By CAMERON HUTCHISON
COLD conditions for some, sunshine for others and even hail had footballers unsure whether they needed long stops, long sleeves or sunscreen.
The final five for Division 1 has opened up slightly.
Wandin had a surprisingly big win over Healesville; Olinda completely outclassed Mount Evelyn, Warburton lost in the final minutes against Upwey, while Monbulk keep their final chances alive.
The final five for Division 2 is another story.
With only four rounds to go, it is anyone’s guess what the five will look like.
Yarra Glen, Kinglake, Gembrook and Alexandra share top spot, with Seville and Yea eight points behind them.
Yarra Glen have a tough ride home, having to play Seville and Gembrook which both had wins earlier in the season.
Division 1 Seniors
Monbulk 23.13 (151) d Belgrave 8.8 (56)
Monbulk got off to a great start, kicking 6.4 to 1.3, and had probably a match-winning lead at the first break.
They extended their lead at half time to 38 points.
Michael Langworthy was proving to be hard to match up on in the forward line.
A five goal-to-two third quarter by Monbulk saw them increase their lead.
The hosts continued to dominate the match, piling on eight goals to come home with an impressive 95-point win that keeps their finals hopes alive.
Monbulk Best: S. Williams (3 goals), C. Sharpe (3 goals), M. Langworthy (6 goals), D. Werts, P. Barge (2 goals), D. White
Belgrave Best: M. Brown (1 goal), N. Somervaille, M. Puts, D. Bilston, P. Johnson (4 goals), T. Stubley
Woori Yallock 18.16 (124) d Emerald 5.7 (37)
It has been a long season for Emerald and they will be looking forward to season’s end, so they can regroup.
They started off well, holding Woori Yallock to three goals in the first, but eight scoring shots to three in Woori Yallock’s favour meant that the ball was in their forward 50 too many times.
Woori kicked six goals in the second and kept Emerald goalless to take a 53-point lead into the main break.
Emerald were never going to chase down this lead as the hosts kicked another nine goals in the second half to secure an impressive 87-point victory.
Woori Yallock Best: M. Lowe (1 goal), J. Coombs, M. Baxter (4 goals), D. Benson, J. Adams, R. Monkhorst
Emerald Best: M. Steer, M. Thomas, L. McKenna, L. Sheppard (1 goal), D. Reilly, C. Thomsen
Wandin 12.15 (87) d Healesville 5.7 (37)
This game was set to be the match of the round and honours for top spot on the ladder.
Healesville held a small lead at quarter time of six points, but it was all Wandin after that.
A five goal-to-two behinds second quarter by Wandin saw the visitors with a 25-point lead heading into the main break.
Healesville could not find the big sticks and the entry into their forward 50 was stopped at every opportunity.
Wandin kicked another 6.10 to 3.3 in the second half to come away with a 50-point win that must now have them as flag favourites.
Wandin Best: R. Wilson (1 goal), D. Ladner, B. Foley, M. Polkinghorne (1 goal), B. Dickinson, R. Ross
Healesville Best: N. Mende, J. Layton, M. Hay, P. MacFarlane (1 goal), M. Anson, J. Nugent
Olinda Ferny Creek 17.13 (115) d Mount Evelyn 2.4 (16)
Can you believe this scoreline?
Olinda certainly deserve to be sitting equal second on the ladder, but have Mount Evelyn shut up shop for 2016?
Their form this year has been nothing like was promised after the early part of the season.
Olinda held them goalless until the second half but by then Olinda had a huge 73-point lead.
Olinda had eight contributors to goals on Saturday where Mount Evelyn only had one.
A 6.5 to 2.3 last half gave Olinda a huge percentage boosting win of 99 points.
Olinda Ferny Creek Best: K. Currie, P. Rosier (5 goals), L. Meadows, L. Hill, C. Beattie, N. Syme (2 goals)
Mount Evelyn Best: D. Kift, B. Doyle, R. Cowan, A. Chalkley, A. Johnston, M. Brierley
Upwey-Tecoma 12.11 (83) d Warburton Millgrove 11.10 (76)
Warburton had the opportunity on Saturday to keep their finals hopes alive, but unfortunately they let that slip in the last few minutes of the game on Saturday.
Upwey took the early lead at quarter time by three points.
Warburton bounced back in the second and took a hard earned nine-point lead into half-time.
Then, 2.1 to 3.4 in the third had the ledger all square at three-quarter time and it was now down to who wanted it most.
The gut runners were required this quarter, leaving nothing to be questioned.
Warburton got the jump and held the lead deep into the last and would have been thinking they had the four points.
Upwey lifted and got a push into their 50 and came away with a seven-point win at the final siren.
Upwey-Tecoma Best: T. Robinson (2 goals), S. Parkinson, J. Hackett (2 goals), L. O’Brien, B. Duncan, K. Grenda (1 goal)
Warburton Millgrove Best: L. Barnard, P. Sharp, J. Iacono (1 goal), I, Andueza (1 goal), T. Marr, T. McKail
Division 2 Seniors
Alexandra 15.11 (101) d Yarra Glen 12.7 (79)
Yarra Glen had the opportunity to put themselves a game clear with a win on Saturday but Alexandra had different ideas and have now put themselves equal top with three other clubs.
Alexandra got the jump on Yarra Glen in the first, kicking 4.4 to 2.3.
Both sides kicked 3.2 in the second so the lead was 14 points at half-time to Alexandra.
Alexandra continued their smart play and kicked 5.3 to 3.1 to increase their lead to 24 points at three-quarter time.
Yarra Glen attempted to get their running game, but Alexandra were far too strong, running out 22-point winners.
Alexandra Best: S. Heveren, C. Heaslip, S. Steiner, L. Heard (5 goals), C. Mullins (1 goal), N. Dundas
Yarra Glen Best: B. Ashton (1 goal), L. Hoffmann, M. Gordon, J. Dargent, M. Ashton, B. Clark
Powelltown 13.20 (98) d Seville 13.10(88)
Powelltown have kept their finals hopes alive and having nothing to lose over the next four weeks.
A high scoring first quarter had Powelltown in the lead by eight points.
Powelltown continued peppering the goals kicking 3.9 to 1.5 to extend their lead to 24 points at half-time.
Seville were able to get their running game going in the third, outscoring Powelltown by kicking 5.4 to 2.3 to reduce the lead to eight points at three-quarter time.
However, Powelltown were able to hold on to run out 10-point winners.
Powelltown Best: K. Larsen. M. McLaughlin (5 goals), T. Hallmark, J. Moore (1 goal), J. Walker (1 goal), A. Ramzy (1 goal)
Seville Best: G. Annowsky (1 goal), K. Mullett, A. Wind, G. Teunissen (1 goal), S. Wilson (4 goals), J. Bourke-Finn
Gembrook-Cockatoo 26.13.169 d Thornton Eildon 4.1.25
Gembrook-Cockatoo showed no mercy over Thornton Eildon on Saturday.
Gembrook kicked six goals-to-one in the first and never took their foot of the pedal all day.
A big 61-point lead at half time and it was all over for Thornton.
The final margin was 144-points and another win for Gembrook.
Gembrook Cockatoo Best: P. Gramc (5 goals), S. Nuutinen (5 goals), B. Fenton (1 goal), C. Vernal (1 goal), M. Maddison (1 goal), A. Shipp (4 goals)
Thornton Eildon Best: C. Ruhl, D. Creed (1 goal), T. Polson, A. Reddan, J. Strachan, Z. King
Yea 14.9 (93) d Yarra Junction 6.11 (47)
Yea have also kept their finals hopes a reality with a 46-point win over Yarra Junction.
Unfortunately for Yarra Junction, their season may be over as they still have to play Seville, Gembrook and Kinglake in the next four weeks.
Yea took a slim lead of seven points into the second quarter and extended their lead to 11 points at half-time.
Yea turned it on in the third, kicking six straight to two behinds to come away with a very impressive 46-goal win.
Yea Best: A. Hobbs (5 goals), J. Flynn (3 goals), J. Ivill (4 goals), K. Giovannini, T. Butterworth, K. Spagnolo
Yarra Junction Best: E. Wadsworth, D. Williams, B. Wragg, T. Wheeler (2 goals), T. Hancock (1 goal), J. Swinden
Kinglake: Bye
Under 18s
Yarra Glen 16.10 (106) d Monbulk-Seville 2.1(13)
Yarra Glen Best: B. Binion (1 goal), J. Hull, A. Smith (1 goal), J. Clare (7 goals), M. Kikidopoulos (2 goals), L. Pinder
Monbulk-Seville Best: J. Paternoster, T. Gebert, H. Dousset, S. Bennett, H. Emmett, J. Redapple
Emerald 16.14 (110) d Woori Yallock-Powelltown 5.6 (36)
Emerald Best: C. Roma, B. Wood (3 goals), T. Ladner (1 goal), J. Webb, J. Volta, N. Pascoe (1 goal)
Woori Yallock-Powelltown Best: J. Irwin (1 goal), J. Mead, B. Taylor, J. Pettit, W. White (1 goal), R. Diclaudio
Mount Evelyn 20.12 (132) d Kinglake 1.5 (11)
Mount Evelyn Best: M. Oultram (9 goals), J. Beamish (1 goal), M. Gibbons (2 goals), D. Watson, B. Forbes, T. Brill (1 goal).
Upwey Tecoma 6.15 (51) d Warburton Millgrove 1.3 (9)
Upwey Tecoma Best: B. Watson, N. Horne (1 goal), B. Raru, A. Milner, A. Aarden, J. Prendergast
Warburton Millgrove Best: M. Reed, C. Shalevski, B. MacDonald, L. Downie, T. Dargie, N. Peels
Wandin: Bye
Division 1 A Grade Netball
Belgrave 59 d Monbulk Hawks 43
Belgrave Best: Lauren Bennett (39 goals), Jessica Brady, Kalen Winters
Monbulk Hawks Best: Tahlia Northey (30 goals), Sophie Stubbs (1 goal), Olivia Crook
Woori Yallock 71 d Emerald 25
Woori Yallock Best: Sarah Hogan (26 goals), Shannon Gray (6 goals), Abby Stranger (11 goals)
Emerald Best: Rebecca Sayers, Sarah Bertram, Kate Griffin
Wandin 78 d Healesville 16
Wandin Best: Leah Reilly, Samantha Coppinger, Jackie Cullimore (49 goals)
Healesville Best: Hayley Parrott, Alexandra Bryan, Chenile Chandler (3 goals)
Olinda Ferny Creek 69 d Mount Evelyn 36
Olinda Ferny Creek Best: Krista Tomlinson. Melanie Van Diemen, Tess Linkins (51 goals)
Mount Evelyn Best: Kaitlyn Black, Hannah Barry-Murphy, Rachael Hickey (18 goals)
Upwey Tecoma 40 d Warburton Millgrove 35
Upwey-Tecoma Best: Kaylea McQuade, Rebecca Leeson (29 goals), Shae Haney
Warburton Millgrove Best: Serena Gibbs, Georgia Stanke. Stephanie Durant
Division 2 A Grade Netball
Seville 68 d Powelltown 23
Seville Best: Mariah Scully, Riley Gentle, Zoe Abbruzzese (32 goals)
Powelltown Best: Jessica Day, Simone Traynor, Nicole Hajder (10 goals)
Yarra Junction 32 d Yea 27
Yarra Junction Best: Katelyn Betts (21 goals), Catherin Cook, Rachel Young
Yea Best: Sarah Armstrong (16 goals), Meg Sundblom, Chelsea Spagnolo
Yarra Glen 67 d Alexandra 26
Yarra Glen Best: Sharnie Gray (38 goals), Elizabeth Kay (29 goals), Hillary Grubb
Thornton Eildon: Bye
