ROUND 3 of the 2022 NAB League Girls season was headlined by a Country themed triple-header on Sunday, as Craigieburn hosted four of the weekend’s six fixtures. Among the results, Eastern Ranges remained undefeated, Oakleigh Chargers got back on track, and Dandenong Stingrays continued their fearsome form. We recap the action from each game in this week’s wrap.

By: Declan Reeve

The Eastern Ranges have earned themselves major bragging rights, after knocking off Sandringham Dragons to remain the only undefeated Metro region in the NAB League. In a stunning come from behind win, the Ranges kicked 4.2 in the final quarter alone. The affair was free flowing and attacking focused, with both sides looking to move the ball quickly, producing a final scoreline of 9.5 (59) to 7.4 (46).

It was Georgia Wilson and Mia Austin that did most of the scoring for the victors, with hauls of four and three goals respectively coming from some handy work in the forward 50. They were fed the ball often by the likes of Bridget Deed (27 disposals), Isabelle Khoury (22 disposals) and Matilda Hardy (15 disposals), whilst Grace Walsh and Mia Busch were reliable down back and fed the ball well to their midfielders.

The visiting side had a few good performers; Keely Coyne (20 disposals) and Sofia Hurley (25 disposals) worked hard in the midfield all game, while Georgia Foran continued her great start to the year in defence, and bottom-aged key forward Mia Zielinski managed to snare three goals.

Round 4 sees the Dragons have their bye round, before hosting the Western Jets at Trevor Barker Oval in Round 5, while the Ranges are due to travel to Parade College to take on Northern Knights this coming Saturday.

EASTERN RANGES 2.1 | 3.2 | 5.3 | 9.5 (59)
SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS 3.0 | 4.3 | 5.4 | 7.4 (46)

GOALS:

Eastern: G. Wilson 4, M. Austin 3, A. Pisano, C. Granville
Sandringham: M. Zielinski 3, R. Thompson 2, B. Hipwell, Z. Barbakos

RMC BEST:

Eastern: B. Deed, I. Khoury, G. Wilson, M. Austin, M. Hardy
Sandringham: K. Coyne, M. Zielinski, G. Foran, S. Hurley, E. Sciberras

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Bridget Deed (Eastern Ranges)
4 – Isabelle Khoury (Eastern Ranges)
3 – Georgia Wilson (Eastern Ranges)
2 – Mia Austin (Eastern Ranges)
1 – Keely Coyne (Sandringham Dragons)

By: Michael Alvaro

The Oakleigh Chargers got their premiership defence back on track on Saturday, raiding the Apple Isle and taking home win number two with an 11-point triumph over the Tasmania Devils. Conversion was the key factor separating either side, as the hosts managed four more scoring shots for the day and drew level at three quarter time, but ran out of legs in the 5.2 (32) to 2.9 (21) result.

Top prospect Jasmine Fleming was again outstanding for the Chargers, supported by the versatile Charlotte Taylor as the midfield duo got on top despite Oakleigh losing the hitout count 44-14. Continuing the theme of pairs, Kristen Smith and Amy Cariss-Brett each kicked two goals, while defenders Erin Woodford and Alexandra McCulloch stood up once more.

Tasmania was unsurprisingly served well by star top-ager Claire Ransom, but it was Madison Brazendale who lead all-comers for the Devils with 24 disposals. Elsewhere, Brooke Barwick again showed promise, and triple bottom-ager Priya Bowering proved she is one for the future. On the other end of the scale, over-ager Amy Prokopiec was again solid in her relatively new defensive role.

Oakleigh faces another away trip in Round 4 as the Geelong Falcons await at Deakin University for a grand final rematch, while Tasmania will travel for the first time in 2022 as it takes on the Bendigo Pioneers in Craigieburn. Both clashes are set to go down on Saturday.

TASMANIA DEVILS 0.5 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 2.9 (21)
OAKLEIGH CHARGERS 2.0 | 2.0 | 3.1 | 5.2 (32)

GOALS:

Tasmania: T. Kikoak, L. Freestone
Oakleigh: K. Smith 2, A. Cariss-Brett 2, H. Kenealy

RMC BEST:

Tasmania: C. Ransom, M. Brazendale, B. Barwick, P. Bowering, A. Prokopiec
Oakleigh: J. Fleming, C. Taylor, A. Cariss-Brett, E. Woodford, A. McCulloch

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Jasmine Fleming (Oakleigh Chargers)
4 – Charlotte Taylor (Oakleigh Chargers)
3 – Claire Ranson (Tasmania Devils)
2 – Madison Brazendale (Tasmania Devils)
1 – Amy Cariss-Brett (Oakleigh Chargers)

By: Michael Alvaro

A second term surge has helped the Western Jets nab their first win of season 2022, defeating the Northern Knights by 15 points at Highgate Recreation Reserve on Saturday afternoon. The Jets soared to a 29-point half-time lead on the back of four unanswered goals, and despite being held goalless in the second half, did enough to hang on and salute 5.8 (38) to 3.5 (23).

Jets skipper Charlotte Baskaran was a standout for the second week running, collecting a competition record 38 disposals through midfield. She was partnered by Montana Ham (32 disposals) and Stephanie Asciak (18) at the centre bounces, who benefitted from Krystal Russell‘s ruck craft. Up forward, Caitlin Sargent commanded the attacking arc to kick 2.3, while 2006-born prospect Lou-Lou Field showed promise down back.

Northern’s hard working combination of Rylie Wilcox and Ava Jordan again combined for over 50 disposals, doing their best to give the Knights a pulse. Much was left to the leadership of Tarrah Delgado and Tannah Hurst in defence, while Mia Haas also stood up back there and Brooke Plummer brought the intensity from her customary wing position.

The Knights’ search for win number one rolls on next week when they host the undefeated Eastern Ranges at Parade College, while Western will jet up to Ballarat to take on the GWV Rebels at Mars Stadium. Both games are set to take place on Saturday.

WESTERN JETS 1.3 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.8 (38)
NORTHERN KNIGHTS 1.1 | 1.1 | 2.4 | 3.5 (23)

GOALS:

Western: C. Sargent 2, K. Maddock, J. Joud, C. Baskaran
Northern: G. Tait, A. Sciacca, M. Barnes

RMC BEST:

Western: C. Baskaran, M. Ham, S. Asciak, C. Sargent, L. Field
Northern: R. Wilcox, A. Jordan, T. Delgado, B. Plummer, M. Haas

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Charlotte Baskaran (Western Jets)
4 – Montana Ham (Western Jets)
3 – Stephanie Asciak (Western Jets)
2 – Rylie Wilcox (Northern Knights)
1 – Ava Jordan (Northern Knights)

By: Michael Alvaro

The Dandenong Stingrays continued their season, opening Sunday’s Craigieburn triple-header with a 32-point win over a plucky Bendigo Pioneers outfit. The relatively young Pios brought it right to the more polished Stingrays, going blow-for-blow at stages but ultimately falling short in the firepower department. In arguably the most entertaining game of the day, the final scoreline read 12.5 (77) to 7.3 (45).

With so many contributors once again, the Stingrays looked dangerous on each line. Over-ager Jaide Anthony showed her exceptional skill and smarts with three goals, while the likes of Emily Shepherd, Charley Ryan, and Amber Clarke each played their parts through the mid-forward rotation. On the outside, Taylah Gatt was phenomenal in terms of metres gained and caught the eye with her breakaway speed.

The Pioneers’ future looks bright, and two under-agers in particular lead the way. Lucia Painter was arguably best afield in a losing effort, slotting two goals and standing up against strong opposition. Lila Keck proved her partner in crime, and Drew Ryan got her hands on the ball plenty once again. Defensively, Emily Everist was productive on the rebound and Tegan Williams found use at either end of the ground.

Dandenong will hope to stretch its winning run with a home game against the Murray Bushrangers in Round 4, while Bendigo will be back in Craigieburn to host the Tasmania Devils as both fixtures take place on Saturday afternoon.

DANDENONG STINGRAYS 4.0 | 6.1 | 9.2 | 12.5 (77)
BENDIGO PIONEERS 3.2 | 4.3 | 6.3 | 7.3 (45)

GOALS:

Dandenong: J. Anthony 3, S. Butterworth 3, F. Crank, A. Tregellis, C. Ryan, O. Robinson, H. Monk, A. Clarke
Bendigo: L. Painter 2, L. Keck, S. Johnston, A. Gregor, S. Demeo, S. Cooper

RMC BEST:

Dandenong: J. Anthony, E. Shepherd, T. Gatt, C. Ryan, A. Clark
Bendigo: L. Painter, L. Keck, D. Ryan, S. Orritt, E. Everist

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Lucia Painter (Bendigo Pioneers)
4 – Jaide Anthony (Dandenong Stingrays)
3 – Emily Shepherd (Dandenong Stingrays)
2 – Taylah Gatt (Dandenong Stingrays)
1 – Charley Ryan (Dandenong Stingrays)

By: Declan Reeve

A tight contest at Highgate Recreation Reserve has seen the Murray Bushrangers hop back onto the winners list, managing to hold off a determined GWV Rebels who looked more and more dangerous as the game went on. The fiery contest was at it’s most exciting in the final quarter as both teams continued to step up to the intensity of the contest, with a late goal to the Bushrangers securing the 3.4 (22) to 2.2 (14) victory.

Zara Hamilton and Zarlie Goldsworthy continued their great starts to the year with 38 and 25 disposals respectively, providing plenty of drive through the midfield, with the likes of Madison Gray, Grace Hay, and Keeley Skepper looking dangerous in the defensive half, and Tayissa Gray providing plenty of outside run.

The Rebels were well served well by consistent defenders Jamie-Lee Speakman and Olivia Leonard, who both intercepted shrewdly and offered aggressive ball use out of the back half, while Molly Walton, Ruby Stephens and Lilli Condon won plenty of ball in the middle of the ground.

Round 4 will see the Bushrangers travel to Skybus Arena on Saturday to take on the undefeated Dandenong Stingrays in what promises to be a top quality clash, whilst the Rebels will host Western Jets in Ballarat earlier on the same day.

MURRAY BUSHRANGERS 1.1 | 1.2 | 2.4 | 3.4 (22)
GWV REBELS 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 2.2 (14)

GOALS:

Murray: M. Quade, T. Power, Z. Goldsworthy
GWV: M. Walton, P. Glover

RMC BEST:

Murray: Z. Goldsworthy, M. Gray, Z. Hamilton, C. Mailer, T. Gray
GWV: J. Speakman, O. Leonard, M. Walton, R. Stephens, L. Condon

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Zarlie Goldsworthy (Murray Bushrangers)
4 – Jaime-Lee Speakman (GWV Rebels)
3 – Madison Gray (Murray Bushrangers)
2 – Zara Hamilton (Murray Bushrangers)
1 – Olivia Leonard (GWV Rebels)

By: Peter Williams

Geelong Falcons have strung back-to-back wins together after defeating a much-improved Gippsland Power outfit by 70 points in the third game of the triple-header at Highgate Recreation Reserve yesterday. From the first bounce, the Falcons looked to be in control, with stronger players across the field. They raced out to a 35-point lead early in the second term with five consecutive goals, as Elizabeth Dowling and Analea McKee looked dominant. Unlike in previous first halves though, the Power refused to give in with back-to-back goals of their own to trim the margin back to five goals, and eventually headed in with a 42-point deficit by the main break.

Another five unanswered goals to the Falcons either side of the break brought the lead out to as much as 56 points, before the Power’s Under 16s star Ash Centra kicked her second from a ridiculous contested mark and set shot. From there, the Falcons kicked 5.1 to 1.5 and it was the story of the tape in the last third of the match. Despite the lob-sided scoreboard by the final siren, the Power had pushed the Falcons towards the end of the match, and with a bit more luck could have reduced the eventual final score of 15.11 (101) to 4.7 (31).

McKee and Dowling combined for nine goals in the match to be the dominant targets up forward, as Charlotte Simpson – who spent time off the ground looking worse for wear – returned to the field to finish with a respectable 21 touches, four tackles, four inside 50s and a goal. Grace Purcell had another strong outing for the Falcons with 23 disposals, five tackles, four inside 50s and a goal, whilst Mia Fuller, Keeley Hardingham and Mekah Morrissy were also strong.

Gippsland had a number of standouts lead by Centra who slotted two goals and took five marks to go with her 16 touches. Ella Stoddart again stood tall in defence with 20 disposals, six tackles and seven rebound 50s, whilst Macie Gilmour (17 disposals) and Indiana Makai (16) were also busy. Elise Molesworth and Yasmin Duursma continued to provide plenty of drive through the middle.

Both sides front up next Saturday, February 12 with Geelong Falcons hosting Oakleigh Chargers at Deakin University Waurn Ponds from 11am, while Gippsland Power returns to Churchill to take on the Calder Cannons from 11:30am.

GEELONG FALCONS 4.7 | 8.8 | 13.10 | 15.11 (101)
GIPPSLAND POWER 0.1 | 2.2 | 3.2 | 4.7 (31)

GOALS:

Geelong: A. McKee 5, E. Dowling 4, L. Owens 2, G. Purcell, C. Simpson, S. Mallon, K. Woods
Gippsland: A. Centra 2, E. Domagala, I. Makai

RMC BEST:

Geelong: A. McKee, G. Purcell, C. Simpson, E. Dowling, M. Morrissey
Gippsland: A. Centra, E. Stoddart, I. Makai, E. Molesworth, M. Gilmour

RM CENTRAL MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Analea McKee (Geelong Falcons)
4 – Ash Centra (Gippsland Power)
3 – Grace Purcell (Geelong Falcons)
2 – Charlotte Simpson (Geelong Falcons)
1 – Elizabeth Dowling (Geelong Falcons)