Parkside take no prisoners in statement victory

Parkside recorded a comprehensive victory over Coburg, downing them by 116 points. They now sit third with a 211.96 percentage. The Devils managed to kick seventeen goals and keep their opponents to just one goal for the entire contest.

Coach Anthony Romano couldn’t be more thrilled with his side’s strong display, labelling it a “great team effort.” He was especially pleased for Diana Cornish, who was able to boot five goals in her 50th game, setting the tone for her side’s constant scoring. Additionally, Romano was full of praise for Coburg, mentioning that he thought they fought through the game with great spirit.

In what’s been a difficult start for the Lions in Division 2, the club has shown great courage in all their games this season, with the added challenge of lack of numbers available each week.

Old Carey cemented their position in top spot, as they beat UHS-VU by 27 points. The Panthers had a plethora of goalkickers, with six different players all getting on the scoresheet.

The club has consistently demonstrated their professionalism, winning games in all conditions and circumstances, whether in tight contests or dominant displays. Their ability to maintain composure under pressure and adapt to different match tempos has become a hallmark of their season.

On the flip side, the loss for UHS-VU sees them remain one game out of the top four. Although beating Old Carey away from home was always going to be a tough ask, they fought on gamely in the second half, playing a better brand of football all over the ground. Their second-half intent and increased defensive pressure offered some positive signs heading into a crucial block of fixtures.

Brunswick was able to hold on for a fantastic victory away from home at Elgar Park against Box Hill North, 37-21.

Coach Sasha Dougherty admitted her side had a lot to prove following their loss to Box Hill earlier on in the season. Dougherty believes that her side’s forward half pressure is what separated them, being full of praise for their frontal defence. “We forced a lot of forward 50 errors from Box Hill, which gave us a great advantage,” Dougherty exclaimed.

Brunswick was also assisted by some strong rucking from Emma McTaggart, who always seemed to hit the ball into favourable positions for her side, setting up scoring opportunities all over the ground. On top of this, Euphemia Gannon was superb at clearance for Brunswick, winning that facet of the game against her opponents in impressive style. The two-week break proved no problem for the away side, with this win keeping them in the hunt for finals football.

La Trobe University coach Samantha Greene was exceptionally proud of her side’s victory over De La Salle after coming off the double bye. La Trobe seems to match up well against De La, constantly being able to match motors with them and be competitive right throughout.

Greene was pleased with the spread of goal kickers on the day, with Natalie Cappelletti and Claire Wilson both notching up two goals apiece. The club is excited to take on league leaders Old Carey next weekend in what shapes up to be a monster clash.

Although De La Salle seems to have hit a bit of a form slump, with the loss to La Trobe being their third in a row, they are ones to keep an eye on with a hungry engine room looking to bounce back and play their competitive brand of football. Remarkably, the club now sits outside the top four based solely on percentage and is in desperate need of a win to climb back up the ranks.

Aquinas put on a stellar performance at home, beating Hawthorn by 41 points in a dominant display from start to finish. Aquinas was able to jump Hawthorn early, leading by 27 at the main break thanks to their pressure around the contest and swift ball movement going forward.

Their midfield worked tirelessly to gain the ascendancy, creating repeat inside 50s that gave their forwards plenty of opportunities. Emily Box was instrumental for the home side, kicking three goals and providing a strong target up forward all afternoon.

Hawthorn was able to claw back the margin in the second half and make some inroads on the scoreboard. However, the defensive unit also stood tall, repelling Hawthorn’s advances and limited their scoring chances. Aquinas now gains crucial momentum heading into their round 10 clash with in-form Parkside.

Round 9 saw some new contenders while also raising warning signs for some teams in the division. Old Carey remains on top of Division 2, with a clash against La Trobe University next round, one that will excite most. Parkside has stamped their authority on the rest of the competition, shaping themselves as a serious threat to their opponents. They host Aquinas at Pitcher Park next round, while Hawthorn is set to come up against Box Hill North. MCC FC will face De La Salle and Coburg Lions will travel to play the Brunswick Renegades at the Gillon Oval. UHS-VU will have the chance to regroup as they sit this one out with the Bye.