Grant’s 100th shines as Premier B Women’s heats up

Round 7 of Premier B Women’s delivered another weekend of compelling footy, with dominant displays, milestone moments, and a gritty comeback that kept fans on the edge of their seats.

Old Brighton remains the team to beat, extending their undefeated run with a commanding 13.11 (89) to 3.5 (23) win over Old Yarra Cobras at Brighton Beach Oval. The day was made even more special as Sophie Grant became the first women’s player to notch 100 games for the Tonners – a milestone celebrated in style.

Old Brighton was relentless from the outset, with India Tait, Charley Hodgson and Katie Grant leading the charge. A third-quarter blitz saw them pile on six goals to put the result beyond doubt.

Despite the loss, Old Yarra managed to register their highest score of the season – an encouraging sign that should provide the Cobras with confidence moving forward.

Old Brighton coach Andrew Grant praised his side’s midfield dominance, acknowledging, “They had some good forwards, but we did not let the ball get down there through the tireless work of our midfield.”

Grant was also pleased by his team’s adaptability, noting their ability to excel in both offence and defence, depending on which was required in the moment.

In terms of individual shout-outs, Grant gave kudos to the work of Bridgette Hagan, “Once again rock solid in defence”.

For the Cobras, AFLW premiership player Sarah Perkins slotted a goal in her debut, while Belinda Wriedt and Erin Woodford received the coach’s votes for their performances.

After a narrow loss the previous week, Old Melburnians bounced back in emphatic fashion, dismantling Marcellin 11.9 (75) to 0.4 (4) at Elsternwick Park.

The Omlettes were switched on from the first bounce, kicking three early goals to set the tone for the day. They showed no signs of complacency, extending their lead at each change to win by 71 points.

Coach Nic Stephens credited the win to a renewed focus on team-first footy. “We’ve been working on playing more as a cohesive unit rather than trying to rely on individual brilliance to win contests and win games, so it was great as a coach to see the girls buy in and see them get the rewards for the work they’ve put in.”

While not wanting to focus on individual performances, it would be remiss not to mention the best-on-ground performance of Ellen Williams, which included three goals and countless moments of determination and leadership.            

Olive McLean was also dynamic up forward, finishing with three goals, while Caitlyn Bayley was outstanding in defence, keeping star forward Zoe Glascott goalless.

Marcellin, meanwhile, struggled to find their rhythm but were well served by Alana Pane and Georgina Robertson.

In the round’s most dramatic finish, St Bedes/Mentone Tigers overturned a 14-point three-quarter time deficit to snatch a 3.3 (21) to 1.8 (14) win over Westbourne Grammarians at Mentone Reserve.

The Tigers were held goalless for three quarters, sitting on just two points at three-quarter time, but came alive in the final term, with Isabella Gietzmann kicking two clutch goals to lift her side over the line. Maddi Wilson and Paris Xerri were also instrumental in the comeback,

For Westbourne, it was a disappointing finish after leading all day. Temeika Cathery was again among the best, kicking their only goal, while Roxana Sefton and Alesha Ibrahim impressed with their work rate and drive.

Port Melbourne Chargers returned to their winning ways with a dominant 12.14 (86) to 0.0 (0) win over a luckless Melbourne University Women’s outfit.

The Chargers were clinical from start to finish, adding three goals to their tally each term, while not allowing Melbourne University any sniffs at goal.

Mia-Rae Clifford (4 goals) and Georgia Harris (2 goals) led the way up forward again, taking them to equal first place in the league goal kicking tally on 21 goals apiece.               

Coach Harriet Cooper praised her side’s defensive drive and mental resilience.

“Our group’s ability to stick together through adversity really stood out. That’s what drives us as a team to be united, and our shared experiences have driven this group all season. That kind of spirit is incredibly hard to play against and it’s what sets us apart.,” she said.

Captain Maegan Harrison was immense, while Claire Highfield and Tess Maloney were standouts in a team performance that showcased the Chargers’ depth and cohesion.

For Melbourne University, Mickey Gostencnik and Jolyn Collins battled hard.

After a week off with the bye, Old Xaverians will be keen to return to action when they face a tough challenge in Port Melbourne Chargers next week. Meanwhile, the two winless sides—Old Yarra Cobras and Melbourne University—are set to meet, with one team poised to break their drought. In addition, St Bedes/Mentone Tigers and Old Melburnians will compete for third place on the ladder, while Marcellin will be out for revenge against Old Brighton in the Grand Final rematch. Finally, Westbourne will get the chance to reset with a bye.