Top 4 locked in William Buck Premier as Fields scorch Xavs

Nick Armistead – @NickArmistead

With two rounds remaining, the top four has been locked in William Buck Premier following Melbourne Uni’s 28-point victory over Fitzroy-ACU at Uni Oval. Despite a combined 55 disposals from star midfielders Erin Gogerly (30) and Lucy Kerr (25), the Roy girls were unable to keep their finals hopes alive as the Mugars kicked four unanswered goals in the first three quarters. A further three goals to two in the final term cemented the Mugars’ ninth win for the season as they remain second on the ladder behind Marcellin. Lucy Watkins and Leah Caluzzi registered 18 touches and a goal apiece for the Mugars, while Asha Price kicked two goals for the fourth time from her four matches this season. The Roys girls tallied more disposals than the Mugars but were less efficient when entering their 50, scoring just 24% of the time in comparison to the Mugars’ 31%. They sit in fifth spot on the ladder, two and a half games behind the Saints.

Kew made it four wins from the past five games with a comprehensive 39-point victory over SKOB Saints at Victoria Park. It was a defensive masterclass from the Bears as they kept the Saints to just two behinds for the match, while piling on five goals from 16 scoring shots themselves. Despite losing the ruck battle 27-61, the Bears led the Saints in kicks, handballs, marks and inside 50s. Dani Calautti proved unstoppable through the midfield as she racked up 38 disposals, including 32 kicks, and finished with 1.2 on the scoreboard. Michaela Harding impressed with 26 touches for the victors, while Danielle Sibosado continued her consistent season as she was named in the best for the fifth time. Bree Doyle led from the front for the Saints with 17 disposals and an equal game-high seven tackles alongside teammate Rachel Gillett. Alexandra Hynes continued her elite form in the ruck with 52 hit outs. Despite the loss, the Saints have now solidified fourth spot on the ladder and a finals berth following the Roys girls’ loss to Melbourne Uni.

Marcellin maintained top spot on the William Buck Premier ladder with their third consecutive win, defeating Old Trinity by 34 points at Bulleen Park. The Sheagles jumped out to a 15-point lead at the first break and continued to build upon their lead as the match progressed. Ellie Gavalas and Shaylee Taylor top-scored with three goals each for the Sheagles, with Taylor taking her season tally to 21 and creating a five-goal buffer between her and Sarah Cameron at the top of the goal kicking leader board. Gavalas accumulated 17 disposals to go with her hat-trick of majors, while Jackie Greaves was best afield with 16 touches and four marks. Imogen Barnett was a standout for the T’s in the ruck as she went head-to-head with Big V teammate Taylor Padfield and won the dual with 28 hit outs and 16 disposals. Adriana Piva continued her hot form for the T’s and was named in the best for the third week on the trot. The T’s sit sixth on the ladder with four wins for the season while the Sheagles lead the Mugars by 57% at the top of the table.

Caulfield Grammarians registered their second win of 2018 as they ran out 43-point winners over Old Xaverians at Xavier College. With players the ilk of Grace Buchan and Kate Macqueen re-joining Toni Hamilton, Millie Klingbeil, Irena Malliaras and Ally Bild, the Fields were primed to end their six-game losing streak and raced out to a 15-point lead at the first break. The Xavs hit back slightly in the second and brought the margin to 12 points at the main break before the Fields kicked away with seven goals to four in the second half. Leah Oswald (4), Macqueen (3), Hamilton (3) and Malliaras (2) combined for every one of the Fields’ 12 goals, while Buchan led all comers with 28 disposals ahead of Malliaras (19) and Klingbeil (18). Jessica Harley’s 53 hit outs gave the Fields’ midfielders first use all day and was 46 more than the next best ruck. Audrey Rhodes and Gabby Golds booted two goals each for Xavs, while Carle Rooks was named their best player. Both sides sit in seventh and eighth spot on the ladder.