ROUND 5 of the 2022 NAB League Girls season bounced down on Friday night, as the Eastern Ranges thumped the reigning premiers to remain undefeated. Elsewhere, Geelong and Western picked up crucial wins in their fight for finals, while Calder held on to edge Murray on the road. We recap how each of the Round 5 matches went down in this week’s wrap.

By: Michael Alvaro

The Eastern Ranges remain clear atop the Metro standings after a statement-making 62-point win over a depleted Oakleigh Chargers outfit on Friday night. The hosts ran rampant at Kilsyth Recreation Reserve, kicking six goals in each half and keeping the Chargers scoreless in terms two and four. Without star midfielders Jasmine Fleming and Charlotte Taylor, Oakleigh lacked firepower and was outclassed 12.4 (76) to 2.2 (14).

Bottom-age goal sneak Alyssia Pisano was back to her best, helping Eastern break clear with three first-half goals. She ended up with four, while fast improving tall Mia Austin snared three. The Ranges’ depth was again apparent, as captain Bridget Deed lead all comers with 28 disposals, supported as usual by the likes of Isabelle Khoury and Mia Busch. Austin’s fellow talls Jess Vukic and Jacinta Hose also gave the Chargers headaches.

In the absence of arguably the Chargers’ two best prospects, top-agers Lily Hart and Charlotte van der Vlies continued to give their all in midfield, with 2006-born talent Maggie Mahony also getting her hands dirty to lay a whopping 12 tackles. Jorja Jackson laid a game-high 13, while over-ager Caitlin Matthews was kept busy down back for another week.

The Ranges face their biggest test of the season next time out, taking on fellow undefeated side Dandenong Stingrays in a top-of-the-table clash. That game goes down on Sunday, while Oakleigh heads to Ballarat to take on Greater Western Victoria on Saturday afternoon.

EASTERN RANGES 2.0 | 6.2 | 7.3 | 12.4 (76)
OAKLEIGH CHARGERS 1.2 | 1.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 (14)

GOALS:

Eastern: A. Pisano 4, M. Austin 3, G. Wilson, J. Vukic, S. Potter, J. Hose, C. Granville
Oakleigh: L. Cronin 2

RMC BEST:

Eastern: A. Pisano, M. Austin, B. Deed, M. Busch, I. Khoury, J. Hose
Oakleigh: L. Hart, C. van der Vlies, M. Mahony, C. Matthews, J. Jackson, L. Cronin

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Alyssia Pisano (Eastern Ranges)
4 – Mia Austin (Eastern Ranges)
3 – Bridget Deed (Eastern Ranges)
2 – Mia Busch (Eastern Ranges)
1 – Lily Hart (Oakleigh Chargers)

By: Declan Reeve

The Geelong Falcons have continued their strong form of late, making it four wins on the trot as they downed the GWV Rebels by 40 points in Ballarat. It never looked in doubt from the offset, with Geelong leading from the first goal of the game and constantly maintaining the scoreboard pressure, seeing the final score read 4.6 (30) to 11.4 (70).

The Falcons won the midfield battle, with the likes of Chloe Adams (22 disposals), Grace Purcell (19 disposals, two goals) ominous around stoppages all day. Rewarding the work of her midfielders, Analea McKee continued her strong form with 18 disposals, eight marks and three goals up forward. 2006-born prospects Sienna Mallon (16 disposals, one goal) and Sara Howley (16 disposals, five marks) were consistent for the Falcons as well, with Howley’s run out of defence a big factor in many of Geelong’s counter attacks.

The Rebels weren’t without their performers, as AFLW Academy Member Paige Scott played arguably her best game of the year with 19 disposals and five marks. Over-age prospects Lilli Condon (19 disposals) and Tahlia Meier(17) were reliable as ever, and Molly Walton (17 disposals) helped firm up the Rebels defence later on in the piece

Round 6 action will see Geelong come up against the in-form Western Jets at Westbourne Grammar on Saturday, whilst the Rebels will host Oakleigh Chargers later on the same day.

GWV REBELS 1.1 | 1.1 | 3.1 | 4.6 (30)
GEELONG FALCONS 3.1 | 6.3 | 9.4 | 11.4 (70)

GOALS:

GWV: P. Glover 3, J. Speakman
Geelong: A. McKee 3, G. Purcell 2, S. White, K. Woods, M. Morrissy, L. Maresuk, S. Mallon, E. Dowling

RMC BEST:

GWV: P. Scott, L. Condon, P. Glover, M. Walton, T. Meier
Geelong: G. Purcell, A. McKee, S. Howley, C. Adams, S. Mallon

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Grace Purcell (Geelong Falcons)
4 – Analea McKee (Geelong Falcons)
3 – Paige Scott (GWV Rebels)
2 – Sara Howley (Geelong Falcons)
1 – Lilli Condon (GWV Rebels)

By: Michael Alvaro

For a second week running, Tasmania Devils finished strongly to defeat a Victorian side at Highgate Recreation Reserve, this time overcoming the Northern Knights by 26 points on Saturday afternoon. The travelling side lead from the first goal but was challenged until late in the third term, when the Devils found some breathing room via the agency of forwards Georgia Clark and Bellah Parker. In the end, they held firm to win 6.7 (43) to 2.5 (17).

Remarkably, there were only three goalkickers for the game and each of them booted multiples, lead by Clarke’s haul of four. In combination with Parker, the Devils were too big and strong inside 50. The likes of Priya Bowering (22 disposals, nine tackles), Claire Ransom and Brooke Barwick brought the heat in midfield, while Madison Brazendale proved productive with her run on the outer.

A relatively green Northern Knights engine room was again lead by Ava Jordan, who overcame an early knock to lead all comers with 31 disposals. Fellow under-ager Suwindi Buckley also found a good amount of ball with 18 touches, as did ruck Michaela Molenberg (17). Leaders Jessica Nursey and Tannah Hurst put in absolute shifts, while Ella Smallacombe snared her side’s sole two goals of the match, and Lulu Beatty made a positive return from injury.

The winless Knights next travel to face the Murray Bushrangers in Yarrawonga, while Tasmania will look to make it three wins on the trot when in Round 7 against Calder Cannons. The Devils can put their feet up with a bye in Round 6.

NORTHERN KNIGHTS 0.2 | 1.4 | 2.5 | 2.5 (17)
TASMANIA DEVILS 2.1 | 2.3 | 5.5 | 6.7 (43)

GOALS:

Northern: E. Smallacombe 2
Tasmania: G. Clark 4, B. Parker 2

RMC BEST:

Northern: A. Jordan, T. Hurst, M. Molenberg, J. Nursey, S. Buckley, E. Smallacombe
Tasmania: G. Clark, P. Bowering, M. Brazendale, C. Ransom, M. Gaffney, B. Barwick

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Georgia Clark (Tasmania Devils)
4 – Priya Bowering (Tasmania Devils)
3 – Ava Jordan (Northern Knights)
2 – Madison Brazendale (Tasmania Devils)
1 – Tannah Hurst (Northern Knights)

By: Toby Mew

The Calder Cannons survived a late charge by the Murray Bushrangers to notch their third win of the season. The Cannons’ Kyla Forbes was the hero in the final minute, after calmly slotting the winning goal. It was a hard fought contest, with Murray only really clicking in the final quarter. In the end, it was Calder’s cleaner use of the ball by foot that proved the decisive factor.

The Cannons produced a strong all-round performance, with many contributors across the board. However, it was Amy Gaylor who led the way, accumulating 23 disposals with strong ball winning skills. She was well supported by Reese Sutton, who herself collected plenty of uncontested ball. Tahlia Read and Kayley Kavanagh rounded out the midfield with solid contributions at ground level.

Zarlie Goldsworthy was strong again for the losing side with plenty of important possessions, though not quite able to will her team over the line. Keeley Skepper was the major ball-winner though, with 32 possessions. Murray’s Zara Hamilton was also a strong accumulator of the ball and appeared to be everywhere, while Mindy Quade produced a three-goal haul – two of which came in the final quarter and almost won the Bushrangers the game. Elsewhere, Cassidy Mailer also put in a strong game.

Round 6 sees Calder taking on the Bendigo Pioneers in a VFLW curtain raiser at The Hangar. Meanwhile, the Bushrangers will look to bounce back with a win when they take on the Northern Knights at home.

MURRAY BUSHRANGERS 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 6.4 (40)
CALDER CANNONS 2.1 | 3.3 | 5.3 | 7.4 (46)

GOALS:

Murray: M. Quade 3, P. Johnston, Z. Goldsworthy, C. Mailer
Calder: E. Sbeghen 2, L. Veneigas, E. Nickolaus, C. Haritopoulous, C. Prpic, K. Forbes

BEST:

Murray: K. Skepper, Z. Goldsworthy, C. Mailer, Z. Hamilton, M. Quade
Calder: A. Gaylor, R. Sutton, T. Read, K. Kavanagh, E. Sbeghen

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Keeley Skepper (Murray Bushrangers)
4 – Zarlie Goldsworthy (Murray Bushrangers)
3 – Amy Gaylor (Calder Cannons)
2 – Cassidy Mailer (Murray Bushrangers)
1 – Reese Sutton (Calder Cannons)

By: Michael Alvaro

The Western Jets overcame a scoreless opening term to finish with a tailwind, defeating the Sandringham Dragons by 25 points at Trevor Barker Oval on Sunday morning. Trailing at half time, the travelling side poured on seven goals in the second half to slay the dangerous Dragons, making better of an equal 11 scoring shots to win 8.3 (51) to 3.8 (26), and move into second spot in the Metro standings.

It was again the Charlotte Baskaran and Montana Ham show in midfield, but arguably the main event on the day was Laura Elliott‘s intercept marking down back. All seven of her marks came off Sandringham boots, making for a defensive wall the Dragons could not break down. Up forward, 2006-born prospect Sierra Grieves kicked two important goals, which sparked her side’s third term breakaway.

Sandringham’s midfield competed well against Western’s star power, with Keely Coyne, Sofia Hurley and Ella Sciberras all getting their hands on the ball. AFLW Academy member Bridie Hipwell also rotated through the middle but looked most dangerous up forward alongside Mia Zielinski and Zoe Barbakos, while Meg Webster gave her all behind the ball.

The Jets will look to make it four wins on the trot when they host the Geelong Falcons at Westbourne Grammar in Round 6, while Sandringham’s pursuit for a bounce back win heads to Churchill, where the Gippsland Power await on Sunday.

SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS 1.4 | 1.6 | 2.7 | 3.8 (26)
WESTERN JETS 0.0 | 1.2 | 5.2 | 8.3 (51)

GOALS:

Sandringham: M. Zielinski, B. Hipwell, S. Farrell
Western: S. Grieves 2, K. Weston-Turner 2, C. Sargent, T. Henry, C. Baskaran, S. Asciak

RMC BEST:

Sandringham: K. Coyne, Z. Barbakos, B. Hipwell, M. Zielinski, M. Webster, S. Hurley
Western: L. Elliott, C. Baskaran, M. Ham, T. Skenderis, S. Asciak, S. Grieves

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Laura Elliott (Western Jets)
4 – Charlotte Baskaran (Western Jets)
3 – Montana Ham (Western Jets)
2 – Keeley Coyne (Sandringham Dragons)
1 – Zoe Barbakos (Sandringham Dragons)

By: Michael Alvaro

The Bendigo Pioneers have bounced back onto the winners list after a 73-point win over Gippsland Power, falling a single point short of notching the magic 100-point total. The tone was set with a four-goal to one opening term, and the Pios finished strongly to pile on five more in the final quarter to run away 15.9 (99) to 4.2 (26) victors. In a positive for the Power, they snared a goal in each period of play for the second time this season.

Bottom-age Bendigo gun Lila Keck was at her productive best, snaring three goals from 22 touches. She rotated through a potent midfield alongside the likes of Octavia Di Donato (26 disposals, one goal), Lucia Painter (23 and one), and Drew Ryan. Top-ager Scarlett Orritt was also lively in the forward half, while Emily Everist finished as one of four multiple goal kickers for the Pios.

Gippsland had four individual goal kickers this time out, with Indiana Makai and Shanae Hawker among them in solid respective outings. At the source, Yasmin Duursma racked up a team-high 23 disposals alongside Sunday Brisbane (18), while the likes of Ella Stoddart and Leesa Guastella both worked hard to repel off the last line.

Still without a win in 2022, Gippsland will again play host in Round 6 as the Sandringham Dragons roll into Churchill on Sunday, while Bendigo travels up to The Hangar in Tullamarine to take on the Calder Cannons on Saturday.

GIPPSLAND POWER 1.2 | 2.2 | 3.2 | 4.2 (26)
BENDIGO PIONEERS 4.4 | 7.6 | 10.8 | 15.9 (99)

GOALS:

Gippsland: S. Hawker, H. Woolfe, I. Makai, E. Domagala
Bendigo: L. Keck 3, T. Williams 2, E. Everist 2, S. Cooper 2, L. Painter, S. Orritt, S. Johnson, A. Gregor, O. Di Donato, J. Caruso

RMC BEST:

Gippsland: Y. Duursma, I. Makai, S. Hawker, S. Brisbane, E. Stoddart, A. Penry
Bendigo: L. Keck, L. Painter, O. Di Donato, S. Orritt, D. Ryan, E. Everist

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Lila Keck (Bendigo Pioneers)
4 – Lucia Painter (Bendigo Pioneers)
3 – Octavia Di Donato (Bendigo Pioneers)
2 – Scarlett Orritt (Bendigo Pioneers)
1 – Yasmin Duursma (Gippsland Power)