NETBALL REVIEW

By Matt Fotia

Heading into last weekend we had multiple questions about the Outer East Netball landscape and now with all the action done and dusted, we have a few answers.

Check out the Netball Review below to find out how it all panned out.

Beaconsfield hosted in Olinda Ferny Creek in what shaped up as the final frontier for the Eagles. A win at home against the netball juggernaut that is the Bloods would see them send a message around the league that they were the new team to beat.

Any chance of that occurring was quashed in the first quarter with the Bloods jumping out to a nine goal lead, allowing just four Beaconsfield goals. The game then opened up for both teams with 86 goals scored between the two sides after the first break, the Bloods adding an extra 10 goals to the overall margin as the scores finished 61-42.

Peri Stewart did what Peri Stewart does and shot 38 goals, whilst Elly Stewart was super impressive at both ends of the court – starting the game in defence before shooting six goals later on in the Goal Attack. Beaconsfield were well led by Bianca Sanzaro who finished with 22 goals whilst Danielle Cameron was admirable in defence, trying all manner of tactics to get ahold of Peri Stewart.

The Bloods are now the only undefeated side in the Premier Division and have shown themselves to be the absolute benchmark. The question now is – are they unstoppable?

Wandin have made it two wins on the trot, scraping home against an impressive Upwey-Tecoma outfit. The two sides were tied 21 apiece at the main break before the Dogs slowly pulled away.

Cassidy Iedema shot 31 goals to continue her consistent season, whilst counterpart Monique Nagle shot 29 for the Tigers. Wandin will be pleased with their upturn in form, but like their peers on the footballing field they need to figure out a way to sort out their defence – they’re more than fine going forward, not so at the back.

In Division One ROC don’t seem to be as indomitable as their fellow undefeated sides in the other divisions, but they do seem to be odds on for the minor premiership.

The Roos and Rovers were evenly placed after a tight first quarter (9-8) before ROC turned it on in the second term, keeping Mount Evelyn to a measly one goal for the entire quarter whilst netting 12 themselves.  The game appeared to lose its edge after that, with the Rovers grabbing the final quarter as a consolation.

Dorothea George was ultra important for ROC netting 21 goals in a low scoring battle, whilst the two Emily’s – La Roche and McInness also performed strongly.

The Roos are now two games clear of Mount Evelyn and shouldn’t really be challenged until they face a resurgent Monbulk in Round 10.

The Hawks moved into third position on the table with a 15 goal win over Warburton Millgrove away from home. Steph Puopolo jumped to the top of the Jetts Lilydale  goal shooting charts in Division One with 44 goals on Saturday.

Both sides shot nine goals in a tight first term before the Hawks blew the Burras out of the water, doubling their score over the next two quarters to lead by 16 at the final change. Like Mount Evelyn – Warburton Millgrove grabbed the final quarter as a consolation.

Goal Attack Sophie Stubbs shot 10 goals and was one of the Hawks better players, playing a link role higher up the court whilst Wing Defence Holly Guerra played well for the Burras.

Warburton Millgrove have a massive two weeks ahead of them after this weekends bye. They take on fifth placed Pakenham before the second placed Rovers. If they can win at least of those two games they should be in pretty good shape come the ‘turn’.

Yarra Glen look like they might be able to push for finals in 2019 after they grabbed their second win in a row against Powelltown. The River Pigs ran away from the Towners with a 27 goal to 15 second half. Alicia Hughes netted 28 and Nicole Moate finished with 26 for Yarra Glen who are now in sixth position.

Powelltown should learn from Yarra Glen’s recent upturn in form and look to tighten up their defence. Samantha Hansen (28 Goals) is in good goal shooting form this season and will lead the Towners to a winning score most weeks, they just need to ensure the opposition don’t get ahold of them going the other way.

Seville have kept ahold of second spot on the ladder with a strong win over Gembrook-Cockatoo.  Jackie Cullimore netted 48 goals to take herself past the 150 goal mark for 2019, whilst Libby and Stephanie McNay were two of the better Blues for the afternoon. Lainey Williams did well in defence for the Brookers however, holding Cailey Nolan to just 19 goals.

The Blues will have a week off to prepare for the clash with Kinglake in a fortnight, which shapes up as a crucial one for the entire make up of Division Two.