We are already at Round Seven of the Eastern Football League Women’s Competition this weekend and to keep up with all things women’s footy check out Tash Gunawardana’s Weekend Preview.
Premier Division:
South Croydon vs Mount Evelyn: South Croydon hosts Mount Evelyn at Cheong Park on Saturday morning. The winner of this match could go equal second alongside Vermont if other results go their way. Mount Evelyn need to beware of South Croydon forward Taylah Black who is the Premier Leading Goal Kicker with 16 goals. Black is also coming off her best match last round, where she kicked a bag of five goals. Black averages 3.2 goals per a game this season and if Mount Evelyn do not have a plan in place to stop her than Black will cause headaches for the Mount Evelyn defence. Mount Evelyn will be hoping for more of the same from forward Isobel Urquhart who has scored seven goals in the last two weeks with an average of 3.5 goals. South Croydon have too many scoring options compared to Mount Evelyn, because if Black has an off day, then they have Tanikka Martin (seventh on goal kicking leader board and Katie Shanahan (15th on goal kicking leader board).
South Croydon – “Excited to be rolling out on the home deck for the first time in 2022,” Coach Simon Hammersley said. “The sides were evenly matched in round two, however we felt we were beaten around the stoppages for most of the game. If we can tidy up that aspect of our game this time around it will go a long way to getting the points. The division is even, both sides will be geared up for a big game, it’s another great challenge.”
Tip: South Croydon
SBL Wolves vs Vermont: The second placed Vermont tackle the last placed SBL Wolves at Belgrave South Recreation Reserve on Saturday afternoon. A lot is on the line for Vermont, if they win, they could go equal top of the ladder if Eastern Devils lose this weekend and if they lose, they could drop to as low as third. Vermont will win in a tight clash, as they have too much to lose.
Vermont – “Two teams coming off a loss, I’m sure they’ll be just as keen as us to get back on the winners list,” Coach Tim Da Silveria said. “Should be a great contest.”
Tip: Vermont
Premier B Division:
The Basin vs Boronia: The Basin clash with Boronia at Tormore Reserve. Expect a close match, because if The Basin win, they could go equal first with Whitehorse Pioneers and if Boronia win, they could go equal second with The Basin. Boronia’s defence will need to be on their guard as The Basin’s forward and captain Julia Baker has scored 14 goals and she is coming off a seven-goal haul last round against Ferntree Gully. Baker is a forward weapon, and it will be a blowout if Boronia’s defensive structures do not hold up well.
The Basin – “Keen to take some form into this weekend after a nice win against FTG,” Captain Julia Baker said. “Boronia got the win over us in round one, so we are keen to get one back over them on Saturday.”
Tip: The Basin
Ferntree Gully vs Eastern Devils: It is the crossover Premier and Premier B match between Ferntree Gully and the Eastern Devils at Wally Tew Reserve. On paper it looks like it will be tough going for Ferntree Gully as they are winless and last on the Premier B ladder and the Eastern Devils are undefeated and the Premier ladder leaders. With the match at Ferntree Gully’s home ground, they could cause a massive upset and their first win, but it will take a lot to topple the Eastern Devils and crazier things have happened in footy.
Ferntree Gully – “Playing Eastern Devils this week, who are the benchmark in local women’s footy in the east, so we’re excited to take on the challenge and learn from competing against the best,” Coach Tim Cavanagh said. “We’re a little light for personnel with injuries and illness at the moment but know the girls that take the field for us will compete their hearts out regardless.”
Tip: Eastern Devils
Donvale vs Whitehorse Pioneers: Whitehorse travel to Donvale Reserve to play against Donvale. Only one win separates Donvale and Whitehorse and that win allows Whitehorse to be atop of the Premier B ladder, but all this can change at the conclusion of Saturday afternoon, because if Donvale are victorious then they could go equal first with Whitehorse. It will be a tight encounter, but due to the home ground advantage Donvale will just get over the line.
Donvale – “Tough outing last week, we put together a good first half but struggled to maintain the pressure,” Coach Stephen Latino continued. “It was a couple of very cold nights on the track, but we put our heads down, worked through it, and hoping to come away with the win before heading into the bye.”
Tip: Donvale
Women’s Division One:
Beaconsfield vs North Ringwood: Beaconsfield and North Ringwood clash at Holm Park Reserve. It is the third and fourth placed match up, so expect the contest to be evenly matched as North Ringwood are only third and ahead on the ladder because they have one more win. If Beaconsfield have any chance of going equal third with North Ringwood, then they will need to ensure they are able to stop the strong scoring impact of North Ringwood forward Shannon Harris who has scored 10 goals and averages two goals per a game this season and more recently averages three goals over the last two rounds.
Tip: North Ringwood
Ringwood vs Blackburn: It is the bottom of the table clash at Jubilee Park with the sixth placed Ringwood and seventh placed Blackburn. Ringwood will head into this match as slight favourites, but do not be surprised if Blackburn record their first win of the season.
Tip: Ringwood
Park Orchards vs Chirnside Park: Park Orchards hosts Chirnside Park at Domeney Reserve. As Rowville have the bye this round, Park Orchards has the chance to be one game away from the ladder leading Hawks.
Tip: Park Orchards
Rowville – Bye
Women’s Division Two:
Knox vs Kilsyth: The ladder leaders Knox come up against Kilsyth at Knox Gardens Reserve. Knox are undefeated on six wins, and they have shown all season that they are the premier team in Division Two. It will be a tough clash for Kilsyth to overcome Knox, but because they have a chance to move into the top three, they will give it their all and who knows they might become the first team this season to topple the might of Knox.
Knox – “I feel we’ve lost a bit of form in the last game and a half, so I’m looking at the group to turn that around,” Knox Coach PJ said. “Kilsyth’s recent results indicate they have really improved so expecting a close, hard-fought encounter. We’ll be working hard to go into the break with an unblemished record.”
Kilsyth – “We’ve got a tough one this week playing an inform Knox at their ground,” Kilsyth Coach Clint Martin said. “PJ has got the girls playing some good footy, so we’ll have to step up to match them. We’re looking at being more competitive than the last time we met.”
Tip: Knox
Surrey Park vs East Ringwood: The second placed Surrey Park plays on their home deck at Surrey Park Reserve against the third placed East Ringwood. East Ringwood will bring their best as they know they have the chance to take second spot off Surrey Park with a victory on Saturday.
Tip: Surrey Park
Montrose vs Heathmont: It is the Division Two bottom of the table clash at Montrose Recreation Reserve between Montrose and Heathmont. With Montrose vying for their first victory of the season and playing at their home ground, Heathmont should not take Montrose lightly.
Montrose – “We enjoyed under the lights Thursday night and were very pleased we outscored the top side for the second half,” Coach Shilette Baker said. “A great contest that gives us a lot of hope moving into the last half of the season. Back to playing Heathmont. We think we’ll be able to give this a good crack. Still looking at getting our first win on the board, so hoping to put up a contest like Thursday night. Our belief is there, just need to string four quarters together.”
Tip: Montrose
Women’s Division Three:
Coldstream vs Mitcham: Coldstream hosts Mitcham at Coldstream Reserve. Coldstream are currently third on the ladder and Mitcham are fifth, so it will be a close clash. A win on Saturday for Coldstream will help them move up to second if other results go their way, so expect Coldstream to come out firing on their home deck as they know they have a huge opportunity up for grabs in Division Three. Also, a win for Mitcham will mean they will be equal with Coldstream.
Tip: Coldstream
Fairpark vs East Burwood: Fairpark and East Burwood tackle each other at Fairpark Reserve. If Fairpark do not bring their A-game on Saturday, then it will be a completely one-sided affair on Saturday as East Burwood are yet to drop a match all season and are currently sitting atop of the ladder with five wins.
Tip: East Burwood
Nunawading vs Croydon North MLOC: Croydon North MLOC play away against Nunawading at Koonung Reserve. Croydon North MLOC will hope they continue to win come Saturday as they know a loss could have them drop to as low as fourth if other results do not work in their favour this round. Nunawading will come out strong, you would expect because they know that if they are victorious that they will go equal second with Croydon North MLOC.
Tip: Nunawading
Mooroolbark – Bye
Women’s Division Four:
South Croydon Red vs Eastern Devils Black: South Croydon Red clashes with Eastern Devils Black at Cheong Park in what is a first and fourth placed match up. South Croydon Red are the premier team in Division Four as they are yet to lose a match this season, but Eastern Devils are fourth for a reason with three wins, so do not be surprised if Eastern Devils manage to hand South Croydon Red their first loss of the season.
Tip: South Croydon Red
Boronia Gold vs The Basin Green: Boronia Gold will be in search of their first win of the season when they come up against the third placed The Basin at Tormore Reserve. The Basin will be heavy favourites in the match, but do not count out Boronia Gold because huge upsets have occurred in footy before.
Tip: The Basin Green
SBL Wolves Teal vs Vermont Gold: The second last SBL Wolves Teal faces the fury of the second placed Vermont Gold at Belgrave South Recreation Reserve. SBL Wolves have only recorded one win all season and will know it will be tough going against Vermont Gold to pull off their second victory.
Vermont Gold – “We can see that SBL have improved since the last time we played against them,” Coach Brett Munyard said. “The Vermont Development team, has also improved and we are looking forward to a hard contested game.”
Tip: Vermont Gold
