A split in the ladder has emerged in Melbourne Cleaning Division 2 as the top sides continue to stamp their authority on the competition.
The headline game from the weekend was Ivanhoe taking on Fitzroy Stars, with the Stars running away with an impressive 38-point win and handing Ivanhoe its first loss of the season.
Three goals in the opening quarter had the Stars in the driver’s seat and they didn’t give up that spot for the remainder of the day. Amina Keegan’s bag of eight goals earned her plaudits from both coaches as she recorded a perfect ten votes from the match and rocketed to the top of the Division 2 goal kicking table. Montanna Hudson and Tayla Hart-Aluni were also excellent for the Stars, being named among the best players.
Ivanhoe had opportunities to be closer on the scoreboard, but a half time score of 0.4 had them playing catch up in the second half. Molly Uwland and Sophie Bone continue to impress each week for the Ivies who move down a spot to second on the ladder.
Kilmore stayed in touch with the top two with a win over West Preston Lakeside by 55 points thanks to a powerful second half effort.
Leading by just four points at the long break, the Blues piled on five goals to non in the third quarter to extend their lead to a commanding 40 points at three quarter time. A further three goals in the final term sealed a dominant win.
It was the regular faces who led the way for Kilmore, Chiara Nardo and Jade Ventura kicked three goals each and Jenaya Stewart was named in the best players for the fifth-straight week.
Isabel Young continued her outstanding form for West Preston Lakeside, but the Roosters have some work to do if they want to bridge the two-game gap they’re on the wrong side of currently, sitting in eighth spot.
Reservoir was similarly dominant against Panton Hill, cruising to a 79-point win to improve its record to 3-2 on the season.
The Mustangs could have really put a score on the board, were it not for some wayward kicking in front of goal with 13.14 for the afternoon.
Mia-Rae Clifford kicked three goals for the home side and was named in the best players, alongside vice-captain Elly-May Dreier and Imogen Milford. Emily Pannam kicked Panton Hill’s two goals of the contest and Ruby Moore and Angela Milesi were among the better players for the Redbacks.
Darebin had a similarly comfortable 44-point win over North Heidelberg to hold onto a spot in the top five.
Four goals to one in the first half had the Falcons heading to half time 26 points in front, extending that lead with a further four majors after the long break.
Larisa Dumitriu and Julia McArdle led the way for Darebin and Jessica Darcy was excellent up forward with four goals for the afternoon. Ellouise Bishop was best afield for the Dogs and Remy Moore kicked a couple of goals to take her tally to 17 from five games and sits third on the goal kicking table.
Hurstbridge closed out the round with the closest winning margin of the week, getting past an inaccurate Lower Plenty side by 16 points.
The Bridges made the most of their chances in the second half, turning an eleven-point half time deficit into a one-point lead by three quarter time and dominating territory in the last quarter to secure a third win for the season.
Jasmine Sellman has been a key player for Hurstbridge and was named best afield, along with Megan Allan and Kristy Steven also being given the nod from the Bridges’ coaching staff.
Sophia Howse, Jessica Taylor and Ella Dunbar impressed for the Bears, but it was a case of what if for the visitors after kicking 2.10 for the match and four behinds in the second half.
