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Finals kicked off in style for Division 2 last weekend in the Yarra Valley Mountain District “Community Bank” Football and Netball League with wins to Yarra Glen and Thornton in the Seniors, and Seville and Yea with A Grade wins, while in Division 1, Mount Evelyn snuck into the five in the Seniors and Upwey Tecoma finished on top undefeated in A Grade netball.
DIVISION 1 SENIORS
Wandin 21.18 (144) d Belgrave 12.12 (84)
Wandin has finished the season with a resounding 10-goal win over Belgrave and has finished on top of the ladder. At quarter time, it actually looked as though Belgrave was going to be right in this game as they only trailed by one point, but did have more of the play. Wandin, however, kicked into gear in the second term and rammed home nine goals-to-two in a great display and the margin was out to 41 points. Wandin stretched the lead to 77 points by three quarter time on the back of a six goal-to-three quarter before Belgrave pulled the margin back slightly in the last quarter. However, this was Wandin’s day and it will be rewarded with a week’s rest to prepare for a clash against the winner of the Woori Yallock/Upwey Tecoma Qualifying Final played next week. Belgrave’s Mitch Collins was a shining light for them as he booted eight of his team’s 12 goals.
Wandin best players: R. Wilson (1 goal), J. Myers (1 goal), J. Bayliss (1 goal). Belgrave best players: M. Collins (8 goals), E. Clasby (1 goal), J. Peagram.
Healesville 15.14 (104) d Monbulk 10.10 (70)
Monbulk will play finals but it has missed out on the all-important double chance as it went down to Healesville by 34 points. This game didn’t start too well for Monbulk as it couldn’t get the ball forward and it only managed one behind for the term while Healesville booted 2.5 and really should have been further in front. The second term opened up a little bit and goals came in a bit easier with both teams booting four goals for the quarter which gave Healesville a three-goal half-time lead. Monbulk did claw its way closer in the third, booting three goals-to-two and the margin was just 11 points at the last change. The way Healesville played in the last quarter it looked as though they should be playing finals as it ran Monbulk off their legs, booting seven goals-to-three to finish off their season on a very strong note and have given Monbulk plenty to think about as they go into an Elimination Final against Mount Evelyn next week. Healesville best players: J. Shaw (5 goals), A. Davies, S. Donkin. Monbulk best players: J. Major, D. White, J. Anderson.
Woori Yallock 15.13 (103) d Mount Evelyn 12.13 (85)
Woori Yallock has been rewarded with the double chance after an 18-point victory over Mount Evelyn. Despite Mount Evelyn losing they have made the finals, thanks to other results going their way. Mount Evelyn did lead this game early and went to the first break with a seven-point advantage, but it was Woori who got their running and handball game going as they shared the ball brilliantly, they booted six second quarter goals and backed that up with seven third quarter goals while Mount Evelyn could only muster two and one respectively; the three quarter time margin 35 points to Woori Yallock’s advantage. Mount Evelyn did finish the day reasonably, booting six goals-to-three but they were never any real threat but they do at least take something into their Elimination Final next week against Monbulk while Woori will take on Upwey in the Qualifying Final. Woori Yallock best players: M. Bonuda (1 goal), M. Witkowski (1 goal), L. Boontjes. Mount Evelyn best players: W. Nicholson, C. Urquhart (1 goal), J. Fellows.
DIVISION 2
SENIORS
Yarra Glen 19.12 (126) d Powelltown 10.9 (69)
QUALIFYING FINAL
This was a very complete performance from Yarra Glen who looked the better side from the outset; it ran hard and had plenty of forward entries early and went to quarter time with a 20-point advantage. Yarra Glen continued to work hard in the second and even though Powelltown wasn’t playing a bad brand of footy, Yarra Glen was just smarter with its ball movement. It booted five goals-to-three for the term and led by 30 points at half time. Any chance Powelly thought they may have had was snuffed out in the third as Yarra Glen produced its best quarter of the day slamming home seven goals-to-one putting this game beyond doubt as it raced to a 71-point lead. Powelltown did outscore Yarra Glen in the last quarter, but the damage had already been well and truly done. Yarra Glen will now move into the Semi Final against Seville next week and will be quite confident going into that clash while Powelltown will get one more chance against Thornton Eildon. Yarra Glen best players: P. Moate (3 goals), J. Baughan, M. Ashton. Powelltown best players: M. McArthur (1 goal), M. Matheson (1 goal), W. Gordon.
Thornton Eildon 17.4 (106) d Yarra Junction 10.10 (70)
ELIMINATION FINAL
For three quarters, Thornton certainly looked the better side but Yarra Junction was always within striking distance. Thornton was a lot more efficient going forward and by three-quarter time it had actually had two less scoring shots than Yarra Junction, but it held an eight-point lead. This game was set up for a great last term, however, it was only great for one team and that team was Thornton as they produced arguably one of their best quarters for the year, booting seven goals-to-two to come out comfortable winners come final siren, they will now take on Powelltown next week in another knock-out final for the right to play the loser of the Seville/Yarra Glen clash. Thornton Eildon best players: C. Tiller (3 goals), S. Parker (4 goals), T. Keating (2 goals). Yarra Junction best players: D. Amrein, T. Cordwell, M. Brown (1 goal).
Warburton Millgrove 12.10 (82) d Belgrave 7.4 (46)
ELIMINATION FINAL
Warburton set their win up in the first quarter as they held Belgrave to just one point while they booted 4.5 and really should have been further in front. Belgrave played a more accountable brand of football in the second term and got back into the game trailing by 15 points at the half, but Warby was able to skip away in the third with some good hard running play, booting five goals-to-two giving them what was a match-winning, 34-point lead at the last break. Both teams booted two goals in the last quarter that really didn’t produce any great highlights but that didn’t matter to Warby as they stay alive for another week while Belgrave’s finals campaign has come to an end.
Warburton Millgrove best players: W. Shepherd (3 goals), M. Kocher (1 goal), J. Lee (3 goals). Belgrave best players: N. Vincent (1 goal), J. Webb (2 goals), T. Somervaille.
DIVISION 1 A Grade NETBALL
Mount Evelyn 64 d Woori Yallock 53
Mount Evelyn was the better side and deserved victory, but had to fight off a very plucky Woori Yallock in what was a high-scoring encounter. Mount Evelyn’s lead was just two goals at the first change but they got their ball movement going in the second quarter to take a nine-goal lead into half-time. They continued to stretch the lead in the third and by three-quarter time they held a handy 13-goal advantage. Woori played out the last quarter hard and more than matched their opponents and did outscore them 14 goals-to-12 to finish the game with some good spirit which brings their 2014 season to an end while Mount Evelyn move on to play Olinda in an Elimination Final next week. Mount Evelyn best players: Bridgette Barry-Murphy, Jessica Walker, Maddie Hickey (36 goals). Woori Yallock best players: Peri Stewart (40 goals), Cassandra Stafford, Abby Stewart.
Wandin 49 d Belgrave 46
These sides will meet again next week in the Qualifying Final, and if this game was anything to go by then we are in for a beauty. Wandin was a little more efficient in the first term and grabbed a four-goal lead at quarter time. The second term went goal for goal and Belgrave edged their way a little closer trailing by three goals at the half. Belgrave really steadied themselves in the third and by three-quarter time the scores were all tied at 35 all. The last term was a ripper but when it came to the crunch Wandin found a way to get their noses in front and then control the flow of the game to hold on to win by three goals in what was a fantastic preview to next week’s game.
Wandin best players: Tayissa Coppinger, Melissa Martinov (30 goals), Ella Priestley. Belgrave best players: Angela Jeffrey, Bianca Pilkington, Tara Jois.
Healesville 45 d Monbulk Hawlks 25
Healesville won well in the end but they had a little fight early as Monbulk was pretty good at the start of the game, Healesville’s lead was just two goals at the first change but they upped their work rate in the second term and got out to a nine-goal lead by half time. The second half saw Healesville’s speed over the court a lot stronger than Monbulks and it paid dividends on the scoreboard as they added another 23 goals to 12 to win well and hopefully take some confidence going into season 2015. Healesville best players: Lauren Woodgate (28 goals), Hayley Parrott, Chelsea Connell. Monbulk Hawks best players: Allanah Barwick, Claire Weickhardt, Sophie Byatt (17 goals).
Upwey Tecoma 66 d Olinda Ferny Creek 24
Upwey has completed an amazing home and away season, they have finished on top of the ladder with an undefeated record and will go into finals full of confidence after handing a 42- goal hiding to Olinda. Upwey was in pretty good form from the start as they raced to a 14-goal lead at the first change and bumped that up to a 26-goal advantage by the half. Upwey may not have played at their best in the second half as their defensive pressure seemed to drop away a bit, but they still managed a 42-goal victory which just goes to show how dominant a side they are. Upwey will have a week’s rest courtesy of finishing on top and they will take on the winner of the Wandin/Belgrave Qualifying Final which is played next weekend. Upwey Tecoma best players: Krista Tomlinson, Jordan Lingard (22 goals), Melanie Walter. Olinda Ferny Creek best players: Ashlee Howard (11 goals), Dana Portarianos, Alice Padget.
