Cobras win again as OMs and Westbourne flex

With finals fast approaching, every week in Premier B Women’s proves more and more important. Round 11 saw Old Brighton defend their spot at the top of the ladder, while Old Melburnians jumped to second place after a resounding win. Old Yarra Cobras showed how far they have come with their second win of the season, while Westbourne continued their undefeated record at home.

Old Melburnians continued their charge toward finals with a clinical 16.12 (108) to 1.1 (7) display over Melbourne University Women’s at Fawkner Park.

The Omlettes started the match with the same vigour that saw them beat Old Brighton the previous week, with Ollie Mclean slotting the first major of the day to kick off the assault.

By quarter time, Old Melburnians had built a 21-point advantage, which ballooned to 40 by halftime. Mclean was unstoppable in the third term, booting four goals to help stretch out the Omlettes lead to 65 points by the final change.

Showing no signs of complacency, the Omlettes piled on an additional five final-term goals to win by a commanding 96 points.

Coach Nic Stephens praised his side’s selflessness, noting the hunger of the players to contribute to team success.

“In a game where we had a lot of the footy and a lot of shots on goal, it was just great to see us really put thought into who the best option was and then be able to execute in getting it to them,” Stephens said.

Stephens also lauded the Omlettes’ ability to reset during play, something the side has struggled with in previous weeks.

“I was really pleased at our ability to wrestle back momentum during the quarter when MUWFC started to get a bit of a run on with some nice ball movement,” he said.

The midfield trio of Amelia Kogler, Georgia Dunlop and Zari Mildenhall worked tirelessly, driving the ball forward and controlling the contest. In attack, Mclean finished with six majors, while Prue Harvey (3 goals) and Pia Juricic (2 goals) also proved dangerous.

Stephens also highlighted the adaptability of his squad, with several defenders rotating through the forward line and midfield. Shan Conti starred on the wing, while Koti O’Connor, Isabella Rankin-Ward, and Steph Barnett all hit the scoreboard.

For Melbourne Uni, Carlton VFLW-listed Emily Hurley was a welcome addition, while Bridget Hudson continued her strong run of form.

Old Brighton weathered a late surge from St Bedes/Mentone Tigers to secure a gritty 5.8 (38) to 3.1 (19) victory on the road.

A dominant first half laid the foundation for the win, with the Tonners showcasing a rock-solid defence that kept the Tigers scoreless, while adding four goals of their own.

With no bench to call on, Old Brighton faced a tough task sustaining their intensity. As fatigue set in, the Tigers began to claw their way back into the contest, kicking three of the four second-half goals.

Captain Maddi Wilson led the charge for St Bedes/Mentone, booting the final two goals of the match to give her side a late spark. Despite their best efforts, the deficit proved too great to overcome, as the Tigers fell short by 19 points at full time.

Old Brighton Coach Andrew Grant praised his side’s resilience and commitment.

“We were challenged with numbers; we had to have everyone contributing and that’s what we did,” he said.

In terms of key performers, Grant pointed to Tahlee Aker and Mietta Nolan, who were strong all day.

For the Tigers, Nina Coghill and Georgia Ricardo continued to shine as stars of the competition, while Brydie Steinfort was also standout.

Westbourne Grammarians made the most of familiar territory, powering past Old Xaverians in a 6.7 (43) to 0.3 (3) triumph to remain unbeaten at home.

In a low-scoring first half, Westbourne controlled the play but were wasteful in front of goal, with Sienna Burns Bradley the only player able to convert.

Westbourne’s pressure around the contest and disciplined structures kept Old Xavs to just a single behind, earning them a 12-point advantage at the main break.

After halftime, Westbourne found another gear. Temeika Cathery led the charge with two goals, while Isabel Choate, Caitlyn Gashi, and Olivia Cavka each added one to stretch the margin. Their midfield brigade took control of the clearances and fed the forward line with precision.

For Old Xaverians, it was a tough day on the scoreboard, but Sienna McLeish and Olivia Benston still impressed.

The win gives Westbourne a crucial buffer in the top four, moving them six points and a healthy percentage clear of Old Xaverians in the race for finals.

Old Yarra Cobras produced a stirring performance to overrun Marcellin 7.11 (53) to 5.3 (33), notching their second win of the season in impressive fashion.

The match began on Marcellin’s terms, as Isobel Kay opened the scoring early in the first quarter. The Sheagles controlled much of the early play, holding a 13 – 2 lead at quarter time, but the Cobras came out firing after the break, dominating the second term and kicking three unanswered goals to swing the lead 10 points in their favour by half time.

The third term was an arm wrestle, with both sides taking turns to create through great ball movement.

Zoe Glascott gave Marcellin a glimmer of hope with a goal at the six-minute mark of the final term to bring the margin back to seven points, however, the Cobras held their nerve, kicking the final two goals of the match to seal a 20-point victory.

Old Yarra coach Michael Talbot credited the win to his side’s dominance at the contest. “As the game progressed, we continued to win more and more contests, giving us control of field territory,” he said. “Our ability to stay calm and composed with some of our handball chains set up some great offensive plays.”

Captain Alannah Murray led from the front with three goals, while Mia Giannopoulos was a standout in the midfield, supported by Leanne McHenry and Millie Shone. Carly Jevric was instrumental in defence, producing aerial spoils and goal-saving tackles.

For Marcellin, Zoe Glascott was among the best finishing with three goals, while Tania Carpinteri and Stephanie Bridge were key contributors.

Meanwhile, Port Melbourne Chargers had the week off with a bye, giving them a chance to reset ahead of the important final stretch of the season.

Round 12 promises to be a thrilling one, with evenly matched teams going head-to-head across the fixture. Old Brighton and Port Melbourne will face off in what could be a preview of this year’s Grand Final, while Old Melburnians will be out for revenge against Westbourne, who edged them out by five points in Round 6.  Meanwhile, Marcellin and St Bedes/Mentone Tigers will clash with both sides eager to return to the winners list.