ROUND 13 saw plenty of excitement brewing for the penultimate round of Mixed Premier Division for the season, with the top four almost settled unless something massive happens in the final round of the season. Parkville Panthers proved their dominance in their final home and away match for the season, defeating Valley Wolves by 35 goals (68-33). Geelong Cougars also put in a strong effort with DDNA fighting in the second half but the side was unable to gain ground, going down by 28 goals (51-79), while NNE Vipers defeated a dilapidated Melbourne City Blackhawks by 17 goals (55-38) to jump into sixth on the ladder.

Eastside Sonics secured a solid win over St Therese, finding some good separation after half-time to run away with a 22-goal win (61-39). The Sonics had a slow start, throwing away plenty of ball and only scoring nine goals to 13 in the first before taking the game on in the second, shooting 20 goals to take the lead heading into half time, using turnovers well and converting opportunities. The Sonics defensive pairing of Caitlyn Degaris and Andrew Burgess was impressive, creating turnovers aplenty and speeding the ball back down the court. Jack Carpenter put on a shooting clinic for Sirens, quiet in the first quarter but going on to shoot 46 of his 53 goals in the remaining three quarters, aided by Jesse Failla and Bella Hodgson who provided plenty of feeds into the circle. St Therese put up a strong fight in the first half but were unfortunately unable to match it in the latter stages of the match, losing Tristan Comans after the first quarter and unable to replicate their stellar start to the match in the following quarters. The speed and resilience of Saints’ Shannon Blackman entered the match during the second quarter but full credit to Sonics’ Samara Harris and Emma Thompson, limiting Blackman’s influence around the circle and propelling the ball back towards their attack. Sam Robb was a great addition in wing defence early deflecting with ease while Prue Stanley and Ailish McCormack provided solid options through the midcourt and around the circle with Claire Oakley and Dale Mason having a solid start to the match at the post.