By JUDY ORREN
WELL winter has arrived.
Every game this weekend was played in tough conditions.
Wet weather footy this year has not really been seen by many players and Saturday was their first real taste.
Mount Evelyn’s win over Belgrave saves the relegation race.
The final 5 for Division 1 looks set; the only thing left to see is who can grab that elusive second chance.
Fourth and fifth spot in Division 2 is still anyone’s.
A bye to Gembrook this week may see them jump Seville if they can’t get over Kinglake.
Musical chairs all around.
Division 1 seniors
Mount Evelyn 16.12 (108) d Belgrave 11.16 (82)
Mount Evelyn now look safe from relegation after recoding a great 26-point win over Belgrave. Belgrave started off very well and looked to be in control as they booted 6 goals to 2 in the opening term to lead by 27 points at quarter time. Mount Evelyn looked inspired in the second quarter as their running game was first class and all of a sudden Belgrave looked slow, Mount Evelyn scored seven goals for the term while holding Belgrave to just four behinds to go into half-time with an 11-point lead. The 2nd half was certainly a good battle. Then, the last quarter saw both sides kick three goals which was enough to see Mount Evelyn salute at the final siren and record arguably their best win of the year.
Mount Evelyn best players: R. Cowan (2 goals), M. Martin (4 goals), J. Gardam
Belgrave best players: T. Stubley (1 goal), D. Collins (2 goals), D. Bilston (2 goals)
Healesville 13.13 (91) d Monbulk 10.10 (70)
Healesville pulled off a great victory over second-placed Monbulk after a dominant first half. Healesville looked the hungrier side from the outset as they won the contested ball and hit every contest hard. They booted 10 goals to 4 in the first half, six of those goals coming in the second term while holding Monbulk to just one major in that same term. Healesville’s lead at half-time was a very handy 35 points. Healesville may have only booted two goals in the final quarter, but they held Monbulk to just one major to record a great win as they head towards finals.
Healesville best players: A. Davies (2 goals), H. Prest (1 goal), B. Nicholls (1 goal)
Monbulk best players: T. Gromer, J. Major, K. Gray (3 goals)
Olinda Ferny Creek 11.13 (79) d Upwey Tecoma 11.12 (78)
Olinda was given one hell of a fright as they had to come from behind to win by a solitary point over Upwey. Olinda started off well with a 3-goal-to-1 opening term to lead by 14 points, but Upwey’s second quarter was superb as they denied Olinda’s run and slotted 7 goals to 1, and at the main break Upwey held a five-point advantage. Olinda had to dig deep in the last with some risks paying off. They booted 4 goals to 2 to hit the lead late in the game and was able to hold on to taste victory at the final siren.
Olinda Ferny Creek best players: K. Currie, G. Stevens, D. Rohrmann (2 goals)
Upwey Tecoma best players: K. Grenda (1 goal), L. Beacom, B. Sheppard (1 goal)
Wandin 36.14 (239) d Yarra Glen 2.5 (17)
Wandin completely destroyed Yarra Glen in a performance that was first rate for them and embarrassing for their opponents. Wandin booted 18 goals in the first half with 11 of them coming in the second quarter as they raced to a 106-point lead at half-time. The second half didn’t get any better for Yarra Glen as Wandin continued their dominance.
Wandin best players: M. Polkinghorne (2 goals), K. Talevski (11 goals), J. Taylor (1 goal)
Yarra Glen best players: D. Hurley (1 goal), R. Gurney (1 goal), J. Baughan
Woori Yallock 9.12 (66) d Warburton Millgrove 7.8 (50)
Woori Yallock had to fight off a very determined Warburton to eventually prevail by 16 points. The first quarter was a goal-for-goal affair, with both sides slotting three goals and Woori leading by just one point at the first change. Woori did pull away slightly in the second, scoring 3 goals to 1 and at the main break their lead was a narrow 15 points. The second half was a torrid battle as neither team found any real ascendancy. Every time Warburton looked to challenge, Woori Yallock had the answers to keep their lead. Both sides scored three goals apiece in the second half which saw Woori run out winners in what wasn’t a pretty game but still a pretty good contest.
Woori Yallock best players: K. Busoli, M. Baxter (2 goals), J. Matthews (1 goal)
Warburton Millgrove best players: T. Walker, B. Winzer, D. Brookes
Division 2 Seniors
Kinglake 13.6 (84) d Alexandra 4.8 (32)
Kinglake best players: J. Nixon (9 goals), A. Whelan, J. Mende
Alexandra best players: B. Cooper (2 goals), C. Mullins (1 goals), J. Purcell
Yarra Junction 10.6 (66) d Gembrook Cockatoo 5.13 (43)
Yarra Junction has pulled off somewhat of an upset with a stirring 23-point victory over Gembrook. The first half was a great battle and you couldn’t pick a winner at half-time as scores were all tied up at 5.2 (32) apiece at the main break. The last term was a similar one to the third for Gembrook as they once again had their chances but only scored five points while Yarra Junction booted 1.2 to come away with a very impressive victory.
Gembrook Cockatoo best players: L. Frazzetto, C. Vernal, J. Raymond
Emerald 8.10 (58) d Thornton Eildon 4.13 (37)
Emerald has dealt Thornton Eildon their second loss on the trot winning by 21 points in a low-scoring encounter. There was only two goals scored in the first term, but they both went the way of Emerald while Thornton Eildon could only manage three behinds. The second quarter opened up a little as both teams spread more around the ground and goals did come a bit more freely; it was an even quarter with both sides booting three goals and Emerald going to the main break with a 17-point advantage. There was only three goals scored in the second half, but it was Emerald that had the better of it adding 2.5 to 1.7 to come away with a very handy victory and a psychological advantage as these sides could meet in finals.
Emerald best players: S. Paull, R. Simpson, D. Volta
Thornton Eildon best players: R. Chapman, J. Herridge, M. Gower
Seville 6.8 (44) d Powelltown 5.10 (40)
Seville has moved to fifth spot on the ladder after upsetting Powelltown to the tune of just four points. This was a very low scoring affair that Powelltown led at every change but the not the final siren. Powelltown led by 13 points at quarter time after a 3- goal-to-1 opening term where they did have the majority of the play. Seville’s defence was superb in the last quarter as they stifled Powelltown’s attack holding them to just three points while Seville added 2.2 to hit the front late in the game and was able to hold on to win and keep their finals dream well and truly alive.
Seville best players: N. O’Keefe, D. Groen, B. Abbruzzese (2 goals)
Powelltown best players: D. Hadjer, M. McLaughlin, M. Lord
Yea: Bye
Under 18s
Belgrave 13.17 (95) d Mount Evelyn 8.3 (51)
Belgrave best players: J. Lowe (1 goal), M. Donald, J. Marshall (1 goal)
Mount Evelyn best players: B. Forbes (4 goals), D. Fraser, R. Toughill.
Warburton Millgrove 11.18 (84) d Powelltown 3.3 (21)
Warburton Millgrove best players: J. Neale (1 goal), A. Maguire (2 goals), K. Kocher (4 goals)
Powelltown best players: D. Morrison (1 goal), J. Piergrosse (1 goal), B. Taylor
Olinda Ferny Creek 10.10 (70) d Upwey Tecoma 5.8 (38)
Olinda Ferny Creek best players: D. Raymond (2 goals), L. Seal, R. Tairi (1 goal)
Upwey Tecoma best players: B. Oates (1 goal), B. Stimac-Wuttke, A. Milner
Wandin 21.4 (130) d Yea 3.6 (24)
Wandin best players: H. Byrne (3 goals), P. Hodgett (8 goals), M. Debono (1 goal)
Yea best players: L. White, H. Jarvie, R. Aldous (1 goal)
Yarra Glen 9.10 (64) d Woori Yallock 4.6 (30)
Yarra Glen best players: B. Muurling (1 goal), D. Aloi, E. Goodwin
Woori Yallock best players: J. Seymour, J. Irwin, T. Truscott
Emerald: Bye
Division 1 A Grade Netball
Mount Evelyn 51 d Belgrave 29
Monbulk Hawks 49 d Healesville 13
Wandin 45 d Yarra Glen 30
Warburton Millgrove 48 d Woori Yallock 16
Olinda Ferny Creek: Bye
Division 2 A Grade Netball
Alexandra 35 d Kinglake 31
Seville 51 d Powelltown 25
Emerald 64 d Thornton Eildon 22
Yarra Junction: Bye
Yea: Bye
