By David Nagel
The Pakenham women’s team belted out their team song with real gusto on Saturday after a hard-fought eight-point victory over Olinda Ferny Creek in the Outer East Division One opener at Toomuc Reserve.
While last year’s grand finalists – Upwey-Tecoma and Healesville – had comfortable opening-round victories, it was the Lions who had to dig deep for a 5.11(41) to 4.9(33) triumph.
Leading by just four points at three-quarter-time, and kicking into a stiff breeze, the Lions showed true resilience to repel the thrust of the Bloods…kicking two goals to one in the final term to secure the four points.
The Lions were pumped up early, celebrating the 50th game of captain Chloe Nagel – who became the first player to reach that milestone at the club.
The Lions had seven shots at goal in the first term – but kicked four consecutive points before getting a six-pointer on the board.
Bianca Moody kicked the first goal of the season, with Nagel kicking a goal on the run a short time later.
But the Bloods bounced back hard from their eight-point deficit, kicking two unanswered goals in the second term to take a four-point lead to half time.
Pakenham once again failed to capitalise on multiple opportunities in the third term, before Nagel found space in front of goal to put her team back in front – the Lions by four points at the final change.
Coach Rick Stalker asked his team to find something in the last quarter, to draw on a pre-season that dates back to October, and bolstered his half-back line to make scoring difficult for the Bloods.
The Lions responded in grand style, with a new player to the club – Tianah Vandesteeg – putting her pace to good use to kick two running goals to open the game up in the last quarter.
The Lions led by 14 points late, before a goal on the siren to Olinda narrowed the final margin to eight points.
Nagel and Vandesteeg kicked two each for the winners, who had contributors all over the park.
The Lions midfield, led by Emily Devine, Sarah Ventura, Courtney Stephens, Moody and Nagel, had plenty of the Sherrin, while players like Courtney Karayannis, Tayla Sbisa, Emma Caulfield, Pippa Simon and Steph Grentell showed real strength over the footy.
Kayla Menere and Tash Wakenshaw held the backline together, while Brianna Menere, Sarah Connelly, Katie Sanders, Chelsea English, Niamh Mooren and Tanya Stafford also played key roles in the victory.
In other games this week, Georgina Jacobs, Victoria Minichilli and Scarlett Potter kicked two goals each in Healesville’s 8.5(53) to 2.3(15) win over competition newcomer Berwick Springs, while reigning champs Upwey-Tecoma proved far too good for Monbulk.
Bec Thompson kicked four, and Alex Bantock and Emma Caccetta two each, in the impressive 12.12(84) to 0.2(2) victory.
Ladder R1: Upwey Tecoma, Healesville, Pakenham 4, Olinda ferny Creek, Berwick Springs, Monbulk 0.
Fixture R2: Healesville v Pakenham, Monbulk v Berwick Springs, Olinda Ferny Creek v Upwey Tecoma.
