By Armin Richter
FOOTBALL
In football the Seniors had their run of pleasant weather on Saturday afternoons continue when the Hawks travelled down to Officer to take on the Kangaroos. Monbulk had met Officer on six previous occasions since 2019 and were leading the head to head clash count 5-1, although on this occasion Officer were 7th with four wins and Monbulk 10th after securing their first victory before the bye. A tricky crosswind made for scrappy play as players on both sides missed targets. Officer started more assuredly with 9 scoring shots to 2 in the opening term but only led by 17 points at the first change.
The Hawks slowly worked their way back into the game with hard running and attack at the contest and had their noses in front by half time. This was followed by another solid quarter as Monbulk looked comfortable heading into the last quarter with a 15 point buffer. Officer’s conservative possession game to that stage was altered to an attacking game plan which reaped 2 goals in 3 minutes and it was game on. Monbulk steadied from that point and settled for a hard fought 10 point win that saw them move up another spot on the ladder.
Monbulk 10.8.68 def Officer 8.8.56
Best: Joshua Spencer, Campbell Evans, Ben Hughson, Lochlan Beecroft, Josh Wentworth, Brodie Emmett
Goals: Ben Hughson 2, Ziggy Hatherley 2, Campbell Evans 2, Johnathon Hevern 1, Joshua Spencer 1, Max Thornton 1, Josh Rak 1
RESERVES
Monbulk’s Reserves had been on a hot streak lately, winning four of their last five, but coming up against the fourth placed Officer brought with it a 31 point defeat. The Kangaroos were better structured to take advantage of the wide ground although the Hawks still played with plenty of endeavor. Co-Coach Michael Langworthy will play his 250th Senior/Reserve match against Gembrook-Cockatoo this week.
Monbulk 4.3.27 def by Officer 8.10.58
Best: Lewis Oliver, Cameron Griffiths, Hayden Finlay, Thomas Berman, Thijs Koelewyn, Noah Rutherford
Goals: Hayden Finlay 2, Michael Langworthy 1, Hamish Emmett 1
WOMEN’S
Football is a team sport but Monbulk’s Scarlett Henderson was also able to put together a personal highlights reel at the same time. Scarlett, who had won the League Best & Fairest in the EFL Under 18s Girls competition last year, when playing for the Emerald-Monbulk combined team, was playing just her second game back, and her second senior match overall, after breaking her hand in the preseason. Her six goals against Officer sits only behind Kathryn Gow’s 8 goals against Upwey-Tecoma in 2019 in the club records. Monbulk’s defence was also a highlight as they restricted the Roos to just 5 points and the game was largely played on their terms and in their forward half. The Hawks moved back to the top of the ladder after Warbuton-Wesburn and Woori Yallock drew.
Monbulk 8.6.54 def Officer 0.5.5
Best: Scarlett Henderson, Madeline Caarels, Shania Turner, Josie Ford, Yanessa Hancock-wolfe, Ruby Ross
Goals: Scarlett Henderson 6, Josie Ford 1, Grace Emmett 1
NETBALL
A GRADE
In A Grade Monbulk were forced to change up their team with Elly Stewart, Jen Dewhurst, Jamie Clark and Paige Whitworth all unavailable this week. The team welcomed back Tiana Mancarella after a miraculous recovery from an ACL just 3 months ago and also blooded a new player in Taya Barnett, who made her club debut. Both Monbulk and ROC went into the match with four wins to date, although the Hawks also had a draw. Monbulk weren’t playing at their best as both sides defended well, forcing turnovers. The Hawks won each quarter comfortably though to stay in touch with the ladder leaders.
Monbulk 58 def ROC 43
Best: Nicole Macdowell, Taya Barnett, Peri Reid
Goals: Peri Reid 42, Stephanie Ferguson 14, Sophie Stubbs 2
B GRADE
Third placed ROC and Monbulk, in seventh spot, fought out a tight goal for goal match, with both sides responding strongly as the game fluctuated. By three-quarter time ROC held a narrow advantage of just 2 goals. Unfortunately for the Hawks, ROC broke the shackles in the last term to score 14 to 7.
Monbulk 43 def by ROC 52
Best: Siobhan Munday, Beth Anderson, Dayna Walsham
Goals: Dayna Walsham 21, Georgia Wragg 15
C GRADE
Monbulk were outscored in the second and last quarters but strung together some great netball in the first and third terms, which they won collectively 17-16 for those stages. As ROC are a leading team, Monbulk can take some great encouragement out of this result despite the scoreline.
Monbulk 25 def by ROC 45
Best: Laura Del Biondo, Lisa Boyle, Sammi Kelly
Goals: Jamie Sands 17, Chloe Carmichael 4, Maddy Buckland 3, Laura Del Biondo 1
D GRADE
Monbulk faced the ladder leading ROC in this section and battled out the match for the full four quarters. They will look forward to their clash with Gembrook-Cockatoo this week as they strive for their first win.
Monbulk 12 def by ROC 52
Best: Caitlin Utting, Isabel Connell, Hayley Donald
Goals: Maddy Buckland 7, Ella Flynn 3, Hayley Donald 2
UNDER 15s
The undefeated ROC team met second placed Monbulk for the first time this year. The Hawks played a brilliant game where they kept ROC to their lowest score for the year while also scoring the most of any side against them. Monbulk grabbed an early lead and there was just a solitary goal separating the teams at the final break. ROC finished the game strongly but the Hawks showed that it won’t be a one horse race in this division.
Monbulk 14 def by ROC 22
Best: Ella Longo, Isabelle Cross, Bridie McCormick
Goals: Stella Dunstan 6, Lara Stenhouse 5, Kaitlyn Summers 3
