There’s a logjam of teams trying to force their way into the top five in Division 3.
At the moment the top four looks well established, with all teams have percentage of 233% or more. Second-placed Eltham gave theirs a boost with a 44-point win over Thomastown, in which the Panthers kept the Bears goalless for the afternoon.
It was a team effort from Eltham, which had six individual goal kickers on the day. Grace Brankovic continued her good form with a best on ground performance that netted six Coaches MVP votes, while Georgie Conlin and Charlotte Laszczuk also had good outings.
The Bears will need to regroup quickly as they host Montmorency next week.
St Mary’s were too good for Darebin, chalking up their biggest win of the season so far to the tune of 71 points.
Ashley Leeson booted four goals for the Burra, with Charly Bandera and Mikayla Plunkett kicking two apiece. Evie Stephens and Milly Lumkin were also in the best players for the home side. Hayley Eynaud and Mimi Will were given a nod as Darebin’s best in the Coaches MVP voting.
Macleod made it three wins on the trot, downing Epping at De Winton Reserve by 34 points. It was a defensive masterclass from the Kangaroos, holding the visitors goalless until the final term when the result was already firmly in their keeping.
Laila Zayat kicked a couple of goals for the winners, with Janie Cahir and Mairead Csar named alongside Zayat as the best players for Macleod. For Epping Paige Binning was best afield, followed by Arianna Hatzindinas who played her best game of the season to date.
Diamond Creek overcame some accuracy issues in front of the big sticks against Laurimar to record its second win of the season and move to seventh on the Division 3 ladder. It was a tussle from start to finish by the Demons did enough to control field position and translate that onto the scoreboard.
Bentley Butler continues to impress at this level with another strong performance, supported by Darci Locklier and Isabella Hazelwood-Smith. Rebecca Liversidge and Tara Dyer were the best players for the Power, who head to a bye before taking on Whittlesea the following week.
The battle of the Magpies rounded out the weekend’s games, with Wallan hosting Montmorency. It was Montmorency who emerged victorious by 13 points in another low-scoring arm wrestle.
Sian Capito’s two goals proved decisive for Montmorency as Lily Stubb and Maddi Wilde led the way with best afield performances. Jordan Stanyer and Melanie Hope were given the nod by the Wallan coaching team as best for the home side which faces a daunting clash against Whittlesea next weekend.
