By CAMERON HUTCHISON
WINDY conditions played havoc with some games on the weekend.
Olinda Ferny Creek and Healesville are battling it out in second and third position.
Monbulk have a realistic chance to make the finals; and no more than next week when they take on Warburton-Millgrove, while fifth-place Upwey-Tecoma have to play ladder leaders Wandin.
Division 2 is extremely tight, with all games next week affecting the ladder.
Alexandra take on Seville which are playing for their season, but, likewise, Alexandra are flying and want to stay in the top three.
It is probably Powelltown’s last chance and must get a win over Kinglake to keep their finals hopes alive.
Yarra Glen need to come off the bye in good form as they host Yea, and can Yarra Junction be a thorn in the side of Gembrook three weeks out from finals.
Division 1 Seniors Football
Olinda Ferny Creek 15.19 (109) d Emerald 10.6 (66)
Olinda hold onto second spot after a solid performance against Emerald on Saturday.
Emerald started off really well, kicking five goals-to-four in the first and taking a five-point lead into the second quarter.
Olinda were a bit shell-shocked; and even though they outscored Emerald in the second quarter, they only took a four-point lead into half-time.
Olinda lifted a notch in the third, kicking 2.5 to 1.1 and 5.6 to 1.1 in the last quarter to win by 43 points.
Olinda Ferny Creek Best: D. Rohrmann (3 goals), M. Hottes, N. Broomhall (3 goals), D. Wilson (1 goal), B. Shaw, N. Keegan (2 goals)
Emerald Best: M. Steer, L. McKenna (1 goal), C. Thomsen, P. White (1 goal), D. Volta, C. Jones (3 goals)
Woori Yallock 22.13 (145) d Warburton Millgrove 2.3 (15)
Warburton had a dirty day out when they could only manage two goals against a rampaging Woori Yallock.
Woori Yallock are only one game from second spot and are finding form when it counts.
Warburton have had a season of ups and downs, and this is one of the downers.
They failed to kick a goal in the first while Woori Yallock put their stamp on the game with an impressive 7.2.
Warburton were never going to make up the difference as they had no one that could match it with Marcus Baxter (8 goals) or Ben Monkhorst (5 goals).
Woori led at half-time by 59 points and extended that lead to 85 points at three quarter time as Woori run out 130-point winners.
Woori Yallock Best: M. Lowe (1 goal), M. Baxter (8 goals), B. Mc Donald, J. Adams (1 goal), B. Monkhorst (5 goals), M. Batten
Warburton Millgrove Best: T. Walker, T. McKail, L. James, P. Sharp, J. Mullan, T. Marr
Monbulk 19.13 (127) d Upwey Tecoma 12.14 (86)
Monbulk have kept their finals hopes alive with a confidence boosting win over fifth-placed Upwey-Tecoma.
With Upwey playing Wandin and Monbulk playing Warburton next week, it should be game on for fifth spot for the last three rounds.
Monbulk got the early break in the first by kicking 5.6 to 2.3, with another six goals-to-five in the second having them, going into the main break with a 12-point advantage.
Michael Langworthy was causing issues for Upwey up forward, while Daniel Ward proved a good foil for him.
Monbulk came out and piled on seven goals-to-two to put the game out of Upwey’s reach in the third quarter.
The last quarter was pretty much keepings off for the whole 30 minutes with the hosts securing an impressive 41-point win.
Monbulk Best: C. Sharpe (2 goals), M. Langworthy (6 goals), J. Mohr (1 goal), J. Rak, P. Berge (1 goal), S. Williams (1 goal)
Upwey-Tecoma Best: J. Hackett (2 goals), I. Krijt, T. Robinson (2 goals), B. Oates, J. Hevern, B. Sheppard (2 goals)
Healesville 17.16 (118) d Mount Evelyn 13.11 (89)
This game was looming to be a long day for Mount Evelyn, but they managed to almost kick their entire score from last week in the first quarter.
Healesville had nine scoring shots-to-three in the first, but were a bit wasteful and only took a 16-point lead into the second quarter.
Mount Evelyn certainly had something to prove after last week, and took Healesville by complete surprise in the second with good teamwork and direct avenues to goal.
They kicked 6.3 to 3.5 to even the ledger at half time.
Robbie Hartfield and Simon Gordon were proving to be major targets for the respective sides.
Mount Evelyn really did some soul searching at half-time as they came out and continued the type of play they displayed in the second quarter, outscoring Healesville by six points to take a lead into the last.
The question was: ‘Could they maintain it?’
The last quarter was a bit of a see-saw game for the first 15 minutes, but then Healesville’s young brigade kicked into gear, helping them kick six goals-to-nil in the last to secure a 29-point win.
Healesville Best: S. Gordon (6 goals), A. Hamer (1 goal), N. Mende, B. Murphy, A. Davies (2 goals), C. Warren
Mount Evelyn Best: R. Cowan (2 goal), R. Hartfield (5 goals), L. Francis, G. Gosland, D. Kift, S. Martin
Wandin 14.11 (95) d Belgrave 12.18 (90)
Many would not have tipped such a close game especially at the Kennel.
These two battled it out all day, with Belgrave leading for most of the day.
Wandin had the slimmest of leads at quarter time but the only time they held the lead was at final siren time.
Belgrave were wasteful in front of goal in the second, kicking 3.7 to 3.2.
Their lead could have been possibly uncatchable if they had kicked straight.
They extended their lead to eight points at three quarter time, but again were not capitalising on their forward 50 entries kicking 4.6 to 4.2.
However, Wandin were finally able to get it going through the aid of Scott Dwyer in the last, kicking 4.3-to-2.2 to secure a thrilling five-point win.
Wandin Best: M. Fowkes, J. Glenn (4 goals), J. Myers (1 goal), M. Shanks (1 goal), S. Dwyer (5 goals), J. Ladner
Belgrave Best: R. Matthews, J. Brown, T. Stubley (3 goals), P. Gough (1 goal), J. Pearce, B. Fitzgerald (1 goal)
Division 2 Seniors Football
Powelltown 11.13 (79) d Gembrook Cockatoo 10.8 (68)
Powelltown continue on their hunt for finals by taking the scalp of Gembrook on Saturday.
They are now sitting equal fifth and have been very good over the last couple of weeks.
Gembrook have dropped to fourth, with only one game away from top spot.
Gembrook hit the scoreboard in the first, taking a 12-point lead at quarter-time.
Powelltown swung into gear in the second, kicking 4.4-to-2.4 to even the score at 5.7 each at half-time.
However, Gembrook were able to hold them scoreless in the third, putting four goals on the board in the third quarter to lead by 24 points at three-quarter time.
Despite the 24-point lead heading into the third quarter, Powelltown were able to dig deep in the last, kicking 6.6-to-1.1 to come away with an 11-point win.
Powelltown Best: Jason Walker, J. Moore, N. Moody (1 goal), Jonnie Walker (1 goal), G. Newing, S. Sanders
Gembrook-Cockatoo Best: A. Shipp (4 goals), C. Vernal, S. Martin, P. Gramc (3 goals), M. Maddison, A. Mitchell
Kinglake 19.22 (136) d Thornton Eildon 5.7 (37)
Another tough day at the office for Thornton on Saturday.
They were held scoreless in the first, while Kinglake piled on 9.8 to take a 62-point lead into the second quarter.
Thornton fought back in the second, kicking 3.2 to 2.3 to outscore Kinglake. Robert Mallison and Luke Forsyth were certainly making it difficult for Thornton to defend with Kinglake kicking 6.7 in the third with Kinglake to defeat Thornton Eildon by 99 points.
Kinglake Best: R. Mallison (6 goals), A. Whelan (1 goal), E. Robinson (1 goal), B. Robinson (1 goal), J. Harward, L. Forsyth (5 goals)
Thornton Eildon Best: J. Strachan, A. Reddan (1 goal), Z. King, B. Musgrove, R. Andrews (1 goal), J. Mitchell
Yarra Junction 17.16 (118) d Seville 11.12 (78)
Yarra Junction have pushed Seville down to sixth on the ladder and only hanging on slimly to a final five berth.
Seville had a 20-point lead into the second quarter after kicking six goals to two in the first.
Scoring shots were the same, but Yarra Junction wasted their opportunities.
Seville stopped in their tracks in the second while the Eagles kicked 6.3 to take a slim lead of four points into the main break.
Yarra Junction really turned it on after the half-time break, kicking 9.8 to get a win of 40 points.
Yarra Junction Best: W. Robertson (1 goal), J. Black, B. Wragg, E. Wadsworth, T. Wheeler (5 goals), T. Hancock (1 goal)
Seville Best: J. Neal (2 goals), J. Bourke-Finn, L. O’Keefe, A. Wind, A. Mammoliti, G. Teunissen
Alexandra 8.6 (54) d Yea 6.10 (46)
Alexandra have jumped to equal top of the ladder, but sit third on percentage after a big win over Yea.
Yea sit fifth and in a very precarious position.
Alexandra continued on their good form from last week, kicking four straight in the first to Yea’s three behinds.
Alexandra looked on from the outset and Yea had no answers.
They did manage to keep Alexandra to 1.5 to their one goal in the second, but it was not enough to make any inroads to Alexandra’s time.
They outscored them in the third, kicking 2.3-to one-goal, but the lead was still 17 points at three- quarter time.
Alexandra again was outscored in the last quarter by 10 points, but the damage was done early and Alexandra hung on to secure an eight-point win.
Alexandra Best: S. Heveren, J. Purcell, S. Steiner, B. Wallace, C. Tranter (2 goals), M. Coombs
Yea Best: D. Evans, R. Aldous, H. Jarvie (1 goal), J. Ivill, J. Flynn, K. Giovannini
Yarra Glen: Bye
Under 18s Football
Emerald 8.9 (57) d Yarra Glen 7.7 (49)
Emerald Best: J. Volta, B. Pepi (1 goal), C. Johnson, B. Stuhldreier, T. Thomsen, K. Jordan-Hill
Yarra Glen Best: J. Clare (4 goals), L. Coulson (1 goal), T. Evans (1 goal), A. Nettlefold (1 goal), S. Duncan, S. Gommers
Woori Yallock-Powelltown 10.13 (73) d Warburton Millgrove 10.10 (70)
Woori Yallock-Powelltown Best: M. Arnold (4 goals), J. Smith (4 goals), L. Amarant, S. Burnside (1 goal), J. Mead, R. Whitworth
Warburton Millgrove Best: S. Noonan, M. Edwards, M. Read, C. Reiffel (1 goal), T. Dargie, J. Nelson
Mount Evelyn 27.12 (174) d Upwey Tecoma 2.4 (16)
Mount Evelyn Best: A. Johnson (2 goals), D. Maunder (5 goals), D. Watson (1 goal), M. Oultram (9 goals), L. Inaps (3 goals), J. Williams
Upwey-Tecoma Best: A. Milner, B. Raru, T. Edyvane, C. Stimac-Wuttke, A. Grenda, R. Cheslett
Kinglake forfeited to Wandin
Monbulk-Seville: Bye
Division 1 A Grade Netball
Olinda Ferny Creek 105 d Emerald 23
Olinda Ferny Creek Best: Tess Linkins (70 goals), Krista Tomlinson, Louise Conway
Emerald Best: Rebecca Sayers, Kate Griffin, Stacey Licciardi
Monbulk Hawks 54 d Upwey Tecoma 42
Monbulk Hawks Best: Lauren Smith (44 goals), Paige Whitworth, Kaitlyn Seamer
Upwey Tecoma Best: Samantha Silvester (25 goals), Keira Venables, Peta Day
Mt Evelyn 44 d Healesville 26
Mt Evelyn Best: Kaitlyn Black, Rachael Hickey (33 goals), Jacqui Black
Healesville Best Players: not provided
Wandin 72 d Belgrave 47
Wandin Best: Tayissa Coppinger, Ruby Tidd, Samantha Coppinger
Belgrave Best: Jennifer Dewhurst, Kylie Bradshaw, Lauren Bennett (36 goals)
Woori Yallock 62 d Warburton Millgrove 42
Woori Yallock Best: Shannon Gray, Abby Stranger, Sarah Hogan (38 goals)
Warburton Millgrove Best: Serena Gibbs, Taylah Moschetti, Bianca Daniels (22 goals)
Division 2 A Grade Netball
Seville 41 d Yarra Junction 33
Seville Best: Riley Gentle, Morgan Wyatt, Zoe Abbruzzese (30 goals)
Yarra Junction Best: Rachel Young, Catherine Cook, Katelyn Betts (24 goals)
Yea 47 d Alexandra 40
Yea Best: Nikki Watts (34 goals), Meg Sundblom, Bridget O’Dwyer
Alexandra Best: Lauren Steyger (15 goals), Teagan Halligan, Bethany Cairns
Powelltown 43 d Thornton Eildon 19
Powelltown Best: Georgie Haynes, Samantha Murty, Nicole Hajder
Thornton Eildon Best: Danni Lowerson, Alesha Davison, Nikki Davison
Yarra Glen: Bye
