UHS-VU make it two wins on the bounce, while Old Carey go one game clear on top

Round 7 saw four matches played as the competition looks to reset over the coming weekend with the King’s Birthday bye round. UHS-VU made it two wins in a row after defeating Coburg by 42 points, while Old Carey established themselves as the team to beat, downing fellow challengers De La Salle in an impressive display.

Old Carey was able to take it up to De La Salle away from home at the Dairy Bell and leave with the four points. Old Carey set the tone right from the outset, showing elite tackling pressure and clean ball skills that proved too powerful for De La.

In what was a complete team performance by the Panthers, it was hard to single out any individual efforts that were standouts. However, Lisa Walshe and Kellie McLeod provided the goals for the away side, kicking two apiece, leading from the front.

With the win, Old Carey remainsone game clear on top of the ladder, further solidifying their premiership credentials. On the flip side, De La Salle put in an uncharacteristic effort at home; not being able to put one point on the board is something that they will be eager to move on from. The bye offers the opportunity to recover and regroup and set a game plan ahead of the second half of the season, which De La will no doubt be eager to do.

The other big win of the round took place at Brens Oval, as UHS-VU put in a commanding performance to down Coburg. At halftime the scoreboard was looking grim for Coburg, with the side trailing by 40 points behind and yet to register a score of their own.

The Lions were able to kick a couple of goals in the final term to make the scoreline a little bit more respectable, with the final scoreboard reading 8.8 (56) to 2.2 (14).

Vice-captain Hannah Greaves led the charge in front of the sticks for the Vultures with three majors for the morning, whilst Ella Brereton put in a special performance of her own to be named best afield for UHS.

Coburg’s Alana Benakovic impressed for her side on a tough day out and slotted one of the Lion’s two goals alongside Lucy Dawe.

UHS-VU is starting to build something special, not only putting wins together but also winning the games in emphatic fashion. Coach Alex Henry would be full of praise for his side’s ability to kick goals and put severe scoreboard pressure on their opponents.

Aquinas was able to grind out a hard-fought victory at home against MCC. Overturning a marginal deficit at the first break, they did most of the heavy lifting in the second quarter, booting two goals as they skipped out to an eight-point lead.

There was only a total of one point scored in the final half, signifying a tightly fought contest between two teams in similar positions on the ladder.

Aquinas have played some of their best footy in the last three weeks, narrowly losing to a professional La Trobe side and recording two wins against the likes of Brunswick and now MCC.

Parkside rallied in the final term to run over the top of a gallant Hawthorn outfit. In a see-sawing affair, this evenly weighted contest was exciting to watch with no score easy to come by.

However, the game was marred after Hawthorn’s reigning B&F winner, Mia Mathias, was taken out of the action during the second quarter due to what Hawthorn believes to be a suspected ACL, as they await results. We wish her all the best in her recovery.

Hawthorn coach Aaron Miller admitted it was difficult to break Parkside’s strong team defence. “We changed a few things at halftime, and the girls responded with some great passages of play in the third quarter.”

Parkside has got deadly duo Alice Mayne and Ella Smallacombe to thank for the two goals each, ultimately getting their side over the line.

The Devils sit a game outside the top four and know that they will have to be at their very best to overtake fourth-place Box Hill North.

The competition is beginning to become more and more interesting as the weeks progress. Old Carey are clearly the flag favourites at the half way mark after their dominant win away at De La Salle, while Aquinas and UHS-VU are starting to bank the wins when it matters.