By David Nagel
Pakenham has made it three wins on the trot in Outer East Women’s Division One football after the Lions downed reigning-premier Olinda Ferny Creek by 24 points on Saturday.
The Bloods defeated the Lions in last year’s grand final; but an improved Pakenham side came out firing in the opening term on its way to a 7.11(53) to 4.5(29) success.
With Beth Quadara enjoying her first stint in the ruck, the Lions midfielders made all the early running.
Rover Bianca Moody kicked the opening goal after 30 seconds of play, while Courtney Stephens and Chloe Nagel gave the home side the early runaround.
First-gamer Ava Deszcz soon showed her class with a smooth-moving running goal, before Aiesha Kolaritsch kicked another to make it 18-0 after five minutes of play.
Pakenham’s pressure was electric in the opening quarter, with skipper Nagel winning three free kicks from tackles in the early exchanges.
Olinda hit back with a late goal before quarter time; the Lions leading 3.1 to 1.2 at the first break.
Pakenham once again made the running in the second term, but kicked 2.5 to 1.1 to waste some opportunities.
The highlight of the second quarter was a brilliant pass from Deszcz that found Kolaritsch on the lead, who converted to make it five goals to one at the two-minute mark of the second term.
Olivia Edwards was keeping the Bloods in the hunt, and a late goal cut the margin to 21 points at half time.
Olinda then played its best football in the third quarter; showing its premiership qualities.
Lily Carlin, Vanessa Bateman and Ruby Gilson lifted for the Bloods, who kicked 2.0 to 0.2 in the third term to make it an 11-point ball-game at the final break.
Kolaritsch then made life difficult for the hosts, kicking her third for the match at the five-minute mark of the quarter, before sealing the deal with a minute left on the clock.
Kolaritsch ended with four for the Lions, and Deszcz two, while defenders Emily Devine, Abbey McKenzie, Kate Green, Courtney Karayannis, Aliya Daniel and Kayla Wilson made the Bloods work hard for their goals.
Pakenham dominated forward-half possession in the final quarter; thanks to the efforts of Tianah Vandesteeg, Rielle Menere and Tanya Stafford – who played her best game for the club.
In other games, Jess Occhipinti kicked four goals, and Bec Thompson three, in Upwey-Tecoma’s 12.9(81) to 0.3(3) victory over Berwick Springs, while Monique Willemsen snagged two in Healesville’s 4.14(38) to 0.0(0) win over Belgrave.
In Division Two, Lauren Langeveld and Skye Nielsen kicked two each in Officer’s 23-point win over Seville, while Jade McCormick was the hero for Monbulk in its win over Warburton-Wesburn.
McCormick kicked a long goal after the siren to give the Hawks a six-point win.
And Molly Webb had a day out for Emerald, booting six goals in the Bombers 63-point victory over Thornton-Eildon.
Division One Ladder: Healesville 16, Pakenham 12, Upwey-Tecoma 12, Olinda Ferny Creek 4, Berwick Springs 4, Belgrave 0.
Fixture: Healesville (1) v Olinda-Ferny Creek (4), Berwick Springs (5) v Pakenham (2), Belgrave (6) v Upwey-Tecoma (3).
