With one round of grading remaining, the NFNL women’s competition is beginning to take shape, with some teams making some early statements.
During the opening four rounds of the season, all teams will start the 2022 season in the one grading competition before being placed in three divisions.
In the standalone Friday night fixture, two undefeated sides in Banyule and St Mary’s took battle at Beverley Road Oval and in a low scoring affair, the Bears took home the victory. No goals were scored from either side until the final quarter when Alyssa Barnes slotted her second major of the season to secure a 1.2 (8) to 0.4 (4) win. Casey Woodward and Heidi Cummins were again dominant for the Bears while Jessica Hardy was the Burra’s best.
The Fitzroy Stars also continued their unbeaten start to 2022, defeating Diamond Creek Women’s 2 by 10-points at Plenty Park Oval. For the second consecutive week, the Stars trailed at three quarter time, this time by two points. But despite their inaccuracy on goal, the visitors recovered swiftly to record the 4.15 (39) to 4.5 (29) win. Alisha Priestley and Shania Austin Jones were some of the names that stood out in the Stars win while Shannon McLean and Bentley Butler were Diamond Creek’s most impressive.
Eltham picked up their first win of the 2022 season in dominant fashion, comfortably defeating Darebin 2 by 54 points. In an impressive display by the Panthers, they kept the Falcon’s scoreless for all but one quarter, never looking back in the 7.13 (55) to 0.1 (1) victory. Kate Cardamone was at her brilliant best while Lucy Horbach and Alannah Murray were also solid contributors. Rachel McNamara and Stacey Aldridge tried hard in the defeat.
Greensborough also took home their first four points of this year’s campaign, defeating Lower Plenty-Bundoora by 23-points at Greensborough War Memorial Park. Caitlin McGrath led the way for the Borough with three goals in the 5.6 (36) to 2.1 (13) victory, Kyla Parry was also impactful. Ashleigh Smith and Tilly McDonald were the stand outs for Lower Plenty-Bundoora.
Darebin 1 made it three from three, claiming victory over VU Western Spurs by 31-points at Henry Turner Reserve. It was a close contest at half time when the Falcons only led by seven-points, but the visitors kept VU Western Spurs scoreless for the entire second half and put through four goals of their own to secure the 2.2 (14) to 7.3 (45) win.
In the match of the round at J.E. Moore Park, West Preston-Lakeside 2 pulled off an incredible one-point win over Wallan. Trailing by 18 points at half time and having not led all day, the Roosters piled on five goals to two in the second half, to sneak their way to a 6.5 (41) to 6.4 (40) triumph. Cerrin Karpany and Jihan Fayad kicked two important goals each for the Roosters while Sarah Osbourne kicked three for the Magpies in the gallant defeat.
Mernda have shot to the top of the Women’s Grading competition ladder after another comfortable victory, this time over Laurimar by 57 points at Laurimar Reserve. Ameerah Gentle added another two majors to her tally to become the leading goalkicker in the competition, while Awek Dut and Natalie Todaro haven’t missed a beat all season. Alicia Pangbourne was one of the best for the Power.
Diamond Creek Women’s 1 continue to be a formidable side in 2022, defeating West Preston-Lakeside 1 by 37 points at Plenty Park Oval. Linda Thorpe and Amanda Brown kicked two majors each while Brooke Plummer again was excellent in the 6.7 (43) to 0.6 (6) victory. Rebecca McDonagh and Ashleigh Snow never stopped trying for the Roosters.
In the final match on Sunday, Whittlesea made it two wins in a row when they took the four points over Hurstbridge at the Whittlesea Showgrounds. The Eagles led in all four quarters in the 7.6 (48) to 5.3 (33) triumph, Luke Kennedy and Stevie Hare at their best in the match. On a positive for the Bridges, Melissa Martini continued her superb start to the year, kicking three majors to keep the visitors in the hunt all day.
We were treated to two Anzac Day clashes in round 3, with both Heidelberg sides and both Montmorency sides doing battle at Warringal Park.
In the 11:30 am game, Montmorency 2 piled on the goals all morning to comfortably defeat Heidelberg 2 by 94 points. The Magpies kept the Tigers scoreless for the entire match, kicking four majors in three out of four quarters to run out 13.6 (94) to 0.0 (0) winners. Jemma Laffey kicked four majors for the visitors, but the Magpies will be more pleased with their spread of goals, with 10 individual goalkickers.
Just a few hours later, the Magpies completed the double when Montmorency 1 took the four points over Heidelberg 1 by 50 points. It was a close battle in the first quarter, with just two points separating both sides. But the Magpies kicked seven goals to none in the remaining three quarters to finish 1.1 (7) to 8.9 (57) victors. Jessica Nursey kicked four majors for Montmorency, while Chiara Scuderi was impressive also.
