Premier B powerhouses emerge

After 3 rounds of footy in Premier B Women’s, Beaumaris and Old Brighton have proven themselves to be the frontrunners with both sides yet to drop a game. Highlights of the round included Marcellin and Old Xaverians getting on the board with their first wins of the season, while Port Melbourne Charges recorded a statement triumph over the Vultures.

The stage was set for a thrilling opening match between Old Brighton and Old Melburnians, with both sides coming into the game with a 2-0 win-loss record.

Old Melburnians started the game with a greater sense of urgency, scoring the only goal of the first term to earn the lead heading into the first break. However, the experience of the Tonners shone through in the second term, as they found a way to stifle Old Melburnian’s characteristic fast ball movement while piling on four majors of their own to take a commanding 23-point lead into the main break.

The Omlettes showed grit to work their way back into the game in the second half, matching Old Brighton for goals as both sides showed periods of ascendancy. Nevertheless, the damage had already been done, with the Tonners running out 27-point victors.

Acknowledging that the turning point came in the second quarter, Old Melburnians’ coach Nic Stephens identified the team’s need to be able to “wrestle back momentum during the quarter rather than resetting after the break.”

Despite the result, Stephens was full of praise for his team’s resilience, particularly highlighting Harriet Kogler’s defensive efforts and Olive Mclean’s forward craft.

Stephens also commended the Omlettes debutants, with five girls pulling on the Old Melburnians guernsey for the first time. “I’m super excited to see how they develop as part of the squad as the season progresses.”

For Old Brighton, coach Andrew Grant was particularly pleased by his side’s ability to put pressure on the opposition when they had the ball, calling out the individual performance of Sophie Grant, who starred at half back.

In a dominant display, Marcellin overpowered an undermanned Coburg outfit with a final score of 16.14 (110) to 0.2 (2). From the first quarter, Marcellin set the tone, leading 6.4 (40) to 0.1 (1), and continued to extend their lead throughout the game.

Marcellin coach Paul Harvey was happy to see his team implement the skills and tactics they had been working on over the past few weeks, with several players getting to reap the rewards on the scoreboard.

Captain Alana Pane led through the middle, finishing with two goals to her name, while T Zagontinos and Zoe Glascott found themselves busy up forward, finishing with respective hauls of four and five.

Harvey gave special mentions to Ava Menzies, who excelled in her 50^th game, as well as Glascott, who played a true team game, unselfishly sharing the football around.

Despite the lopsided scoreline, Coburg’s Lucy Dawe, Elise Putyra, and Michelle Costa were among the best for their team, showing resilience and determination in a tough outing.

It was a nail-biting affair at Basil Reserve, where Old Xaverians secured their first win of the season, edging out Westbourne Grammarians with a final score of 4.3 (27) to 3.7 (25).

The match was tightly contested throughout, with Old Xavs breaking away in the second to lead by 9 points, before Westbourne fought back in the third to bring the scores level again at the final break. Two behinds to Old Xaverians in the final term proved to be the difference, allowing Xavs to take home the chocolates for the first time this year.

Despite being happy with how his team responded in the third, Westbourne coach Chris Grant acknowledged “Old Xavs were just a bit cleaner in the critical moments in the last.”

Ability to finish the job in front of goals was another clear differentiator, with Westbourne having more scoring shots but lacking accuracy.

Westbourne’s captain, Morganne Gaston, led from the front with a stellar four-quarter effort, while Kiara Henry also made a big impact, finishing with two goals.

For Old Xavs, Melissa Poulton caught the attention of the coach for her instrumental role in the victory, while Anabelle Gangi (1 goal) and Amelia Menegola (2 goals) were also key in getting their team over the line.

In a commanding performance, the Port Melbourne Chargers overwhelmed the Parkdale Vultures with a final score of 23.14 (152) to 0.0 (0). Port Melbourne dominated from the outset, leading 7.4 (46) to 0.0 (0) at the end of the first quarter and never looking back.

Coach Harriet Cooper attributed the victory to their dominance in the midfield, particularly praising Sunday Stoney’s ruck work. “Sunday’s incredible work in the ruck gave us a significant advantage at stoppages,” Cooper said. “The girls really controlled the flow, won crucial tackles, and distributed the ball effectively.”

Mia-Rae Clifford was the standout on the day, kicking a remarkable 11 goals, while Georgia Harris added six of her own, showcasing their formidable partnership up forward, which dates back to years of playing together at the St Kilda Sharks.

Cooper emphasised the importance of understanding the strongest team composition moving forward to maximise chances of success. “We’ll be using the upcoming training sessions and potentially some internal scrimmages to really evaluate different player combinations and individual roles,” she explained.

In a tough start to the season for Parkdale, the form of Jesicca Welford, Breanna Allen, and Breanon Di-Giovambattista continues to impress, with the trio battling hard no matter the conditions.

In a decisive encounter at Mentone Reserve, Beaumaris continued their winning streak, defeating neighbourhood rivals St Bedes/Mentone Tigers with a final score of 10.7 (67) to 2.0 (12).

Beaumaris set the pace early, leading 5.0 (30) to 1.0 (6) at the end of the first quarter and maintaining dominance throughout the game.

Rosie Byrne and Sophie Crofts were the stars for Beaumaris, each kicking three goals. St Bedes’ best players included Paris Xerri, Chloe Saultry, and Maddi Wilson.

From limited opportunities, St Bedes’ Isabella Gietzmann and Jacklyn Honey managed to score a goal each, with Gietzmann now tied at the top of the goal-kicking tally with 11 goals, alongside Georgia Harris and Mia-Rae Clifford.

The match highlighted Beaumaris’ ability to score quickly, setting them up as a serious contender for this season. Meanwhile, St Bedes/Mentone Tigers still hold fourth place on the ladder but have another difficult week ahead with an away game against Old Brighton.