By Armin Richter
The Senior Women’s Monbulk football team notched their fifth successive win as they accounted for Seville in emphatic style. The Hawks had 13 scoring shots to one by half time but the Blues made more of a match out of the contest in the second half by tightening up and restricting the Monbulk style of play. Congratulations to Monbulk’s Georgia Knight, who has been with Eastern Ranges this year and made her senior debut with the Box Hill Hawks in the VFLW competition on Sunday, being named at centre half-back.
Monbulk 7.11.53 def Seville 2.4.16
Best: Maddison Dodd, Grace Emmett, Laura Gillard, Ruby Ross, Nina D’Emilio
Goals: Grace Emmett 2, Maddison Dodd 1, Jewel McDermott 1, Ruby Ross 1, Jade McCormick 1, Laura Gillard 1
The Seniors in Monbulk were desperate to get on the winners board after a slow start to the year. The game against Pakenham was controlled largely by the defences of both sides in a low scoring encounter in windy conditions. The Hawks had the best of the ruck clashes and won the contested ball however the Lions led the uncontested possessions with constant switches of play on the wide Toomuc Reserve.
Monbulk seemed to have Pakenham’s measure for the first three quarters and held a 14 point lead at the last change. Two early final term goals by the Lions resulted in a close tussle but a captain’s goal by Pat Barge out of a scrimmage looked to have steadied the Hawks. In the last minute Pakenham, trailing by 5 points, made a final charge out of defence, and with a good mark and long kick on the siren snatched the win from Monbulk by a single point.
Monbulk 6.9.45 def by Pakenham 7.4.46
Best: Riley Finlay, Joshua Spencer, Jack Downard-Pengilly, Dylan Werts, Kai Linde, Lochlan Beecroft
Goals: Ziggy Hatherley 2, Mitch Dekker 2, Pat Barge 1, Lochlan Beecroft
The Monbulk Reserves had never beaten Pakenham in their six prior meetings since 2019, although they had come close on occasions. With a strong lineup, including regular seniors Nic Wall, Josh Wentworth and Mitch Veit, the Hawks controlled the game and gradually drew away from the Lions in blustery conditions to double the score of their opponents.
Monbulk 8.4.52 def Pakenham 4.2.26
Best: Mitchell Veit, Nicholas Wall, Campbell Evans, Thomas Trezise, Harry Fleming, Josh Wentworth
Goals: Nicholas Wall 3, Josh Wentworth 2, Matt James 1, Campbell Evans 1, Lachlan Smith 1
The Senior Women’s team notched their fifth successive win as they accounted for Seville in emphatic style. The Hawks had 13 scoring shots to one by half time but the Blues made more of a match out of the contest in the second half by tightening up and restricting the Monbulk style of play. Congratulations to Monbulk’s Georgia Knight, who has been with Eastern Ranges this year and made her senior debut with the Box Hill Hawks in the VFLW competition on Sunday, being named at centre half-back.
Monbulk 7.11.53 def Seville 2.4.16
Best: Maddison Dodd, Grace Emmett, Laura Gillard, Ruby Ross, Nina D’Emilio
Goals: Grace Emmett 2, Maddison Dodd 1, Jewel McDermott 1, Ruby Ross 1, Jade McCormick 1, Laura Gillard 1
Monbulk’s A Grade netball team started competitively but were beaten 18-7 in the second term and never recovered. The second placed Lions played with confidence for the remainder of the match to chalk up a 20 goal win in the end.
Monbulk 35 def by Pakenham 55
Best: Sophie Stubbs, Elly Stewart, Jennifer Dewhurst
Goals: Stephanie Ferguson 19, Elly Stewart 15, Sophie Stubbs 1
B Grade Monbulk came up against the third placed Pakenham side and stunned the Lions on their home courts in the first half, holding a 28-16 lead. The Hawks were looking at recording a strong win until in-form Goal Keeper Rihanna Kelly went down with an injury. Pakenham then clawed their way back to force a draw.
Monbulk 44 drew Pakenham 44
Best: Georgia Wilson, Chloe Schmidtke, Sophie Stubbs
Goals: Jorja Wragg 36, Dayna Walsham 5, Sophie Stubbs 2, Chloe Schmidtke 1
In C Grade, the Hawks opened strongly against the ladder leading Lions, with Jamie Sands on target in the tricky wind to take a 10-6 quarter time lead. Pakenham steadied after that and eventually recorded a ten goal win, but the Hawks can take plenty from the game into next week.
Monbulk 23 def by Pakenham 33
Best: Grace Sands, Sammi Kelly, Lisa Boyle
Goals: Jamie Sands 16, Grace Sands 6, Chloe Carmichael 1
D Grade experienced the wind was at its strongest in the morning and the 11th placed Monbulk squad battled the conditions and a good Pakenham team, who were second on the table, eventually succumbing by 25 goals but gave a good account of themselves.
Monbulk 11 def by Pakenham 36
Best: Maddy Buckland, Brooke O’Loughlin, Leah Hansby
Goals: Maddy Buckland 10, Ella Flynn 1
Under 15s had the performance of the day. Three weeks ago these teams had met on the same courts and the Lions won 25-13. Both sides were sitting equal second on the table with a 3-1 record each. They faced rain and wind in the early morning game. Monbulk played a superb team game to completely reverse the earlier result and make a defining statement in their 13 goal win.
Monbulk 24 def Pakenham 11
Best: Stella Dunstan, Bridie McCormick, Isabelle Cross
Goals: Kaitlyn Summers 12, Lara Stenhouse 9, Isla Stubbs 3
