Melbourne Uni and Fitzroy upset the middle order

Annie Ireland

With just one round of the 2023 season to go before finals, St Kevin’s returned fresh off the bye to flex their muscles with an impressive win over West Brunswick. Last year’s premiers showed why they are once again the hot favourites heading into finals, holding the Magpies to just three points for the entirety of the game.

A seven-goal first half set the game up for SKOB, with Eliza Straford kicking three goals to be the best on ground. A slower third quarter saw West Brunswick miss opportunities to score, kicking three behinds whilst SKOB kicked 1.1. Inaccuracy played a part in the game, with St Kevin’s kicking 12 behinds – a key area that they’ll need to correct if they are to become back-to-back premiers.

Catherine Stanton was named in the best after what has been a quiet couple of weeks, and also took her goal tally for the year to 26. Bree Doyle and Sarah Betts were named alongside Stanton in the best. West Brunswick did not name their best players at the time of writing and did not have any goal kickers for the game.

Next up in the final round of the home and away season, St Kevin’s will travel to Victoria Park to play Kew in what looms as a potential grand final preview. West Brunswick will host Old Scotch in a must-win clash, as well as needing other results to go their way if they are to make a late bid for a spot finals.

Collegians suffered their second loss in a row, falling to Fitzroy by 17 points on Saturday. The loss sees Collegians placed precariously in fifth position, with Coburg and West Brunswick both threatening to overtake them depending on how results play out next weekend.

Collegians had the upper hand in the first quarter, scoring 3.1 whilst Fitzroy were kept scoreless. However, Fitzroy came out firing in the second quarter, scoring an unanswered 5.2. The game was decided in the fourth quarter, Fitzroy missing opportunities to run away with it by scoring 1.5 yet were lucky that they were able to defend strongly and hold Collegians to a goal.

Simone Mooney was best on ground, complimenting her strong performance with a goal, whilst Erin Gogerly had three goals to her name. Collegians did not upload best players or goal kickers at the time of writing.

Collegians can secure their position in finals next weekend when they host Melbourne Uni, although will need Caulfield to lose to jump over them into fourth. Fitzroy will have the bye, having played their last game for the season this weekend and finish the season with the wooden spoon.

In what was a weekend of big results, Melbourne Uni handed Caulfield Grammarians a shock defeat in what was a close game right until the final siren. It was Melbourne Uni’s accurate kicking which saw them run out victorious, finishing with 8.1 for the game compared to Grammarians’ 5.7.

The game was all squared up at 30 points at the final change and looked like it could go either way. However, Melbourne Uni harnessed their momentum to come out firing, scoring 3.1 in the final quarter to snatch victory.

Asha Price and Katie Archer both had two goals apiece, whilst Tahlia Meier had one goal in her best on ground performance. Grammarians did not upload best players or goal kickers at the time of writing.

Caulfield will host Coburg next Saturday morning in an important clash, whilst Melbourne Uni travel to Harry Trott Oval to take on Collegians on Saturday afternoon.

Kew bounced back from defeat last weekend with a 13-point win over Coburg, levelling themselves with St Kevin’s on the ladder; both teams having recorded 13 wins for the season.

Whilst it was an even first quarter, Kew’s second quarter set up victory, scoring two goals and holding Coburg scoreless for the term. The Lions scored two goals for the second half to keep it an even game, with Kew scoring two goals in the third quarter.

Sarah Jolly, Georgia Sampson and Bree Unthank all scored for the Lions, whilst Kiana Minchin was their best. For Kew, Olivia McLennan was their best on ground for the first time this season, having previously been included in the best on one prior occasion.

Coburg face a tough task next weekend in travelling to play Caulfield, whilst Kew hosts St Kevin’s in a massive game of the round.