The opening round of the Northpark NFLW season produced an exciting start with some upset wins in Division 1 and three games decided by less than two goals in Division 2.
In Division 1, last year’s VWFL Premier Division premier, Deer Park, lost its opening match against the VU Western Spurs by 41 points. In a strong first quarter display, the Spurs hit the scoreboard hard adding 3.5 (23) to 0.1 (1) and Deer Park was unable to track down the deficit. With three goals from the Spurs’ Amy Unwin and a best on ground performance from Jessie Davies, the Spurs kicked on to a 8.14 (62) to 3.3 (21) victory. Maria Afuhaamango was the Lions’ best in defeat. The Spurs will return home to face Pascoe Vale in Round 2.
Bendigo sent a strong statement to the rest of the competition with a compelling performance against Darebin at Queen Elizabeth Oval. Outstanding efforts from Andrea Walsh and Ayrlea Bailey-McClanahan, who kicked seven and six goals respectively, and Tiahna Cochrane finding plenty of the footy to led Bendigo to a comfortable 17.6 (108) to 2.5 (17) win. Simone Nalder worked hard for the Falcons. Bendigo’s next match is an away fixture against Melbourne University on April 30 and it will be aiming for another strong performance.
Diamond Creek also put on a remarkable display, defeating La Trobe University 22.16 (148) to 0.0. The Creekers’ Ashleigh Riddell showed that she is ready for a fantastic year, kicking two goals and proving to be a valuable commodity by foot and Chloe Molloy also got her season off to a flyer with nine goals in a brilliant display up forward. Diamond Creek will be hoping to replicate their dominant performance at home against Kew in Round 2.
Kew had to overcome a 15-point quarter-time deficit to overrun Whitehorse at Victoria Park. Despite kicking a wayward 5.12, the Bears went on for a six-point win. Rosie Dillon and Katie Shanahan each kicked two goals in defeat for the Colts.
Melbourne Uni proved too strong for Pascoe Vale in Sunday’s clash at Raeburn Reserve. Melbourne Uni kept the Panthers goalless in the opening half as it opened up a 52-point advantage, before keeping the foot on the gas in the second half to run away with an 86-point triumph.
In what was a great opening round, the Northpark NFLW Division 2 competition produced great contests and positive signs for the season ahead.
Diamond Creek came out on top with a 6.9 (45) to 1.0 (6) win over La Trobe University, with notable performances from the Creekers’ Lisa Di Camillo and Shazi Cappello. La Trobe will be hoping to level up their win-loss tally in an away match against Darebin next week and Diamond Creek will be looking to continue their great start on their home deck against Kew, another Round 1 winning side.
Kew began its season on a high with a hotly contested 2.10 (22) to 2.1 (13) victory over the travelling Whitehorse. Despite an unbalanced goals to behind ratio, Kew held strong to keep the opposition to just three scoring shots. Roisin Lambert put in a best on ground performance for Kew while Amelia Finnegan tried hard all day for Whitehorse.
Travelling to Laurimar, Montmorency produced a strong away performance to win 3.7 (25) to 2.1 (13) in an encounter that was played at a high intensity throughout. Montmorency held off an ardent Laurimar side with great efforts across the ground, in particularly from Nicole Blythe and Cadence Ashley, who both put in fantastic opening showings. Laurimar will make the trip to Henry Turner Reserve to face the VU Western Spurs on April 30 for an important Round 2 clash.
In perfect conditions for footy, Darebin began its season on the right foot with a 4.1 (25) to 2.0 (12) victory over South Morang. Kicking a goal in each quarter, Darebin’s scoring duo of Taryn Escreet and Sian Murray proved to be too much for South Morang as both scored two goals apiece and ensured their side came out on top. Vanessa Sankovic was fantastic for South Morang and will undoubtedly be hoping to carry the momentum of her performance into the rest of the season, beginning with a Round 2 match up against Montmorency.
In the final game of the round, VU Western Spurs travelled to J.E Moore Park to take on West Preston-Lakeside and came away with the four points in a 2.10 (22) to 2.2 (14) result. It was the Roosters’ second-successive home defeat after also going down in a close loss to Whitehorse in the NFLW season opener on April 1.
