By JUDY ORREN
Division 1 Seniors
Wandin 12.17 (89) d Healesville 8.13 (61) (2nd semi-final)
Wandin has progressed through to the grand final after knocking over Healesville by 27 points in the 2nd Semi Final in what was a tight game in the first half. Healesville actually looked the better side early and could have led by more than their 10-point margin at quarter time if they had been a little cleaner in front of goal.
The second term saw both teams a little wasteful, but Wandin narrowed the margin to just three points at the half after they booted 3.5 to 2.4 for the term. Wandin started to win more of the contested ball in the third term and they made it count on the scoreboard with a 4- goal-to-1 term which saw them get out to a 17-point lead at the final change. Wandin controlled the play in the last term and even though they didn’t really kick away, they held off Healesville with a 3-goal-to-2 quarter to claim victory and head into the grand final. They will await the victor of next week’s preliminary final clash between Healesville and Olinda Ferny Creek.
Wandin best players: R. Ross (1 goal), J. Coombes (2 goals), B. Harvey
Healesville best players: R. Woodford (4 goals), C. Adams, D. Plozza
Olinda Ferny Creek 16.15 (111) d Monbulk 6.12 (48) (1st semi-final)
Olinda was superb as they stopped Monbulk’s running game with some great one-on-one contests and was able to break the game open early with some fantastic hard running themselves. Olinda started well, booting 5 goals to 2 in the opening term and continued their good form in the second quarter, adding another five goals to their total while Monbulk only scored the one major. Olinda’s lead at half-time was a very commanding 45 points. The third term was a little more even, but Monbulk just couldn’t eat into Olinda’s lead to be of any real threat, with Olinda leading by 49 points at the final change. The last quarter saw Olinda pull away even further as they finished the day booting 3 goals to 1 to win handsomely. Olinda will now take on Healesville in next week’s preliminary final with the victor to play off against Wandin in the grand final.
Olinda Ferny Creek best players: S. Horner (4 goals), G. McDonald, T. Millwood
Monbulk best players: T. Wragg (2 goals), S. Williams (1 goal), S. Koole
Division 1 Reserves
Upwey 15.7 (97) d Wandin 4.3 (27) (2nd semi-final)
Wandin led this game by just one point at quarter time, but that’s the only time they did lead as Upwey took control in the second term, booting 5 goals to 0 to lead by 31 points at the main break. Upwey put this game beyond doubt in the third term as they ran right over the top of Wandin, booting 6 goals to 1 and their lead had blown out to 62 points. The last quarter saw both teams pretty much go through the motions, but it was Upwey that still outscored their opponents 2 goal to 1 to win by a big margin and march into the grand final. Wandin will get one more chance as they take on Mount Evelyn in next week’s preliminary final.
Upwey Tecoma best players: W. Mutschler (4 goals), K. Townsend-Finlay, D. Harris
Wandin best players: J. Van Der Zwart, S. Watkins, C. Foley (1 goal)
Mount Evelyn 10.11 (71) d Belgrave 9.6 (60) (1st semi final)
This was a high standard game with the winner well and truly still in doubt deep into the last quarter. The first quarter was a tight affair with scores all tied up at 3.1 (19) at the first change. The second quarter was another tight one, but Belgrave was able to score 3 goals to 2 to take a narrow seven-point lead into the main break. The third term saw Mount Evelyn start to win more of the ball but they did waste some chances as they scored 3.7 to 2.3 but it was enough for them to take a four-point lead into the last quarter. The last quarter was a real hard battle as both teams defences worked overtime making it hard to score, in the end it was Mount Evelyn that scored 2 last quarter goals to 1 to get over the line by 11 points and book themselves a spot in next week’s preliminary final to take on Wandin.
Mount Evelyn best players: D. Cope (2 goals), M. Groenwald, T. Hancock (1 goal)
Belgrave best players: A. Brown (3 goals), N. Somervaille, D. Bilston (1 goal)
Division 2 Seniors
Kinglake 13.9 (87) d Seville 9.16 (70) (preliminary final)
Kinglake will play off in the grand final next week after defeating an inaccurate Seville by 17 points in the preliminary final. Kinglake led this clash by nine points at quarter time after a 4-goal-to-2 opening term and only stretched that lead to 10 points at the half as both sides scored three goals each in the second quarter. Seville looked to be getting on top in the third term, but they were very wasteful as they scored 2.8 to Kinglake’s 1.4 which saw scores all tied up at three-quarter time. The last quarter saw Kinglake finish off stronger as they looked the fitter side. They scored 5 goals to 2 to finish the day off well and leave Seville wondering what may have been.
Kinglake best players: J. Butterwoth (1 goal), A. Whelan, B. Wilkinson (2 goals)
Seville best players: B. Abbruzzese, N. O’Keefe (2 goals), S. Wilson (2 goals)
Division 2 Reserves
Yarra Junction 7.10 (52) d Alexandra 7.7 (49) (Preliminary Final)
Yarra Junction will take on Emerald in the grand final next week after holding on to win by just three points over Alexandra in the preliminary final. Yarra Junction held Alexandra to just two behinds in the first quarter but they only booted 2.4 to lead by 14 points at the first break. The second term was a good contest and Alexandra clawed their way a little closer as they booted 3 goals to 2 to trail by nine points at the half. Yarra Junction kicked away a little in the third as they booted 2.3 to just 1 goal and their lead was a handy three goals, heading into the last quarter. Alex attacked hard in the final term and did threaten to steal the game, but Junction was able to hold on to their slim lead to record a very narrow victory and march into the grand final.
Yarra Junction best players: A. Ward, C. Hoare (2 goals), J. Dark
Alexandra best players: C. Jack, J. Rouget (1 goal), J. Purcell (2 goals)
Under 18s
Wandin 8.13 (61) d Emerald 6.12 (48) (semi final 1)
This game started off in strange fashion as neither side scored a goal in the first term, but they both booted five behinds. The second term did see the sides hit the scoreboard, and it was Wandin that had the edge as they booted 4 goals to 2 to take a 13-point lead into half-time. Emerald looked to be getting on top in the third as they booted 3.5 to 1.1 to wrestle back the lead as they went into the last quarter three points ahead. The last quarter was a good one for Wandin as their defence stood tall and they were able to set up attacks from their backline. They booted 3 goals to 1 to run out 13-point winners and will now take on Upwey Tecoma in preliminary final 1 next week.
Wandin best players: J. Iedema, M. Dall, H. Byrne (1 goal)
Emerald best players: J. Volta, J. Turpin, J. Pedder
Olinda Ferny Creek 12.12 (84) d Yarra Glen 10.7 (67) (semi final 2)
Olinda started this game off well as they booted 5 goals to 2 to lead by 17 points at quarter time, but Yarra Glen hit back hard in the second term, scoring 4 goals to 1 which saw Olinda leading by just three points at the half. Olinda’s third term was very good as they were able to hold Yarra Glen to just one point, while they added four goals to their score to lead by a handy 29 points at the three-quarter time break. Yarra Glen threw everything they had at Olinda in the last and did threaten late in the game, but Olinda was able to hold them off despite being outscored 4 goals to 2 to come away with a hard-fought 17-point win. Olinda will now take on Healesville next week in preliminary final 2 with the winner advancing through to the grand final.
Olinda Ferny Creek best players: J. Prato, R. Tairi (2 goals), J. Swanson (1 goal)
Yarra Glen best players: A. Smith (2 goals), B. Muurling, A. Moate (2 goals)
Division 1 A Grade
Olinda Ferny Creek 36 d Wandin 33 (2nd semi final)
Olinda has advanced through to the grand final after a three-goal victory over Wandin. Even though the final margin was just three goals, this game really did belong to Olinda. They started off well with an 11 goal to 6 first term and did look the goods. The second term was a close affair with Wandin reducing the margin to four goals at the half. Olinda looked to get right on top in the third as they scored 12 goals to 8 to get out to a handy eight-goal lead at the final change. The last quarter did see Wandin give it their all to get back into the contest, but Olinda was able to hold them off enough to progress through to the big dance. Wandin get one more chance as they will clash with Yarra Glen next week in the preliminary final.
Olinda Ferny Creek best players: Gretta Hankinson, Krista Tomlinson, Tess Linkins (25 goals)
Wandin Best players: Brooke Goldsmith, Ruby Tidd, Tayissa Coppinger
Yarra Glen d Mount Evelyn (1st semi final)
Yarra Glen was great in this clash and they set the tone early as they scored 10 goals to 2 in the first term. Yarra Glen stretched their lead in the second term as they scored 9 goals to 5 to take what was a commanding 12-goal lead into half-time. The second half was a lot more even but Yarra Glen had all the answers and was never threatened as they added another 21 goals to their score while Mount Evelyn did at least battle the game out, adding 17 goals to their total. Yarra Glen will now take on Wandin in next week’s preliminary final with the winner to advance through to the grand final to clash with Olinda.
Yarra Glen best players: Peta Fay, Prue Purdey, Alana Stone
Mount Evelyn best players: Jessica Walker, Bridgette Barry-Murphy, Elissa Dykstra
Division 1 B Grade
Mount Evelyn 57 d Wandin 53 (2nd semi final)
Olinda Ferny Creek 46 d Wabrurton Millgrove 40 (1st semi final)
Division 1 C Grade
Wandin 39 d Olinda Ferny Creek 18 (2nd semi final)
Mount Evelyn 51 d Belgrave 49 (1st semi final)
Division 1 D Grade
Olinda Ferny Creek 23 d Wandin 21 (2nd semi final)
Warburton Millgrove 22 d Healesville 17 (1st semi final)
Division 2 A Grade
Seville d Yarra Junction (preliminary final)
Division 2 B Grade
Emerald 34 d Seville 29 (preliminary final)
Division 2 C Grade
Yea d Alexandra (preliminary final)
Division 2 D Grade
Yea 21 d Emerald 18 (preliminary final)
Under 17s
Wandin 32 d Warburton Millgrove 17 (2nd semi final)
Yea 31 d Mount Evelyn 12 (1st semi final)
