Wilson Women’s Preview: Round 10

Alisha Min

William Buck Premier

Round 9 of the VAFA Wilson Women’s competition has come to pass and with it some intriguing outcomes from the highest level of competition. In the match that headlined the weekend gone, Fitzroy-ACU fell short by seven points to West Brunswick in the first ever night game, which was also live streamed, at Brunswick St Oval. Coming up this week, Old Trinity (1^st) will welcome Marcellin (5^th) as the T’s look to replicate their 16-point victory over the Sheagles from their last encounter way back in Round 1. The Magpies will host Melbourne University as the reigning premiers still search for their first win of the season, while one win in the last five rounds will have Kew a bit toey heading into their clash with an uppity SKOB Saints, who come off a promising win over the T’s (their first loss since Round 3). The Roy Girls will travel to Ferndale Park to take on third placed St Mary’s Salesian.

Premier B

Snagging two of Old Camberwell’s four goals in Round 9, and featuring prominently in the Wellers best, Big V Star Rhiannon Green was fantastic in their clash against Old Xaverians (3^rd) over the weekend, but the combined efforts of Xavs’ Vaomua Laloifi (first game of 2019), Indiarna Ellis and Madison Sorrenti proved too strong as they ran out 7-point victors. Looking ahead to Round 10, Caulfield Grammarians, led by Kate Macqueen’s goal kicking prowess (19) and Big V representative Irena Malliaras, will enjoy the new facilities at Frearson Oval as they challenge the well-rested ladder-leaders, Monash Blues, while Xavs will again enjoy a Sunday morning bout at Xavier College – this time against a firey Old Geelong, who notably reversed their 46-point loss to Collegians in Round 6 with a 22-point win at Geelong College in Round 9. The Lions will have a chance to re-gather this weekend, courtesy of their fixtured bye, while St Bedes/Mentone Tigers will travel to Gordon Barnard Reserve to challenge the second placed Wellers.

Premier C

It was 3/3 correct tips in Premier C when the sun went down on Saturday afternoon in Round 9, before a Sunday afternoon tousle featuring an authoritative second half led by Belinda Mason and Sarah Biviano (2), saw Mazenod (5^th) down the favoured Canterbury (4^th) at Central Reserve. The Nodders will be sure to keep the momentum up as they travel to Albert Park to face the highly fancied South Melbourne Districts (3^rd) in Round 10, while Brunswick Renegades hunt for win number eight, and their fifth consecutive set of premiership points, over RMIT University. The Bulls at North Brunswick will need to embody their namesake and be bullish at the contest if they are to claim victory over a rejuvenated Old Melburnians, while the Cobras will roll out the welcome mat for ladder-leaders Yarra Old Grammarians.

Division 1

We discussed the absolute class of our two top sides, being Old Brighton (2^nd) and Old Scotch (1^st), in the preview last week, and didn’t they deliver over the weekend with their respective 59-point and 96-point victories over Old Mentonians and Hawthorn. Highlighting they’re still in touch with the two “Old” sides above them, Beaumaris (3^rd) bounced back on to the winners list, thanks to a bag of three from Emma Baker, with a much needed victory over La Trobe University. Another three-goal outing was on the menu at Ivanhoe Park, as VAFA Media star Pulli Gardiyawasam led the Hearts (Old Haileyburians) to a 14-point win over Ivanhoe. With Round 10 upon us, will the Hawks be inspired at their Rathmines home to take down the Ivies? Can the two-pronged forward-line of Lucy Grant (16) and Caterina O’Brien (12) see the Tonners get up over the Sharks at Banksia Reserve? Will the Cards be adequately prepared for Old Haileybury? And who, between the Trobers and Old Mentonians (6^th) can recover quicker from a Round 9 loss in their evenly matched contest?

Division 2

The fabled home ground advantage was a definite factor in Division 2 over the Round 9 draw, as all the hosting teams managed to win over their travelling counterparts across the weekend. Leading goalkicker for the section, Cecilia Baldassarre (24), will look to build upon her season tally in Round 10 as her side (Old Ivanhoe) take on fourth placed Whitefriars. Westbourne Grammarians will return to their school ground to host top-of-the-table Therry Penola, who haven’t put a foot wrong since their narrow defeat to the CY’s in Round 5. Power House will look to Rebecca Corbett and Sarah Dash up forward to help them register goals, and notch a win, over Aquinas this weekend, in the meantime Williamstown CYMS are yet to drop a game in Division 2, and will have their sights set on another win, this time over Old Carey.

Division 3

Not one incorrect tip in VAFA Wilson Women’s Division 3 competition with regards to the Round 9 results, though perhaps the most surprising result (despite the accurate tip) is the comprehensiveness of Oakleigh’s 91-point to zero victory, which featured three players kicking a bag of three (Victoria Kovacevic, Jasmine Ballestrin, Kathryn Aldridge), over Emmaus St Leo’s. With goal-kicking machines at the forefront, Madeleine Hince (UHS-VU) sits a class above with her tally of 36 for the season – and she backed up her incredible nine-goal haul in Round 8 with an impressive three in the Vultures important win against a finals hungry Hampton Rovers over the weekend. As we move into Round 10, another Friday night bout awaits as Preston Bullants will play host to a Bulleen Templestowe side who are on a bit of a run following their 28-point victory over Swinburne University, while the Razorbacks will be back at it again with a tough contest against the Krushers bound to ensue at St James Park. The Animalettes will need all the resilience they can muster following their Round 9 blow, as the even more ominous Vultures are set to land at Bennettswood Sports Ground on Saturday morning. Following their first loss since Round 4, Prahran Assumption are certainly featured in the Division 3 finals’ discussion, and a win over the third placed Rovers this weekend would validify their credentials even more.

Division 4

Any Division 4 onlooker who perhaps feared MCC Football Club’s ability to actually win following consecutive draws in Round 7 (De La Salle) and Round 8 (Glen Eira/Old McKinnon) can breathe a sigh of relief following the weekend’s results as the MCC managed to hold Ajax goalless for the first time this season and scalp an impressive 18-point win. St Bernard’s were able to whip out the “Snake Pit Shuffle” on several occasions in Round 9, as they ran over the top of Albert Park in front of the Snow Dogs faithful, while a comprehensive 28-point was on the cards for Richmond Central (2^nd) over De La, and a BOG performance from Big V star, Madison Lister, saw the Gryphons return to the winners list over Parkdale Vultures. Round 10 is on our door, and the Jackas will be vying to move back up the ladder with a win againt Glen Eira/Old McKinnon – no doubt they will need the goalkicking starpower of Maddy Smart (16) and Jessica Israel (13), who both sit atop the Division 4 goalkicking ladder, to achieve this. The Snakes won’t be in any hurry to relinquish their ladder position, as they travel to Albert Park to challenge the Falcons, the Vultures will have a tough MCC outfit travelling to Gerry Green, and De La will welcome the spirited Snow Dogs.