By JUDY ORREN
ROUND 9 in Yarra Valley Mountain District Football Netball League saw a top-of-the-table clash in Division 2 over the weekend.
Emerald is now one-game clear on top with Kinglake and Thornton Eildon fighting for second.
Wandin is two games clear on top, from Woori Yallock and Monbulk.
Round 10 sees a clash at the other end of the ladder for Yarra Glen and Mount Evelyn.
Healesville and Upwey Tecoma are jostling for top spot in the Under 18s, and in netball Seville is one-game clear in Second Division while Wandin and Olinda are tied on seven wins with another three clubs sitting on five wins.
Division 1 seniors
Olinda Ferny Creek 14.9 (93) d Healesville 5.9 (39)
This game started off with a tight first quarter as Healesville led by just one point at the first change. Olinda started to win more of the ball in the second term and booted 4 goals to 1 to lead by 17 points at the main break. Olinda booted another three goals in the third but held Healesville to just three behinds, thanks to some great defence and Olinda was well in control at the last change leading by 37 points. The last quarter saw Olinda run away with the game as they booted 4 goals to 1 to win by 54 points in a very good four-quarter performance.
Olinda Ferny Creek best players: D. Wilson (2 goals), P. Rosier (2 goals), K. Currie
Healesville best players: J. Goding, B. Miller, D. Plozza.
Belgrave 23.11 (149) d Warburton Millgrove 14.7 (91)
This was a great game for the first half as it went goal for goal. Belgrave led by just two points at the main break. Belgrave turned this clash on its head in the third, as it slammed on 7 goals to 1 in a quarter where they made Warby look slow and second to the ball. They raced to a 39-point lead at the last break. Belgrave finished the day off well, booting 6 goals to 3 to win by a comfortable 58 points, with Mitch Collins finishing with eight goals for the winners.
Belgrave best players: B. Collins (2 goals), B. Dadswell (2 goals), P. Gough (1 goal)
Warburton Millgrove best players: T. Walker, D. Noorman, L. Barnard (2 goals).
Monbulk 20.17 (137) d Mount Evelyn 8.12 (60)
Mount Evelyn was competitive for the first half of this game as they only trailed by 11 points at the long break. Monbulk, however, started to open up the play in the third and made its forward entries count as it booted 4 goals to 1 to grab a handy 21-point lead at three-quarter time. Monbulk finished the day off in great style as its running game came to the fore. They booted 8 goals to 1 to come away with a 77-point victory after a dominant second half. Monbulk’s R. Savory had a great game with a best-on-ground performance, booting seven goals.
Monbulk best players: R. Savory (7 goals), S. Williams (3 goals), D. Ward (2 goals)
Mount Evelyn best players: C. Carmody, R. Cowan (1 goal), M. Martin.
Woori Yallock 17.13 (115) d Upwey Tecoma 6.8 (44)
Woori played a very consistent four quarters, where they kept increasing their lead at every change. They led by 12 points at quarter time, extended that to 26 points by half time. They then really kicked away in the third as they booted 6 goals to 2 to lead by 48 points to have the game well in hand. The last quarter saw Woori finish the day well as they added another 5 goals to 2 to win by 69 points in a very impressive display.
Woori Yallock best players: J. Adams (1 goal), K. Busoli (1 goal), B. Monkhorst (4 goals)
Upwey Tecoma best players: B. Hinton, R. Hannagan, J. Waters.
Wandin 27.19 (181) d Yarra Glen 6.6 (42)
Wandin took no time to show they weren’t in the mood to give any mercy as they booted 9.7 to just 2 behinds in the first quarter to have this game in their keeping. The second quarter was at least a little more competitive with Wandin booting 4 goals to 2 and their lead was 73 points at the main break. The second half was all one-way traffic as Wandin seemed to do as they pleased. They booted 8 goals to 3 in the third and backed that up with a 6-goal-to-1 last quarter to win by 139 points in what was a very one-sided, easy win.
Wandin best Players: M. Polkinghorne (4 goals), J. Messis (5 goals), J. Myers (1 goal)
Yarra Glen best players: B. Ashton, D. Hurley, L. Telford (2 goals).
Division 2 seniors
Emerald 13.13 (91) d Kinglake 8.7 (55)
This was a top-of-the-ladder clash with Emerald eventually coming out on top after a tight first three quarters. Defences on both sides were difficult to penetrate as goals were hard to come by. There were only three goals scored in the first term, with Kinglake leading 2.4 (16) to 1.3 (9) at the first change. The next two quarters stayed tight but it was Emerald that nudged their way in front by three-quarter time but that was just four points. Emerald’s last quarter was brilliant. Kinglake looked to have lost their run, and Emerald took advantage as they slammed on 6 goals to 1 to come away with a 6-goal win and go one-game clear in top spot.
Emerald best players: J. MacKay (5 goals), A. Hellriegel (4 goals), J. Dodd (2 goals)
Kinglake best players: J. Walter, T. Arnott, S. McMahon.
Thornton Eildon 14.11 (95) d Gembrook Cockatoo 9.5 (59)
Thornton was given a slight scare in this game as they had to fight off a very determined Gembrook.
Thornton found themselves trailing at half time by three points after a low-scoring first half with scores at 4.3 (27) to 3.6 (24). The third term saw the game open up and Thornton started to get on top. They booted 6 goals to 3 to take a 16-point lead into the last change. Thornton continued their good form in the last, and showed they are certainly the real deal as a premiership threat. They finished the day booting 5 goals to 2 to win by 6 goals. Thornton’s L. Davison had a great game, booting 7 of his teams 14 goals in a best on ground display.
Thornton-Eildon best players: L. Davison (7 goals), J. Herridge, D. Creed
Gembrook Cockatoo best players: R. Causer (1 goal), N. Strohbeck, B. Turner.
Powelltown 23.14 (152) d Alexandra 10.4 (64)
Powelltown was way too good for Alexandra as they produced a good four-quarter performance to come away with a very convincing win. Powelltown didn’t blow their opposition away in the first half, but they still led by six goals at the main break. The third quarter was where Powelltown played some of their best football as they hammered home 9 goals to 2 to race to an 80-point advantage at three-quarter time. The last term was at least a bit more even with Powelltown booting 4 goals to 2. G. Newing had a good day for the winners, finishing with eight majors to his name.
Powelltown best players: M. Pote, M. Lord (2 goals), J. Mullan. (1 goal)
Alexandra best players: T. Horwood, B. Cooper, C. Mullins (1 goal).
Yarra Junction 12.10 (82) d Yea 12.7 (79)
Yarra Junction has won its second game of the year with a nail-biting three-point victory over Yea. This game was a thriller from start to finish. Yarra Junction got the early jump as they led by 14 points at quarter time but Yea bounced back in the second term, booting 4 goals to 1 to lead by five points at half time. The third term was a reverse of the second as Yarra Junction booted 4 goals to 1, and they went into three-quarter time with a 14-point advantage. The last quarter was a beauty. Yea was coming back hard and they did boot 3 goals to 1, but it was Yarra Junction that was able to hold on to win by just three points, as they celebrated a great victory which left Yea heart broken.
Yarra Junction best players: R. Kreskas (1 goal), E. Wadsworth (1 goal), S. Danilovic (5 goals)
Yea best players: D. Evans, A. McCarthy (2 goals), J. Marasco (1 goal)
Seville: Bye
Under 18s
Upwey Tecoma 7.7 (49) d Emerald 4.8 (32)
Upwey Tecoma best players: B. Stimac-Wuttke, B. Oates (2 goals), T. Danyi
Emerald best players: J. Volta, C. Chasteau, C. Johnston.
Healesville 15.10 (100) d Olinda Ferny Creek 2.6 (18)
Healesville best players: L. Oliver (1 goal), T. Matthews (1 goal), T. Sund (7 goals)
Olinda Ferny Creek best players: J. Kennedy, B. Mensa-Mauger, R. Cotton-Starkey.
Warburton Millgrove 10.15 (75) d Belgrave 6.9 (45)
Warburton Millgrove best players: J. Neale, D. Nippers, D. Bedggood.
Belgrave best players: J. Keighran (1 goal), C. Rak, T. Somervaille.
Mount Evelyn 28.20 (188) d Powelltown 3.3 (21)
Mount Evelyn best players: J. Thompson (2 goals), C. Knoll (1 goal), M. Oultram (4 goals)
Powelltown best players: T. Robinson, D. Morrison, J. Martino.
Woori Yallock 6.12 (48) d Yea 6.8 (44)
Woori Yallock best players: J. Davies, D. Benson (1 goal), J. Collette (2 goals)
Yea best players: H. Jarvie (1 goal), C. Stimson, R. Aldous
Yarra Glen 11.8 (74) d Wandin 7.13 (55)
Yarra Glen best players: A. Smith (5 goals), E. Goodwin (1 goal), T. Spencer.
Wandin best players: H. Byrne (4 goals), J. James, M. Wathen.
Monbulk: Bye
Division 1 A Grade Netball
Olinda Ferny Creek 72 d Healesville 19
Olinda Ferny Creek best players: Tamara Luke (17 goals), Alice Paget
Healesville best players: Chelsea Connell, Georgia Murty, Kimberley McKenzie.
Mount Evelyn 44 d Monbulk Hawks 38
Mount Evelyn best players: Elissa Dykstra (22 goals), Victoria Starling, Rachel Hickey (17 goals)
Monbulk Hawks best players: Olivia Crook (16 goals), Claire Weickhardt, Sophie Byatt (20 goals)
Warburton Millgrove 61 d Belgrave 27
Warburton Millgrove best players: Karly Wappett, Kellie Davidson, Stephanie-Ellen Durant (24 goals). Belgrave best players: Cassandra Lynch, Alexandra Gawley (14 goals), Kalen Winters.
Wandin 67 d Yarra Glen 22
Wandin best players: Ashleigh Saunders (27 goals), Tayissa Coppinger, Samantha Coppinger
Yarra Glen best players: Georgia Taylor (11 goals), Elizabeth Kay (6 goals), Hillary Grubb.
Woori Yallock: Bye
Division 2 A Grade Netball
Emerald 69 d Kinglake 14
Powelltown 52 d Alexandra 43
Yea 53 d Yarra Junction 46
Thornton-Eildon: Bye
Seville: Bye
