Armin Richter
FOOTBALL
SENIORS
Monbulk continued with their push towards a finals berth on Saturday when the Hawks were at home to Olinda in cold and wet conditions. Playing with great determination and intensity, Monbulk were able to apply pressure to the Bloods ball carriers and then quickly transfer it to their forward line. Despite the miserable conditions, the Hawks were deadly in front of goal early, and had notched 10 straight goals by half time while Olinda laboured on 5 behinds.
The Hawks didn’t take their foot off the pedal for a minute, although their accuracy was more in line with the inclement weather after the long break. Olinda scored their only goal late in the third term courtesy of a free kick and 25 metre penalty. The game came to its conclusion with both sides fighting it out to the end. Olinda’s score of 1.7.13 was its lowest at Monbulk in 22 years, since registering 1.3.9 in 2002. The Bloods’ lowest ever score against the Hawks was 1.1.7 at Olinda in 2004.
Premier Division has 12 clubs and will hold a Final Six this season. The win lifts Monbulk into equal sixth, level with Mt. Evelyn, whom they will face this week in a match that may decide both teams’ finals ambitions. After losing their opening seven matches, the Hawks have been 6-1 since then, with convincing wins over Upwey (fourth) and Olinda (fifth) in the last 3 rounds.
Monbulk 13.9.87 def Olinda-Ferny Creek 1.7.13
Best: Lochlan Beecroft, Campbell Evans, Robert Savory, Joshua Spencer, Ziggy Hatherley, Lachlan Smith
Goals: Lochlan Beecroft 2, Brodie Emmett 2, Ziggy Hatherley 2, Max Thornton 2, Lachlan Smith 2, Ben Hughson 1, Pat Barge 1, Adam Banks 1
RESERVES
For the Reserves it was all about honouring Michael Langworthy in his 250th Senior/Reserve grade game. ‘Langers’ holds the all time record at the club for goals kicked at senior level with 442, which included 73 in 2011 to be the leading goalkicker of the League after finals and is one of just 17 players to have played 200 Senior matches with the Hawks. He had originally begun with the Monbulk Junior Football Club in 1995 and, counting all his appearances at both senior and junior level at Monbulk, he has now played 411 games over 30 years.
‘Langers’ is the current Reserves Co-Coach with Dean White, who had also passed the 250 game milestone earlier this year. Monbulk and Olinda both went into the game sitting on four wins. The Bloods looked to spoil the party by playing some solid football in the first half and held a narrow three point advantage at the main break. The wet slippery conditions made it a slog for the last 40 minutes as Monbulk gained the ascendancy and kept Olinda scoreless for that period.
Monbulk 6.10.46 def Olinda-Ferny Creek 3.6.24
Best: Hamish Emmett, Ryan Gilbert, Johnathon Hevern, Noah Rutherford, Jacob Defina, Dale Ross
Goals: Michael Langworthy 3, Hamish Emmett 1, Ben Grimes 1, Steven Shankly 1
WOMEN’S
The Monbulk Senior Women’s team was also playing at home against Warburton-Wesburn in a battle between first and second. The first half was affected by the wind and it was Monbulk who handled these conditions better to lead 4.2 to 1.3 at half time. The rain began in the second half and, while the Burras had more scoring opportunities, the Hawks maintained a handy lead throughout to eventually triumph by 11 points. Monbulk now sit a game clear on top of the ladder with one round remaining before finals and have secured the double chance. An injury to Jade McCormick being the only concern coming out of the game.
Monbulk 5.4.34 def Warburton-Wesburn 2.11.23
Best: Shania Turner, Scarlett Henderson, Maddison Dodd, Stacey Jolly, Yanessa Hancock-Wolfe, Hannah Koolstra
Goals: Scarlett Henderson 4, Kathryn Gow 1
NETBALL
A GRADE
The wet chilly conditions don’t seem to faze the Hawks. In similar circumstances to the Berwick Springs match a month ago, the rain lashed encounter with Olinda on the Monbulk courts didn’t dampen the Hawks’ scoring power. After establishing a 24 goal break by half time, Monbulk went to town in the second half with a dominating 50-10 scoreline in the closing two quarters. The final score of 87 goals is a new club record against Olinda, and also the highest score of either team against each other, eclipsing Olinda’s 84 goals in 2016. Peri Reid was in superb form. Her 72 goals was a club record against Olinda (her former club) and just short of Lauren Byrne’s all time club record of 77, scored in 2017 against Gembrook. Georgia Himmelreich played her 50th game for the club.
Monbulk remains tied for third with Mt. Evelyn, who they face this week in a critical clash. The Hawks and Rovers drew last time, with Monbulk having the second best attack in the League, behind Narre Warren, and Mt. Evelyn having the best defence.
Monbulk 87 def Olinda-Ferny Creek 23
Best: Jamie Clark, Peri Reid, Paige Whitworth
Goals: Peri Reid 72, Elly Stewart 15
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B GRADE
Monbulk’s B Grade team, in seventh place, ground out a 10 goal win against the tenth placed Olinda. The win leaves them just half a game behind Wandin, who are sixth. They face a difficult run home with four of the top five clubs in the coming weeks but will face that challenge head on. The side is missing a few players at the moment, including shooter Jorja Wragg, Georgia Wilson and Alice McCormick. Alice is currently representing Australia in the World Junior Ultimate Frisbee Championships in England.
Monbulk 37 def Olinda-Ferny Creek 27
Best: Elizabeth Cutting, Tiana Mancarella, Siobhan Munday
Goals: Chloe Carmichael 23, Dayna Walsham 9, Chloe Schmidtke 5
C GRADE
The Hawks had a chance to strengthen their hold on a top six spot with their match against the Bloods. In tough conditions Olinda played their best game of the year and Monbulk were unable to get some shots to drop through the ring. Monbulk went down by four goals but still hang on to sixth place.
Monbulk 23 def by Olinda-Ferny Creek 27
Best: Sammi Kelly, Lisa Boyle, Tara Donald
Goals: Jamie Sands 16, Chloe Carmichael 4, Lisa Boyle 3
D GRADE
Monbulk had only ever beaten Olinda twice in D Grade, most recently in Round 10 2018. The rapidly improving young squad played a brilliant first half and held an 18-10 advantage by half time in blustery morning conditions. For the second half it was an even struggle and the Hawks claimed their fourth scalp of the season with a gutsy six goal win.
Monbulk 28 def Olinda-Ferny Creek 22
Best: Hayley Donald, Maddy Buckland, Jessica Steele
Goals: Hayley Donald 17, Maddy Buckland 11
UNDER 15s
Having played just one match in the last month, the youngest Hawks were in fourth place coming into their game against third placed Pakenham. With a small gale blowing it was tricky to lay up shots on goal. The Lions looked to have established a match winning lead of 15 to 10 by half time, and were still 3 goals up going into the last quarter towards the end where most of the scoring had been done. The Hawks however played one of their best quarters in the final term to win it 8-3 and be two goals up when the final siren sounded. They now move back to third on match ratio.
Monbulk 24 def Pakenham 22
Best: Stevie Mullinder, Kaitlyn Summers, Stella Dunstan
Goals: Kaitlyn Summers 14, Isla Stubbs 10
