By David Nagel
Upwey-Tecoma may be the team to push red-hot favourites Mt Evelyn in Outer East Women’s Division 1 after the Tigers gave the Rovers their first scare of the season at Upwey-Tecoma on Saturday.
Mt Evelyn eventually prevailed 8.8(56) to 3.1(19), but not before the Tigers took the first quarter off the Rovers this season.
Mt Evelyn started strongly, leading 3.1 to 1.0 at the first change, before the Tigers fought back to narrow the margin to just seven points at half time.
The Rovers regained their composure, kicking 4.7 to 0.1 after the major break to race clear by 37 points.
Sherice Oliver kicked three for the winners while Maddie Cameron, Caitlin Hoskin, Georgia Ploegsma, Taylah Schmidtke and Jessica Smith kept the goal umpires busy.
Hoskin, Savannah Bowden, Oliver and Summer Edyvane were best for Mt Evelyn while Niamh Hunter-Clear, Ari Dousset, Madison Walsh and Tahlia Sheehan were best on for the Tigers.
Healesville has bounced back to the winners list with an 11.8(74) to 3.2(20) victory over Woori Yallock.
The Bloods were slow to start but kicked three goals in the second term to turn a five-point deficit into a 15-point lead at half time.
Dannielle Jones kicked three goals for Healesville, and Adelaide Caldicott two, while Sophie Morris, Sarah Frazzetto, Paula Pavic and Mikayla Coleman were among their better players.
Rachael Lee, Sky Wilson and Jessica Lee fought gallantly for Woori.
And the premiership defence of Pakenham took another backward step after the Lions succumbed to Belgrave – 10.5(65) to 1.3(9) – at Toomuc Reserve.
The Magpies burst out of the blocks with a 4.2 to 0.1 opening term and were never in danger from that point forward in the match.
Jess Walker and Sophia Thomas-Tatti were the stars for Belgrave, with four and three goals respectively, while Makayla Herbert, Lauren Sultana, Charlotte Crabtree and Emily Harvey played key roles in the victory.
Sienna Jones kicked the only goal for the Lions, while Beth Quadara, Sarah Connelly and Annalise Ryan stuck to their guns well.
In Division 2, Wandin has come from behind to score a thrilling 5.3(33) to 3.11(29) win over a wildly inaccurate Emerald.
The lead fluctuated frequently throughout the match with Emerald landing two points ahead at the final change.
The Bulldogs kicked 2.1 to 1.1 in the final quarter to leapfrog the Bulldogs into second place on the ladder.
Emma O’Hare was the star of the show for Wandin with four goals, while Alysha Henskens, Georgia Krueger and Lottie Read inspired the last-quarter comeback.
The Bombers lost, despite having six more shots at goal, with Ruby Langham, Anika Carr and Indianna Flint helping to create those chances.
In other games, Lucy McRae and Trinity Tebbutt kicked two each in Thornton-Eildon’s 21-point win over Officer, while Warburton Millgrove continued its impressive form with a 123-point thumping of Seville.
Jasmine Enever and Scarlett Henderson slotted four each while Maddison Andueza, Crystal Norris, Kylie Ockwell and Madi Ward ended the day with two.
In Eastern Division 2, Berwick went down by 120 points to Mooroolbark while Beaconsfield was handed a 55-point loss by Blackburn.
Despite the big loss, Zoe Davies, Abbey Dibben, Lauren Hojnacki, Elise Kinnaird, Georgia Malkoun and Jessica Peiris all experienced the joy of kicking goals for Beaconsfield.
In Southern Division 1 Women’s, Casey Thunder scored a 21-point win over Frankston Dolphins.
Leah Swain booted two goals for the Thunder, who had Bianca Moody, Alicia Heins, Kirsty Roche play well while Pakenham recruit Abbey McKenzie starred in her first game for her new club.
Alyssa Weston kicked five goals and Harmony Thomas four in Endeavour Hills’ massive win over Clayton, while Bentleigh, Mordialloc and Murrumbeena also kept their opponents scoreless.
