No margin too small, as The Hearts produce a 96-point thumping

Lauren Atkinson

Old Brighton retains their spot in the top four by percentage only, after going down to Marcellin OC by 25 points.

Marcellin secured the lead early but with only eight points the margin at three-quarter time, the game could have gone either way in the final quarter. However, it was the Sheagles who were able to flex their muscles, kicking three unanswered goals to continue Old Brighton’s losing streak.

Tess Menzies and Olivia Zuccala were deemed best-on-ground for Marcellin, both influential in their side’s victory. For Old Brighton, the biggest contributor was Cat O’Brien, who recently returned from a year out due to a knee injury.

After winning 7 of their first 8 matches, Old Brighton have now lost three in a row. The Tonners will need to find a solution to this mid-season slump quickly or risk a drop off similar to last season’s which saw them win 9 of their first 10 games, only to lose form in the lead up to finals where they went out in straight sets.

Old Geelong have jumped to third on the ladder with a thumping 53-point win over Hampton Rovers at Como Park. Old Geelong was dominant all day, able to hold the Rovers to a single goal without sacrificing any of their own attack.

The margin would have been even bigger if not for the standout performances of Rovers, Maegan Miller and Maxine Behnke, who did what they could to stop the onslaught from Old Geelong. Danielle Trott was phenomenal for the Ogettes, finishing the day with 4 goals, as were Brooke Mckay (1 goal) and Jessie Gleeson (2 goals).

Beaumaris have done it again, defeating Old Camberwell Grammarians by 47 points in the Grand Final rematch. Old Camberwell challenged Beaumaris in the first quarter, with the Sharks coming into the first break only a goal ahead, but from then on Beaumaris took charge, managing 7 more goals for the day while only allowing the Wellers to add one more major to their total.

Alexandra Herrington continued her stellar individual season for Old Camberwell, being named best on field, while Sara Fortunato also had a strong performance, kicking one of their two goals.

Holly Tysoe and Cassandra Newman led the charge for Beaumaris, with a spread of goal kickers helping them over the line. Simone Marinelli slotted two majors to become two goals clear of second in the goal-kicking tally.

After notching another strong win over a competitive side, it begs the question of whether Beaumaris can remain undefeated for a second consecutive season.

Old Haileybury bounced back from Round 10’s loss in a big way, beating Hawthorn AFC by an overwhelming margin of 96 points.

Hawthorn struggled all day, only registering three solitary behinds, against a relentless Old Haileybury side who ended the game just one point short of cracking the ton. The Hearts were particularly powerful in the third term, where they kicked 6.6 to set themselves up for the huge win.

The Haileybury forwards had a field day, with Serene Vudiniabola and Eloise Mccrae kicking four goals each, and Mccrae also being rewarded as best for her side. Mia Mathias and Tessa Bodin were best for Hawthorn.

Old Xaverians fear of relegation will be setting in after they lost to Old Meburnians in a low-scoring affair. Neither team managed to convert during the first half, with Old Melburnians leading the point-kicking by four at the main break, but the Omelettes came out firing in the third quarter to kick three unanswered goals. Old Xaverians had much of the play in the final term, but the Omelettes defence proved too strong, denying Old Xaverians of a goal.

Amy Benifer and Tahryn Mant fought hard for Old Xaverians, while Sophie Fraser kicked three goals in her 50^th game to earn the best-on-ground accolades for Old Melburnians.

Next round promises a host of exciting match ups with several evenly placed teams facing off.

Ever-dominant Beaumaris will draw a crowd when they host in-form Marcellin OC in what is sure to be a thrilling game. Are the Sheagles the side who can end the reign of the Sharks?

Another match to look forward to is between the two bottom placed sides, Hawthorn AFC and Old Xaverians. Old Xaverians will be desperate for a win to help secure their place in Division 1 next year, while Hawthorn AFC will be hoping to prey on the struggling Xavs side to get their first win in this division.

Next up, Old Haileybury will be looking to back up this week’s efforts when they travel to Castlefield Reserve to take on Hampton Rovers, who will be seeking revenge for the narrow loss they experienced last time the two sides met.

Guaranteed to be one of the matches of the round, all eyes will be on Holmes/Todd Oval when Old Melburnians host Old Brighton next Saturday. Old Brighton needs to break their losing spell or risk falling out of the top four, while Old Melburnians will be wanting to protect their spot in the top two.

The final match of the round will see Old Geelong travel to Gordon Barnard Reserve to do battle with Old Camberwell Grammarians. Old Geelong, who are on a six-game winning streak, will present another difficult challenge for Old Camberwell, who will be hoping to bounce back from this week’s painful loss.