FOOTBALL
Seniors
Saturday’s matches were played in cool but fine conditions at Monbulk to wrap up the first half of the home and away series. The Hawks were looking to bounce back against Officer after their narrow loss to Mt. Evelyn and put in a four quarter performance. Monbulk’s backline was a fine cohesive unit that repelled any attacks on their citadel. The Kangaroos scored their only two goals in the final term as Monbulk had the game in their control all afternoon.
The match was to be the 10th clash between these sides since Officer joined Outer East in 2019 and the win takes Monbulk to an 8-2 head to head win-loss record while Officer’s score of 2.8.20 is their lowest ever against the Hawks. Monbulk find themselves sitting in fifth place and half a game behind Healesville but six points ahead of sixth placed Mt. Evelyn. Triple Best & Fairest Lochlan Beecroft (2021, 2023, 2024 winner) has been named in the Hawk’s best players for the last 30 consecutive weeks, the current League record and possibly an all-time club record.
Monbulk 15.10.100 def Officer 2.8.20
Best: Campbell Evans, Nicholas Wall, Ben Hughson, Lachlan Sheppard, Lochlan Beecroft, Kai Linde
Goals: Ben Hughson 3, Nicholas Wall 3, Ryan Burleigh 2, Mitchell Dekker 2, Lochlan Beecroft 1, Kai Linde 1, Pat Barge 1, Bailey Rutherford 1, Lachlan Sheppard 1
Reserves
The second placed Officer Reserves and fifth placed Monbulk were very evenly matched and little separated the sides over the course of the game. A tricky breeze that was blowing caused some relatively easy goals to be missed as Officer was able to scrape out a narrow win in a low scoring encounter.
Monbulk 4.10.34 def by Officer 6.7.43
Best: Cameron Griffiths, Dylan Werts, William Mutschler, Brodie Emmett, Nicholas Heron, Kieren Galloway
Goals: Johnathon Hevern 2, Brodie Emmett 1, Thomas Berman 1
Under 18s
While the end result was a bit of a blowout, the match itself had been well contested but the bigger and more experienced Officer players made the most of their opportunities. Monbulk are putting together some good passages of play and will look to exact revenge on Gembrook-Cockatoo next week for their opening round loss.
Monbulk 1.4.10 def by Officer 13.16.94
Best: Jed Fraser, Brock Downey, Finn Horsfall, Cohen Mitchell, Arley Gray, Blake Nicholson
Goal: William Hughson
NETBALL
A Grade
The Hawks remain in the hunt for a double chance in the finals with a dominant display against ROC. Up to date Monbulk sit fourth with 6 wins and 3 losses, and look set to finish amongst the leaders as the top teams jostle for positions. As with the senior footballers, the win takes the Hawks to an 8-2 head to head record against the Kangaroos. The match set a new club record score against their opponents and Peri Reid surpassed her 42 goal game against ROC last year with 47 on the weekend.
Monbulk 78 def ROC 40
Best: Paige Whitworth, Peri Reid, Sophie Stubbs
Goals: Peri Reid 47, Stephanie Ferguson 31
B Grade
ROC are undefeated in B Grade and went into the game two wins ahead of Monbulk. In a match that never had the sides more than a few goals apart, it looked as if the Hawks would cause an upset when they held a two goal lead at the final change. Unfortunately they were unable to hold on, going down by the narrowest of margins but knowing they can take it up to anyone.
Monbulk 47 def by ROC 48
Best: Dayna Walsham, Tiana Mancarella, Olivia Crook
Goals: Jorjs Wragg 29, Olivia Crook 9, Dayna Walsham 9
C Grade
This team has battled hard all season without the results to show for it. Coming up against a finals bound ROC side, the Hawks worked hard but were outplayed by a better team.
Monbulk 23 def by ROC 45
Best: Hayley Donald, Maddy Buckland, Courtney Witt
Goals: Maddy Buckland 18, Chloe Carmichael 4, Grace Sands 1
D Grade
Monbulk’s D Grade team played their match of the season. Having lost captain Tasha Selby to a season ending knee injury and coming up against ladder leaders ROC had the potential to curtail expectations. This was only the fifth time that these clubs had met in D Grade as Monbulk has not always been able to field a side. Previous results in 2021 (51-1 and 45-5) and 2024 (52-12 and 43-8) were all heavy defeats for the Hawks. Katrina Wragg replaced Selby and returned for her first match of the year. After trailing through the first half the Hawks drew level at three-quarter time. In a thrilling finish Monbulk triumphed by a single goal.
Monbulk 27 def ROC 26
Best: Katrina Wragg, Macy Giling, Beth Sands
Goals: Jamie Sands 17, Macy Giling 10
Under 17s
ROC Blue and Monbulk are at opposite ends of the ladder with 8-0 and 0-8 records respectively. It was a tough day for the Hawks as ROC showed why they are premiership favourites.
Monbulk 8 def by ROC Blue 50
Best: Isabelle Cross, Maddison Bedet, Kaitlyn Summers
Goals: Kaitlyn Summers 4, Ella Flynn 2, Maddison Bedet 1, Amelia Magarry 1
Under 15s
At the halfway mark of the season both Monbulk sides are in the Top 4. Monbulk Maroon met Pakenham Gold at the Toomuc Reserve and proved too strong, comfortably winning each quarter. Isla Stubbs is leading the competition goal shooting with 128, ahead of Monbulk Gold’s Eden Murphy on 118.
Monbulk Maroon 46 def Pakenham Gold 20
Best: Isla Stubbs, Stella Dunstan, Bridie McCormick
Goals: Stella Dunstan 21, Isla Stubbs 20, Bridie McCormick 5
Monbulk Gold were at home to third placed Pakenham Maroon. A superb second quarter had the young Hawks leading 15-7 but they were unable to maintain the momentum and eventually lost in a nail-biter by a solitary goal.
Monbulk Gold 21 def by Pakenham Maroon 22
Best: Daphne Mitchell, Amelia Magarry, Ria Greenaway
Goals: Eden Murphy 11, Amelia Magarry 8, Ria Greenaway 2
