Fitzroy Stars have reaffirmed their premiership credentials in Cleaning Melbourne Division 2 Women’s, defeating reigning premiers Lower Plenty by eight points in their clash at Sir Doug Nicholls Oval.
Kaelun Brown’s side kicked their entire score in the first half of the match, scoring 4.1 (25) whilst keeping the Bears to 2.5 (17).
The result means the top three sides of Cleaning Melbourne Division 2 Women are locked on one loss each, with the Bears still atop the table and the Stars in third.
Medika Bonney impressed yet again for the Stars alongside vice-captain Rianne Hood, with Hood one of four goalkickers for the hosts.
Sophia Howse continued her impressive season for the Bears alongside Darci Fitzgerald, Amy Saunders and Shae Audley.
It was the hosts that got off to a quick start, with Jessica Bamblett scoring inside the first minute of the game.
Amina Keegan’s only goal of the contest then followed mere minutes later, resulting in the Stars rushing out to a two-goal buffer inside the first four minutes of the match.
Stewart Lewis’ side then started to up the tempo after that goal, with Audley and Howse getting plenty of footy alongside Amelia Mullane.
However, they couldn’t create a whole heap of forward pressure, with the Stars work rate making it hard to move the ball into attack.
Ultimately it was the Stars that kicked the final goal of the first quarter, pushing their advantage to 16 points at the first break.
Lower Plenty looked to set the tempo in the early stages of the second term, putting plenty of pressure on the Stars midfield and defense.
Much like the first quarter though they were unable to execute inside forward 50 and failed to register a score in the term.
Despite being under plenty of pressure, the Stars still managed to kick the only scores of the term, with one of those being a goal to Hood at the 17 minute mark.
With their deficit at 22 points the Bears continued to attack hard. However the Stars defence and midfield, led by Bonney, Hood, Alisha Priestly, Alli-Jade Briggs and Brooke Ponter retaliated plenty of the Bears’ foray’s forward.
Lower Plenty still managed to kick the only goal of the term through Milla Fereday, but they still trailed by 16 points heading into the final break.
Lower then continued to press hard in the last, kicking the first and only goal of the term at the halfway point through Amelia Mullane.
The Stars continued to stand tall though, conceding just two more behinds to secure a crucial victory.
