Two Blues prove contenders, House keep streak alive

Meg Saultry

Prahan Assumption have made themselves contenders with a 34-point victory over Emmaus St Leos at Bennettswood Sports Ground. Prahan produced a rounded four-quarter effort, with the Animals only challenging on the scoreboard in the second term. Heather Raeburn’s efforts for Prahan saw her named best afield, while teammate Gabriella Suriano booted three goals for the victors. Gemma Hargreaves was central to Emmaus’s line up, with Shannon Danckert and Samantha Hogarth the Animals lone goal scorers. After losing five in a row, Prahan has found some form of late by winning their last two matches. Victory over Emmaus St Leos moves Prahan into the Top 4, where they sit a win ahead of their next rivals, Westbourne Grammarians. Emmaus St Leos drop from sixth to seventh with a 2-6-1 record.

Power House kept their winning streak alive, overcoming Yarra Old Grammarians by seven points at Ross Gregory Oval. In a low scoring affair, inaccuracy badly hurt the Bushrangers, with the team finishing with 1.8 (14) for the game. Power House led by less than a goal at each break, but two majors in the final term gave the home team the breathing room to run out the game. Power House’s Jordan Balfy was best afield, while teammate Stephanie Bell slotted two of the teams three goals. Rebecca Dumesny was able to break through for the Bushrangers in the final quarter and kick the team’s first and only goal, while Casey Sheldon-Collins stood out for the visitors. Power House continue their impressive form, winning six games in a row and move up into second place, while the Yarra Bushrangers fall out of the Top 4 into fifth.

Preston Bullants again showed why they are the team to beat, thumping South Melbourne Districts by 125 points at Lindsay Hassett Oval. It was a complete performance, with the Bullants boasting 11 individual goal scorers across the game. Georgia Freer, who had only ever kicked one goal so far this season, claimed a bag when she booted four for the winning side, while Jacara Thomas’s three goal effort claimed her Best on Ground honours. Kayla Del Monte produced another consistent performance, having been named among the best five out of her six games this season. South Melbourne were held goalless for the game, with Maria Koulaginis the team’s best, as the club sits in eighth without a win.

New blood led Westbourne Grammarians to a 37-point upset over in-form MCC Football Club at Beaumaris Secondary College. While Lauren Spark has been a mainstay in the Warriors line-up and comfortably kicked three goals, she combined with first-gamers Victoria Pettit, Crystal Lacey and Samantha Radlof (two goals) to lead the team to their third win. MCC had won their past four matches, but the Warriors kicked six goals to one in first half to hold a match winning lead of 34 points, and while it was an even contest in the second half, it was only a matter of playing out the game, with the visitors extending their lead by a further three points in final term. MCC’s Amanda Thatcher was her sides best, with the club slipping to third.