Olinda Senior Women
An understrength Olinda Women’s team battled tough conditions and even tougher opponents, eventually going down to nemesis Healesville by 30 points at home Saturday night.
The game, in horrible conditions, was played 95 per cent in Healesville’s half of the ground, and was a dour struggle for territory. The ball went into Olinda’s forward line less than a handful of times, Olinda scoring a solitary point for the game. The fight Olinda showed to limit Healesville to only four goals should be applauded under the massive weight of Healesville attacks.
Olinda weather is notorious for being cold and wet, but Saturday night delivered the extra layer of a blustery wind, creating an environment only for the strong of heart.
Enter Olinda’s band of young bloods. Olinda went into the game with a record 13 of their 21 players under the age of 18, having lost four of their strongest and most experienced players to injury and other commitments during the week.
The game was played with a brutal intensity from the first bounce, not only were the younger fleet undeterred, they excelled.
15-year-old Jacqui Ring has been a regular nomination for the junior club’s Club Values Award over the years. Twp pillars of this award is character and commitment, and Jacqui has this in spades. Jacqui was given the unenviable task pre-game of standing reigning ruck of the year Paula Pavic from Healesville. Jacqui was shown video of Pavic crashing into other rucks with her knees, or bursting through packs with her strength and size. Jacqui was understandably nervous, but true to character she took the job head on and completely nullified the star ruck, winning plenty of her own ball in the process. Jacqui’s body looked like a Joan Kirner dress after the game, so many individual bruises she received during the contest, but took it all in her stride and should rightfully feel content that she gave everything possible for her team.
Chloe (the smiling assassin) Kanally is one of the friendliest people you are likely to meet off the field. On the field she is a fierce demon, and hunts the ball and her opponents with a manic aggression that is frightening.
Chloe thrived in the poor conditions, and threw herself into every contest (and opponent!), regularly repelling Healesville’s forays forward and clearing the ball out of the danger zone.
Tobi Monkhorst had the ball on a string early and was regularly being rewarded for putting her head over the ball. Tobi’s desperate effort to stop a Healesville player running into an open goal in the last quarter was a highlight.
Accomplished young guns Grace Belloni and Georgia Stubs were influential all night, with Grace’s pinpoint handball and Georgia’s long kicking a standout.
Anna Hughson is a rock in defence, her tackling and ball skills a standout. Anna had a great game regularly harassing and stymying Healesville’s forwards.
Another young star Kyah Barry started the game deep in defence, but flourished when rejoining regular mosquito fleet members Lily(Laser)Carlin, Captain Courageous Clare Hyett and Lucy Hilton. The four battled bravely and strongly all game, and were included in Olinda’s best.
Ruby(Barb)Gilson is a smart, skillful footballer, and had some moments that made the horrific conditions look like dry weather football.
Other young bloods (DJ)Ness Curnow(nee Bateman), Paige Robinson, Kaesha Christie, Olive Kelly and Celia Clarke all contributed, fought hard all game, and will be regular fixtures in the team for years to come.
Ness and other forward rocket Olivia (The Weapon) Edwards came down from a collective eight goals last week, and almost suffered frost bite Saturday night, the scarcity of opportunities they had forward of centre. The willingness of both to get up the ground and get into the thick of the action to get the ball going Olinda’s way is commendable.
Special mention often goes to Backline General Casey Seymour, and Saturday night was no exception. If there was a Coleman medal for goals stopped, Casey would be leading by a street. Casey leaving her opponent to dive on a loose ball in the first quarter was inspirational.
Overall it was a very pleasing effort against a team that Olinda is gradually inching closer to every game. Tough games against reigning Premiers Upwey and Healesville again, both away, face Olinda in the next two rounds.
If Olinda replicates the intent it showed Saturday night, anything is possible.
Juniors
U9s
Wesburn greeted the 9’s with the only weather we have ever experienced when playing on their home deck….. sideways rain.
Mt Evelyn were our first opponent and provided the ‘Bloods’ with an almighty contest.
There were highlights aplenty from both camps and gave a sneak peek of what the end of year carnival will look like… spectacular football.
Wesburn were our next opponents and gave another stern test for the 9’s.
But…. In true ‘Bloods’ fashion …. The wetter , The colder, The muddier ……THE BETTER!!!
Another great week ‘Young Bloods’.
U11s v Monbulk
Rain overnight and early morning on Sunday meant Olinda oval looked more like a lake than a footy oval, but it didn’t deter our young bloods in the local derby against Monbulk.
A blistering start saw our boys kick five unanswered goals in the first quarter and 7seven for the first half in tough conditions.
The coaching staff decided to throw the magnets around a little in the second half, and test the depth of the stacked Olinda team.
The boys continued the solid play, kicking another four unanswered goals for the half, with some great defensive play and finishing around goal.
Great game fellas!
Final Score
Olinda 11.8.74 – Monbulk 0.0.0
U12 Girls v Monbulk
The constant overnight rain had drenched the Olinda main oval and as 9.45 rolled around, the clouds parted leaving the ground heavy and muddy. But that did not deter either team, in fact, I think they enjoyed the experience. Olinda started a little slow as they had just experienced a bye last weekend and there had been a few on school camp during the week. Monbulk started strong and scored first but it wasn’t too long before Olinda followed with a couple of goals that had us up at halftime.
The teams really had to fight to the end with lactic acid in the legs due to the heavy ground. This caused some fatigue during the fourth quarter with Monbulk coming within four points, however, Olinda applied that signature pressure in the final quarter to hold on for the win. This equates to the second win for the season with the team developing a good set of skills and impressive team synergy resulting in the desired outcomes.
U13 Whites V Belgrave
The Whites boys have had a tough run in recent weeks against some quality opposition full of Top Age players. This week, we were to line up against one of the top sides in the division, Belgrave, but we had more Reds players come across to lend a hand where we’ve had more Under 11s playing a second game in recent weeks.
Having the bigger players that we train with and know, meant that we were much more competitive around the ground. It meant we could structure up and support some of our players learning key positions.
The scoreline didn’t reflect how much better we performed as a group and our ability to run out the game against quality opposition. The team looks like we’ll continue to develop as we come up agains the other “bottom age” teams in coming weeks.
U13 Reds v Monbulk
The under 13 “top of the table” clash between two undefeated sides proved to be a good hard contest between two strong sides.
Monbulk got the early jump on Olinda kicking the first goal however our lads responded well in the second quarter with improved “accountability” lead by Al Deering.
In tough conditions both teams were struggling to be clean with the footy. The game was predominately being played in our forward half thanks to Fletcher Brown, Jarrah Bellemo and Ned Monkhorst who were strong across half back.
Fortunately the boys were able to convert some opportunities to apply some much needed scoreboard pressure and held on in the last quarter to secure another impressive victory.
Final scores Olinda 5.9.39 def Monbulk 4.1.25
U14 Girls v Mt Evelyn
Olinda dished up perfect mountain weather for our off-mountain opponents on Sunday, but unfortunately 4 outs saw us a little undersized against a determined Mt Ev outfit determined to open their account in the win column this year. The girls are improving each week with great pressure around the ground and some excellent passages of running, linking play, even in tough conditions. In the end, the physical differences in the team mean that Mt Ev were stronger around more contests and gave themselves more opportunities to score.
The end of both the second and third quarters saw us surging the ball forward to a scoring position before the siren rudely interrupted their progress. Really proud of the way the girls fought out the game!
U15 Boys v Monbulk
Round 6 saw our boys hosting Monbulk on a wet Olinda track and celebrating Will Meyers 50th game for the Bloods with a win.
A scrappy start saw a well drilled Monbulk take a tow point lead into quarter time off the back of some impressive run and spread.
Olinda hit the second quarter running and with Will Meyer dominating at Full Back Olinda kept Monbulk scoreless while kicking 2.4.
The third saw Olinda wasteful in front of goal, kicking 1.5 to a desperate Monbulk’s three goals straight.
Taking a seven point lead into the final quarter meant that the game was well and truly in the balance and Olinda boys responded with a great defensive effort,keeping Monbulk scoreless versus our one goal.
A hard fought win in tough conditions.
Final scores
Olinda 5.14.44 d Monbulk 4.4.28.
U17 Boys vs Monbulk
Olinda were confronted with wet and muddy conditions in what was to be a twilight clash against our archrivals from down the road in Monbulk.
Monbulk were up for the fight from the first bounce and took it to the boys all game. In what was a tight, physical clash with momentum swung from team to team throughout the game. In the end Olinda got over the line for an eight-point win to remain undefeated. Sometimes you have to win ugly and that’s what good sides do. Olinda now head into a big game against reigning premiers Woori Yallock.
