By David Nagel
There were only two games played in AFL Outer East Division One women’s on the weekend with the two results being poles apart in respect of competiveness.
Top-team Mt Evelyn continues to set a very high benchmark at the top of the table with the Rovers in rare form against bottom-placed Monbulk on Saturday.
The Rovers wasted no time in asserting their ascendency, booting 6.1 to no score in the opening term on their way to a 16.11 (107) to 0.0 (0) victory over the Hawks at Gary Martin Oval.
The Hawks were far more competitive in the second term, allowing the Rovers just 1.2 for the quarter, before normal service was resumed after time.
The Rovers even out-did their earlier onslaught, kicking 6.2 in the third stanza to put their imperial stamp on the contest.
The Rovers have stars on every line, with skipper Isobel Urquhart continuing her tremendous season with five goals, while Kiara Simons, Bridget Deed, Sienna Clark and Anna Roberts showed the depth of the Rovers’ front half by kicking two each.
Mackenzie Adams, Jess Ploegsma and Hayley Watkins were others to shine in the Rovers highest score for the season.
Molly Horne, Indy Bakker and Genna Seamer were terrific for the Hawks, particularly in the second term.
Mt Evelyn’s next opponent, Pakenham, had a much tougher time of things at Toomuc Reserve on Sunday, battling freezing conditions and a brave Healesville outfit to score a 1.0 (6) to 0.4 (4) victory that locked the Lions away a finals berth.
Heavy rains, strong winds and cold conditions saw players blue in the face at quarter time before the rains eased and playing conditions improved in the second half.
The midfield battles were very even all day with Lions’ Ros Cook, Bianca Moody, Chloe Nagel and Melina Eppel taking on the best that Ruby O’Dwyer, Alex Bryan and Emily Hay had to offer.
Milla Potter and Ash Hay were terrific for Healesville in defence and consistently repelled wave after wave of Pakenham attacks.
Amy Campbell, Tash Wakenshaw and Pippa Simon did some brave things that kept the Lions in the contest at three-quarter-time.
Coach Ian Shaw moved Eppel into the forward line in the final term and the move paid dividends with the classy left-footer kicking the only goal of the match to secure the Lions the four points.
Pakenham, in fourth place, move three games clear of Healesville with just two rounds remaining in the season.
Beaconsfield and Upwey-Tecoma had the bye.
Standings: Mt Evelyn (100 percent), Beaconsfield 87.50, Upwey-Tecoma 50, Pakenham 44.44, Healesville 12.50, Monbulk 0.
This week: Sat 10am: Beaconsfield v Healesville. Sat 4.45pm: Monbulk v Upwey-Tecoma. Sun 3pm: Pakenham v Mt Evelyn.
