EFL Media’s Will Taylor dissected all the previous week’s action as well as all the upcoming action this weekend in the Deakin University Eastern Region Women’s Competition.
THE WEEK IN REVIEW |
What a game by Yarra Junction last week with the Eagles defeating Upper Ferntree Gully by 27 points. The Junction led at every change to come away with an important win. Upper Ferntree Gully will need to go back to the drawing board this coming week in its bid to avoid last place on the ladder. Melinda Cottrell, Samantha De Bono Temopoulos and Emily Ballard all played their role for the visitors.
What a disaster for Chirnside Park at home as it was clearly out-played by the most dominant team in the competition in Mount Evelyn as the home team dropped to fourth position with a 64 point loss.
Alannah Gordon kicked three goals in her best on ground performance for Mount Evelyn while Ashleigh Turnham, Katelyn Betts and Melanie Hogg joined her in a dominant performance to keep their unbeaten record intact. Bianca Dixon and Whitney Boyle were named among the best for Chirnside Park.
Jasmine Hills kicked three goals for Bayswater as the Waters continued their winning form with a convincing 55-point win over Knox as Bayswater Oval claimed another victim.
Bayswater was inaccurate, kicking nine goals from 29 attempts despite Caitlyn Wilson and Chelsea Mammone sharing the goal-scoring with two goals each for the Waters while Jasmine Campbell kicked two goals for the Falcons.
After a scoreless first quarter by both teams, the Waverley Blues powered their way to a 23-point win. Chris Goldstraw’s team continued to travel well even though he is without some of his key players due to injury and holiday commitments.
The Blues turned it up in the second quarter with three goals to zero to jump into third place on the ladder. Shannon Bone kicked four goals for a best on ground performance while Rebecca Scarratt booted one major for the Jets. Grace De Cesare again starred for the Blues, showing great form heading into a possible first-ever finals campaign for the Blues.
PREVIEW |
Friday night presents a possible grand final preview, with a top-of-the-table clash featuring the unbeaten Mount Evelyn hosting second-placed Bayswater. The home ground advantage will be a key component to this game as a smaller and narrow venue will suit the home team. Leesa McShane, Zoe Alston, Brenda Lay and Marissa Lee will be the key drivers behind stopping the formidable Mount Evelyn.
PREDICTION: Mount Evelyn by six points.
Saturday morning kicks off with a big game down at Knox Gardens Reserve as the Knox Falcons take on Yarra Junction Eagles. Jessica Laidlaw (Yarra Junction) will be a key player as she continues to play her best season to date for the Eagles, as she stakes her claim for a possible best and fairest come the end of the season. Knox will be hoping to bounce back from their loss last weekend to Bayswater.
PREDICTION: Knox by 12 points.
Upper Ferntree Gully will be looking to cause the upset of the season as it plays host to third-placed Waverley Blues who are in ripping form.
Upper Gully’s Samantha De Bono Temopoulos will be the player to watch out for as her form has been consistently good across the course of the season.
Bridget Murphy, Olivia Baxter and Jessica McKenna will be the key players for the Blues as they look to move into outright third position on the ladder.
PREDICTION: Waverley Blues by 18 points.
Hughes Park will be abuzz on Sunday afternoon as Norwood and Chirnside Park face-off. Holly Fenton has kicked 10 goals for Norwood this season and has been well-supported by Kate Borzym and Cassandra Wilson this season. Corrinne Jackson, Alex Barker and Sophie Ruddick will be pushing hard for the Panthers, while Norwood’s forward-line in Jenna Freeman, Shanae De Cler and Whitney Boyle may cause a few headaches.
PREDICTION: Chirnside Park by 36 points.
All opinions expressed in this article are purely subjective and remain those of the author.
