By David Nagel
Pakenham’s roller-coaster start to the 2022 Outer East Senior Women’s competition has continued after the Lions ground out a 17-point victory over Monbulk on Saturday night.
The Lions began their season in great fashion, with a 45-point win over Yarra Junction, but were brought back down to earth with a heavy 75-point defeat at the hands of premiership favourites Upwey Tecoma in round two.
But it was clear early that there would be no one-sided contest this time around with two evenly-matched teams playing some exciting football in the first term.
The Lions hit the scoreboard first, with vice-captain Courtney Stephens kicking truly after just two minutes of play before the Hawks hit back hard.
Maddison Dodd would kick the first of her two goals for the night, before Kayla Menere put the Lions back on top with a calm finish from a very tight angle.
Yanessa Hancock-Wolfe and Simone Beattie were playing great games for the Hawks, while Abbey Tognazzini and skipper Chloe Nagel were leading from the front for the Lions.
Tognazzini and Nagel switched in the ruck but were equally effective either there or at centre-half-back.
The second quarter was a real arm-wrestle, with neither team kicking a goal, before the third quarter opened up again.
Impressive first-gamer Tayla Sbisa kicked the Lions out to a two-goal lead, before Dodd refused to buckle and answered once again.
Another first-gamer for the Lions, Cahli Parket, then kicked the 100th goal of her career to give the visitors an 11-point lead at the final break.
The last quarter was once again tight and physical with both teams laying some great tackles in the final stanza. Chelsea English sealed the Lions win with the last kick of the night to see her team home, 5.2(32) to 2.3(15).
Tognazzini was outstanding down back for the Lions in the second half, while Nagel racked up a stack of possessions through the midfield and put her exciting pace to good use.
Stephens and Bianca Moody were also solid through the midfield, while Sbisa, Courtney Karayannis and Sarah Connelly are showing promising signs in their first seasons of football.
“Well done girls, I loved the way you communicated and looked for each other all night,” said Lions’ coach Rick Stalker after the match.
In other games, Emily Spicer kicked four goals to lead Yarra Junction to is first win of the season over Thornton Eildon, 8.7(55) to 3.5(23), while Healesville remained undefeated with a 45-point victory over Belgrave.
Ishka-Belle Stock kicked three for the Bloods, and Emily Hay two, while Kelly Laidlaw and Kate Methven were terrific around the ground. Amy Anderson and Tayla Marshall slotted one each for Belgrave.
And on Anzac Day, Olinda Ferny Creek proved it will be one of the teams to beat this season after a 10-point victory – 5.5(35) to 3.7(25) – over Upwey Tecoma.
Phoebe Dixon booted two for the winners while Lily Carlin and Madi Collins were also instrumental in the win.
Yarra Glen forfeited its match against Seville.
In Eastern Division One, Beaconsfield has kicked off life in a new competition with an eight-point loss to Park Orchards.
Georgia Malkoun was outstanding for the Eagles, booting all three goals in the 4.8(32) to 3.6(24) defeat.
Scores were level at three-quarter time before the Sharks kicked 1.3 to 0.1 in the final term.
Theresa Henderson, Luca Pintaudi and Cassie Martin were all great performers for the Eagles while Alannah Boell kicked two goals for the winners.
OUTER EAST WOMEN’S
LADDER: Healesville, Olinda Ferny Creek 12, Upwey-Tecoma, Belgrave, Pakenham 8, Monbulk, Yarra Junction, Seville 4, Thornton Eildon, Yarra Glen 0.
THIS WEEK: Olinda Ferny Creek v Pakenham, Yarra Glen v Belgrave, Seville v Monbulk, Yarra Junction v Upwey Tecoma, Thornton Eildon v Healesville.
EASTERN: Beaconsfield v Blackburn (Holm Park Reserve 10am)
