FOOTBALL
SENIORS
Monbulk’s recent good form had catapulted the club into finals contention. The most critical fixture in the run home would be the Round 15 clash with Mt. Evelyn as the winner would be in the box seat to claim the last remaining finals spot. The Hawks and Rovers met in ideal overcast conditions at Mt. Evelyn.
In what turned out to be an extremely interesting and high quality match, the momentum seesawed back and forth as both sides showed flashes of brilliance. Monbulk had a slight lead at quarter time and consecutive goals by Johnathon Hevern to start the second quarter had the Hawks well placed. The Rovers fought back to kick the next four and led by 12 points at the main break. Monbulk again pegged them back to edge ahead by a solitary point at the final change.
The last quarter was full of drama as things got willing in the tight tussle. Monbulk looked to hold on to their slender lead late in the game when a last forward foray by the Rovers extracted a free kick 20 meters out. Mt Evelyn kicked the goal after the siren to snatch a five point win and have their foot in the door for finals. Lochlan Beecroft was again outstanding on the ball and finished with 5 goals. He has been named in the club’s best players every week this year, the only player in the League to have managed that.
Monbulk 9.12.66 def by Mt. Evelyn 10.11.71
Best: Lochlan Beecroft, Johnathon Hevern, Pat Barge, Declan Browne, Mitchell Dekker, Adam Banks
Goals: Lochlan Beecroft 5, Johnathon Hevern 3, Joshua Spencer 1
RESERVES
After winning all but one game last week against Olinda, Monbulk only won one game against Mt. Evelyn all day, but it was a drought breaker. The Monbulk Reserves had not beaten the Rovers at Mt. Evelyn since their 2010 premiership season. With a hard attack on the ball Monbulk had a lead of around a couple of goals for the first three quarters before kicking four goals to none in the final term and came away with a well deserved 35 point victory.
Monbulk 10.11.71 def Mt. Evelyn 5.6.36
Best: Michael Langworthy, Harry Fleming, Lewis Oliver, Ben Smith, Ben Grimes, Michael Davies
Goals: Michael Langworthy 5, Matthew James 2, Nicholas Heron 1, Harry Fleming 1, Ben Grimes 1
WOMEN’S
Monbulk’s Senior Women’s team had already ensured that they had claimed the minor premiership, along with the double chance, with top place at the end of the home and away season having been secured last week. The final home and away encounter was a trip down to Officer against the rapidly improving Kangaroos. In a good hitout before the finals it was Officer who eventually triumphed by 20 points, and also qualified for the finals in the process. The Hawks will play Woori Yallock in the Qualifying Final at Seville next week with the winner advancing to the Grand Final.
Monbulk 4.4.28 def by Officer 7.6.48
Best: Shania Turner, Yanessa Hancock-wolfe, Madeline Caarels, ruby ross, Stephanie Pauw, Stacey Jolly
Goals: Scarlett Henderson 2, Brielle Tipping 1, Madeline Vouvopoulos 1
NETBALL
A GRADE
The winner of the Monbulk-Mt. Evelyn clash would claim second spot on the ladder for the time being, and potentially help avoid an elimination final which teams 3 to 6 will face. The Hawks were under a cloud with the flu hitting the squad hard and only four players being able to train on Thursday. Mt. Evelyn eventually won by 5 goals off the back of a 17-7 second quarter. The defences of both sides worked hard to pick off loose passes and it was a well contested match. Monbulk has dropped back to fifth.
Monbulk 47 def by Mt. Evelyn 52
Best: Jamie Clark, Peri Reid, Nicole Macdowell
Goals: Peri Reid 40, Elly Stewart 7
B GRADE
Mt. Evelyn’s B Grade team is entrenched near the top of the ladder and they proved to be too accomplished for Monbulk. Goal shooter Jorja Wragg has made the squad for the Victorian Under 19s team that was selected during the week while Rihanna Kelly made her 50th appearance for the Hawks. Monbulk remain in seventh place, just two points behind Wandin, and will look to grab a finals spot in the coming weeks.
Monbulk 28 def by Mt. Evelyn 60
Best: Elizabeth Cutting, Siobhan Munday, Alice McCormick
Goals: Dayna Walsham 15, Jorja Wragg 9, Chloe Schmidtke 4
C GRADE
Mt. Evelyn just held a slight edge throughout this meeting and eventually won by 8 goals. The match was decided in the third term and the rest of the contest was very even with nothing between the teams. Monbulk slipped to seventh and will face three finals bound teams in the upcoming weeks.
Monbulk 34 def by Wandin 42
Best: Sammi Kelly, Laura Del Biondo, Olivia Crook
Goals: Jamie Sands 21, Olivia Crook 10, Chloe Carmichael 3
D GRADE
The development squad tried hard and restricted the Mt. Evelyn team’s ball movement. Players were rotated through various positions over the course of the match with Isla Stubbs and Bridie McCormick returning from their morning match in the Under 15s at Beaconsfield to help out the side.
Monbulk 15 def by Mt. Evelyn 34
Best: Hayley Donald, Eireann Lawson, Maddy Buckland
Goals: Maddy Buckland 13, Hayley Donald 2
UNDER 15s
Monbulk met Beaconsfield for the third time this season, with all these clashes having taken place at Holm Park. It was to be goal for goal as the Eagles led by a single goal at the first three changes before registering a three goal win.
Monbulk 23 def Monbulk 26
Best: Kaitlyn Summers, Bridie McCormick, Ella Longo
Goals: Kaitlyn Summers 13, Lara Stenhouse 5, Isla Stubbs 5
