Westbourne Grammarians return to the VAFA with fury

Kylie Lynch

Round 2 of the VAFA Premier B Women’s competition brought some big contests, unexpected victories, and standout performances across the board.

The home ground advantage proved to be more of a disadvantage this round with all home teams being defeated by their visitors.

In a solid clash that showcased the unpredictability of sport, underdogs Westbourne Grammarians brought home the choccies after defeating Aquinas 34-11, who secured 3rd place in the 2023 season. Westbourne, making their debut in the league after a hiatus, displayed true grit and talent.

The game remained scoreless in the 1st and 3rd quarters, setting the stage for a nail-biting finish. However, it was in the final quarter that Westbourne made their mark, kicking 3 crucial goals to seal the victory.

Hannah McMahon was as a standout player, kicking 2 pivotal goals that propelled her team to success. Meg Dargan was also a notable force for Aquinas, kicking a goal and earning herself a spot in the best on ground for the game.

The encounter between Williamstown CYMS and St Bedes/Mentone Tigers unfolded as a classic tale of two halves. The Tigers took the lead in the initial stages, displaying skill and athleticism.

However, Williamstown turned the tide in the second half, showcasing their tactical prowess. They pulled away to secure a 22-point lead, proving their ability to adapt and dominate when it matters most. The final score of the match was 40-18.

Sofi Georgas was a star yet again for Williamstown, contributing 3 goals to their tally, while Loren Mills added 2 goals to the mix. St Bede’s captains Madeline Pearson and Maddi Wilson displayed their leadership and made notable contributions, kicking a goal each.

Beaumaris left a resounding statement in this week’s clash against Mazenod, with an impressive 72-point victory, bringing the final score to 78-6. Beaumaris set the tone early on, kicking 4 goals in the first quarter and finishing strong with 5 goals in the last quarter.

Beaumaris coach Darryl Behrendorff said, “it was a complete team effort for the 4 quarters…a credit to the entire team who improved in several areas, which enabled our team to execute our game plan better this week.”

Zoe Barbakos emerged as a star performer, demonstrating her goal-kicking dominance with an impressive 5 goals and earning recognition as the best player for Beaumaris. Mazenod managed to salvage a goal in the 3rd quarter, courtesy of Evangeline Clough Good, but it wasn’t enough to thwart Beaumaris’ dominance throughout the match.

Whilst Beaumaris are looking red hot this season, Behrendorff says that they still have several aspects of their game they need to improve, both individually and as a team. Though he is proud of how the team continues to support and challenge themselves and each other to improve.

Old Geelong delivered a standout performance against Fitzroy, which Old Geelong Coach Jack Crameri awarded to the relentless tackling pressure, pace, and commitment to second and third efforts that ultimately secured them the victory.

With a few key players out from injuries in Round 1, the pressure and speed from Captain Brooke McKay and debutante Mietta Passon highlighted the depth of the squad and why Old Geelong is a force to be reckoned with this season.

“Moving forward, we want to keep developing as a team and learning each other’s capabilities…and find out what our new players can do,” says Crameri.

Fitzroy did put up a solid fight in the second half, with players like Hilary Collett scoring two goals and keeping Old Geelong goalless. However, time was against them in the end, resulting in an uncomfortably close 27-22 score line.

With upsets happening so early in the season, the VAFA Prem B Women’s competition promises to be an exciting and unpredictable one, making the weekly footy tips a challenge for all involved, including myself.