked another 2.2 for the quarter to go into the first break 33 points in front.
Olinda came out in the second quarter and started how they had three of the four last games.
A precise tap from ruck virtuoso Chelsea (Big Kahuna) Wilson to a running Captain Courageous Claire Hyett saw the ball pumped forward to the feet of Amalija (Mars) Kostich Angerson. Mars attacked the ball and wheeled onto her right and booted a beautiful long range snap through the big sticks.
As Healesville had done in the opening quarter, this took 20 seconds.
The rest of the quarter was even in gameplay, the ball spending plenty of time in both team’s forward line.
The Big Kahuna (Chelsea Wilson) was instrumental in continually locking the ball into Olinda’s forward line, and she took a handful of intercept marks for the quarter.
A couple of Healesville goals during the quarter were frustrating, one in particular when a Healesville player had a shot for goal at the nine minute mark and no Olinda players were on the goal line, the ball bouncing through the goals unopposed .
Healesville went into the half time break 38 points in front.
A stirring speech from coach Simon Gilson had the girls primed for a comeback in the second half, and they didn’t disappoint.
Both teams peppered their respective forward lines for the first half of the quarter with little reward.
The deadlock was broken at the nine minute mark when Olivia (The Weapon!) Edwards marked strongly at half forward and lobbed the ball to the top of the square to a leading Grace (The Ace) Belloni, who effortlessly went back and slotted the goal. Grace has missed most of the season with representative commitments, and her presence back in the side for this game made an immediate and impressive impact.
The 12 minute mark saw Tobi (Killer) Monkhorst receive a free kick on the wing. Tobes fired the ball long down the line to The Big Kahuna who got the ball down to The Weapon. Liv turned onto her left and kicked truly to (DJ) Ness Curnow (nee Bateman) at centre half forward. Ness went quickly and kicked long out in front of a running Leah (The Lion) Cody who burned off her opponent and ran into the open goal. Leah has also missed much of the season, and she has been greatly missed as Olinda walks taller with her in the side.
Healesville scored their last goal for the game at the 13 minute mark, but Olinda’s fourth goal was a great display of brilliance and teamwork. At the 16 minute mark the ball started with Grace Belloni on the boundary line at centre half forward. As Grace skirted the boundary, an amazing chain of handballs that included The Weapon, Captain Courageous Claire Hyett and Emmalee (Bruce) Keegan ended with Grace still running along the boundary and threading the ball through the tightest of angles. Emmalee also missed much of the mid-season, and her return to the side in the past three weeks has made a massive difference . Another returning player from representative duties, Georgia Stubs, was a welcome inclusion, and controlled much of the ball coming out of Olinda’s backline, winning plenty of contests herself.
The last goal of the game came at the three minute mark when Claire Hyett fired a bullet pass to Emmalee Keegan on the boundary in front of the scoreboard in the north eastern pocket. Bruce’s perfect drop punt from the tight angle was superb. A sour end to an enjoyable contest came in the dying minutes when The Weapon was driven head first into the turf by a Healesville tackle. The sight of Liv’s prostrate body was upsetting for all at the ground, but all were relieved when Liv walked off at the final siren. Fingers and toes will be crossed that The Weapon will be available for next week’s final.
Special mention must go to Olinda’s engine room, Captain Courageous Claire Hyett and Lucy (Goose) Hilton, who were in and under every contest and each had double figure tackles, frequently disallowing Healesville any space, and getting the ball going Olinda’s way. Lucy’s brutal hip and shoulder on a Healesville opponent in the third quarter was a fearsome example of her intent. Equally feared in the competition is Paige (The Rage) Robinson, who kept the opposition’s full forward to one goal. The fact that this week was the competition’s leading goal scorer Danielle Carrucan made the achievement all the more meritorious.
Overall it was a pleasing effort from Olinda against a side they are yet to defeat in their short history. All up on the hill will be hoping the girls can break this losing streak next week in the final at Healesville.
