By Armin Richter
FOOTBALL
SENIORS
The 2024 season wrapped up for Monbulk’s football teams on the weekend. The Senior Hawks were playing for pride only as they were just out of reach of the final six but were also wanting to send off ruckman Johnathon Hevern on a high note after the former captain announced that he would be retiring after six seasons with Monbulk.
Monbulk had been in excellent form at home recently, with 10+ goal wins in their last three outings on their own turf against the finals bound Upwey and Olinda teams along with Pakenham. They faced Officer with a sense of optimism after having accounted for them earlier in the year. The Kangaroos came with a plan to restrict the Hawks run and carry game style, and this proved to be very effective. Monbulk were always within striking range but were unable to impact the scoreboard as Officer prevailed in a deserved 3 goal win. Charlie Barge made an impressive senior debut. Monbulk finished the season in 8th place. Midfielder Lochlan Beecroft’s four goals was enough to be the club’s leading goalkicker with 25 (13th overall in the League), four ahead of Ziggy Hatherley with Hayden Finlay on 17.
Monbulk 9.5.59 def by Officer 11.12.78
Best: Robert Savory, Lochlan Beecroft, Mitchell Veit, Joshua Spencer, Hayden Finlay, Charlie Barge
Goals: Lochlan Beecroft 4, Hayden Finlay 2, Johnathon Hevern 1, Mitchell Dekker 1, Declan Browne 1
RESERVES
The Monbulk Reserves also finished 8th for the year with 7 wins and 11 losses after going down to Officer in a close encounter. It was fairly much goal for goal in a low scoring struggle where the finals bound Roos did just enough to secure the points. Michael Langworthy was the club’s leading goalkicker with 20, being 11th overall.
Monbulk 5.3.33 def by Officer 5.8.38
Best: Harry Fleming, Hamish Emmett, Ryan Gilbert, Cameron Griffiths, Lachlan Smith, Tait Colee
WOMEN’S
The Monbulk Women faced Woori Yallock at Kilsyth on Sunday in the Grand Final of Division 2. The two sides had met three times previously this season with Monbulk leading 2-1 but each match had been very close. Despite the near perfect conditions it was to be a low scoring affair as neither side allowed the other to find avenues to goal. The Tigers had perhaps more opportunities but the great pressure applied by the Monbulk backs held them to just three behinds to three quarter time, while the Hawks had gotten out to a 9 point lead courtesy of goals to Scarlett Henderson, against the wind in the second term, and Jade McCormick kicking truly in the third after taking a mark.
The desperation shown by the Hawks was exemplified when Captain Madeline Caarels and Yanessa Hancock-Wolfe took each other out in friendly fire when they clashed heads heavily contesting a loose ball. This left Madeline a black eye and possible fractured cheek and Yanessa suffering a broken nose. Woori Yallock were playing a determined last quarter with the wind as they looked to snatch the lead with a goal soon after the start of the final quarter. The Hawks were facing an onslaught but were able to keep the Tigers from making a breakthrough. With about four minutes remaining Monbulk defender Molly Liccardi copped a heavy knock which caused the clock to be stopped and the match to be halted for 20 minutes. When the game resumed it became a rugby scrum for the final few minutes as Monbulk pounced on every opportunity and laid tackle after tackle on their Woori opponents. The ball barely left the Tiger’s forward pocket with Kathryn Gow claiming two vital clearing kicks. When the siren sounded Monbulk claimed their second flag in three years in what had been a fantastic struggle for the ultimate honours.
Jade McCormick received the Best On Ground medal. Scarlett Henderson and Jade McCormick finished third and fourth in the League goalkicking with 25 and 24 goals respectively. Monbulk had a squad of about 30 girls all year but in the finals were restricted to playing 24 which meant Grace Emmett, Matilda McDermott, Madeline Vouvopoulos, Helen Henderson and Olivia VandenBerg were unfortunate to miss out but their contributions during the year had been vital to the final outcome.
Monbulk 2.0.12 def Woori Yallock 1.5.11
Best: Ruby Ross, Josie Ford, Maddison Dodd, Kathryn Gow, Jade McCormick, Yanessa Hancock-Wolfe
Goals: Jade McCormick 1, Scarlett Henderson 1
Goals: Matthew James 2, Nicholas Heron 2, Thijs Koelewyn 1
NETBALL
A GRADE
While the footballers have finished, two netball sides have made the finals. A Grade and the Under 15s will continue. Monbulk’s A Grade team had been assured of finals for a few weeks but needed to put on a strong showing against ROC after having lost their last three to slip to sixth. The team has lost Paige Whitworth who had injured her meniscus last week but welcomed back Sophie Stubbs from her broken arm.
It was to be a dominant performance by the Hawks as they controlled the match from the outset and never allowed ROC a chance to get back in, eventually triumphing by 36 goals after a 23-7 final term. Peri Reid finished fifth in the goal shooting with 455, despite playing only 13 games. Captain Stephanie Ferguson played her 50th match for the club. Monbulk will play Wandin in an Elimination Final at Woori Yallock this Saturday.
Monbulk 69 def ROC 33
Best: Georgia Himmelreich, Jamie Clark, Peri Reid
Goals: Peri Reid 38, Stephanie Ferguson 17, Elly Stewart 14
B GRADE
The Hawks may have missed the finals by 3.5 games and were taking on second placed ROC but they fought out the season to the end. Monbulk played the better game for most of the match and were leading well through the first half. ROC’s third quarter, which netted 16 goals to 5, swung the momentum and the match in favour of the Kangaroos who then held on for the win. Jorja Wragg was the team’s leading scorer with 433, placing 7th overall.
Monbulk 38 def by ROC 46
Best: Rihanna Kelly, Alice McCormick, Tiana Mancarella
Goals: Jorja Wragg 24, Dayna Walsham 11, Chloe Schmidtke 3
C GRADE
C Grade were in a similar situation to B Grade, sitting in 8th place with 7 wins against ROC who were in 4th and going for their 14th of the season. The Kangaroos were better in the transition of play and made more of their opportunities. Jamie Sands finished fifth in the goal shooting with 332.
Monbulk 29 def by ROC 46
Best: Sammi Kelly, Olivia Crook, Tara Donald
Goals: Jamie Sands 20, Olivia Crook 6, Chloe Carmichael 3
D GRADE
ROC are the undisputed ladder leaders in this grade while Monbulk have fought hard for their four wins in an improved year. The match panned out with a comfortable win to the visitors.
Monbulk 8 def by ROC 43
Best: Zali Utting, Bronte Passingham, Maddy Buckland
Goals: Maddy Buckland 4, Ella Flynn 2, Hayley Donald 2
UNDER 15s
Monbulk sewed up the double chance last week and took on the undefeated ROC in a tune up for the finals. Although ROC won easily in the end, the match was a lot more even than the scoreboard showed as the Hawks failed to capitalise on the opportunities that they created.
Monbulk 14 def by ROC 30
Best: Isabelle Cross, Isla Stubbs, Bridie McCormick
Goals: Kaitlyn Summers 6, Lara Stenhouse 3, Isla Stubbs 3, Stella Dunstan 2
