By Tash Gunawardana
It was great to have women’s footy back last weekend, but it will be even better this weekend as we welcome crowds back to local footy.
Premier Division:
Vermont vs Blackburn Black: Last round, Vermont pulled off a solid victory over Donvale Black and this confidence will give them the belief that if they play four quarters of football, they can topple undefeated Blackburn Black. With Premier goal kicking leader Evie Allman up forward and the game being played on their home deck at Vermont Recreation Reserve, Vermont has a huge chance of becoming the first team to defeat Blackburn Black this season. Blackburn Black come into this weekend’s game well rested after the lockdown and the bye last week, so we will see if this impacts their momentum somewhat or will it provide the rest needed to extend its unbeaten record this season. Tip: Vermont
Donvale Black vs Chirnside Park Black: Both Donvale Black and Chirnside Park Black loss last round, so expect this contest to be close at Donvale Reserve. Chirnside Park Black have the slight edge in terms of their scoring power as they have averaged 54 points per a game, while Donvale Black’s average score has been 29 points. Tip: Chirnside Park Black
South Croydon Blue – Bye
Division One:
Boronia Brown vs East Ringwood: Boronia Brown hosts East Ringwood at Tormore Reserve. Based on the ladder, you think this will be an easy win for Boronia Brown, but do not underestimate East Ringwood as they have recorded two wins this season over Rowville and North Ringwood when they were underdogs. Tip: Boronia Brown
North Ringwood vs Berwick: North Ringwood will play on their home deck at Quambee Reserve over Berwick. Based on form and ladder positions, this game looks like it will be a walk in the park for the third placed Berwick but with the game at Quambee, North Ringwood have the home ground advantage. Tip: Berwick
Whitehorse Suns vs Park Orchards: Park Orchards travels to Springfield Park to face Whitehorse Suns. Whitehorse Suns will need to halt the scoring impact of Isabelle Pollock (third on the goal kicking leader board) with 11 goals and ensure Isabelle Gietzmann has her kicking boots on and adds to her current goal season tally of seven. The match will be won in the defensive half of the ground because both teams are able to score when the ball is down in their forward 50s, but it will come down to which team’s defence stands tall. Tip: Park Orchards
SBL Wolves vs The Basin: What a match we have to look forward to at Belgrave South Recreation Reserve between the top of the table The Basin and fifth placed SBL Wolves. If SBL Wolves stand any chance of defeating The Basin, they will need to stop The Basin’s in form forwards including goal kicking leader Julia Baker who currently has 23 goals, Michaela Holford-Moss (nine goals) and Candice Carroll (eight goals). If SBL Wolves, stop The Basin’s scoring then they have a chance of causing one of the upsets of the season on their home deck. Tip: The Basin
Rowville vs Ferntree Gully: Rowville will look to win its second win on the trot against Ferntree Gully at Seebeck Oval. It will take a lot for Rowville to overcome the might of the second placed Ferntree Gully, a team that has only dropped one match all season. Tip: Ferntree Gully
Division Two: Heathmont vs Surrey Park:
On paper, all signs point towards a comfortable victory to the third placed Heathmont over the bottom placed Surrey Park at HE Parker Reserve, but if the two previous encounters are anything to go by the result will be close.
Heathmont coach John Haynes said, “it’s the third time we are playing Surrey Park this year, always close competitive games, but we have won two already and looking to win a third this weekend.”
“The first two matches were close and super competitive games and within a goal or two of both and we just fallen over the line.
“A lot of them (our players) have improved since the start of the year, it will be hard to pick out a few as we have a few good talents.”
The talent includes Emily Eversteyn, co-captain and ruck, she has improved greatly along with midfield players Kyla Morrow, Hailey Ferris and Billie Blythe. They have all have helped to improve the increased workload of the team and their football skill.
“It’s always a close encounter, we have had a couple of recruits since we played them last, one is Jess Edwards who is new to Heathmont and have the return of Ash Saunders who has returned from Queensland in the last month,” Haynes continued.
“Testing out our game plan and we do a debrief every week on what we need to improve on, and what we plan to do is what we do, and we need to ensure we improve on our football skill.”
Surrey Park vice-captain Sarah Goucher is looking forward to getting out on the park for the second time since return from a hamstring injury and excited to have some fresh faces since they last played Heathmont.
Both teams are relatively even, fast and strong bodies too and the game will come down to who can dominate possession and which team can take their opportunities will be key to winning the match.
“We have obviously faced Heathmont twice at home and come close to getting the win and I think the first time we played it was eight points and then the second was 14, so it will be good to have that opportunity to play them again and hopefully get the win,” Goucher said.
“We have had a lot of players who have stepped up this season including Tilly Lewis who was named in the team of the season couple of weeks ago and it obviously shows that she is a key player and stepped up a lot this season to make such an impact and to be recognised by the league,”
“We have a couple of other players including our forward Kara Oakley-Smith who won’t be playing due to injury unfortunately and Lilly Toomey who has come into the ruck and Emily Cumming they have both worked well to get the ball in our possession.” Tip: Heathmont
Ringwood vs Montrose: Ringwood will be looking to extend its winning streak to eight and keep their undefeated record intact against Montrose at Jubilee Park. Montrose’s defenders will be kept on their toes, as they will need to stop the impact of the top two goal kicking leaders in Division Two including Olivia Ashcroft (12 goals) and Georgia Fairbairn (eight goals). Montrose will also need to make sure Nicole Stagg and Caitlin Tayleur do not influence the match in anyway on the scoreboard. Tip: Ringwood
Kilsyth vs Knox: Knox will need to bring their A-game over the second placed Kilsyth at Pinks Reserve. It will be tough going for Knox, a side that has only won two matches and loss five matches all season up against a side that has won five matches and only loss two matches. Kilsyth will take some beating on Saturday, with the third and fourth Division Three goal kicking leaders Lucy Milkeraitis (eight goals) and Brooke Stephenson-Fuss (seven goals). Tip: Kilsyth
Division Three:
Croydon North MLOC vs Boronia Gold: Croydon North MLOC will head into this match against the bottom placed Boronia Gold as favourites at Hughes Park. Boronia Gold are yet to register a victory this season and Croydon North have their eyes set on going equal second with Chirnside Park Gold and Blackburn Red. With both teams on different ends of the spectrum, this match will probably be a one-sided affair in favour of Croydon North. Tip: Croydon North MLOC
South Croydon Red vs Chirnside Park Gold: A blockbuster clash awaits us on Saturday afternoon at Kimberley Reserve with the ladder leaders South Croydon Red tackling the second placed Chirnside Park Gold. Expect this encounter to be a fiery one and both teams to have nothing left in the tank. Will Chirnside Park Gold become the first team to defeat the undefeated South Croydon Red, or will South Croydon Red remain unbeaten? Tip: South Croydon Red
Coldstream vs Blackburn Red: Coldstream will have their work cut out for them when they face Blackburn Red at Coldstream Reserve. Yes, Coldstream have two wins on the board, but they do not have the strong scoring power like Blackburn Red. Coldstream’s highest score this season has been 8.7.55 and in their other matches they have been held goalless and scored no more than four points. It is hard to see where Coldstream’s goals will come from. Tip: Blackburn Red
Fairpark – Bye