SPORT: NFNL Women’s Footy
Heidelberg Golf Club Division 1
Heidelberg made it back-to-back victories with a 70-point triumph over Lower Plenty at Montmorency Park South Oval.
After trailing by a point at quarter time the Tigers ran rampant in the final three quarters, kicking 11 goals and conceding just seven points in the 13.12 (90) to 3.2 (20) win. Emma Rowe made it 13 goals in the opening four rounds of the season with a five-goal haul while Danika Spamer excelled in her first game of 2025.
Lower Plenty duo Ava Klaic and Sophia Howse were two of the better performers for the Bears in the loss while Milla Fereday kicked two goals.
At Beverley Road Oval Banyule registered its first win of the season with a 120-point win over Darebin 1. The Bears conceded just the one behind and kicked nine goals in each half on the way to an 18.13 (121) to 0.1 (1) victory over the Falcons. Olivia Mincone kicked seven of the 18 Banyule goals while Megan Barnes and Mikalee Maroney were also stellar in the victory. Portia Greenacre was a shining light for the Falcons in their fourth defeat of the season.
In a top of the table clash, St Mary’s made a statement with a 50-point victory over Montmorency 1 at Telfer Reserve. It was a tight first half, with only 14 points separating the Burra and Magpies at the main break, before Troy Bickerton’s side pulled away with a six-goal to one second half as they claimed the 9.12 (66) to 2.4 (16) over Montmorency. Emmison Zealley’s stellar start to the season continued while Meg Girolami was key in attack with a four-goal performance. Molly Bell was one of the better performers on the day for the Magpies.
A similar result took place at Eltham Central Park as Diamond Creek Women’s 1 returned to the winners list with a 63-point win over Eltham. Angelo Lamanna’s side were consistent throughout the four quarters, kicking 13.14 (92) and keeping the Panthers to 4.5 (29) at Panther Place.
Linda Thorp led the way in attack with five goals while the Creekers had a wide spread of contributors, including Adele Coppola, who kicked three goals, Tiana McClain and Heidi Gifford. Emily Wunderlich was Eltham’s only multiple goal scorer with two.
H
Division 2
West Preston-Lakeside continued its undefeated start to the season with a 108-point win at J.E. Moore Park over Greensborough. Paul Tilley’s team kept the Borough to just three behinds after quarter time whilst they kicked 14 goals themselves in the 17.15 (117) to 1.3 (9) win at home. Isabel Young was superb in attack with six goals while Elisha Folino chipped in with four and Tallia Pulcino kicked three. Ashleigh Snow was sublime in midfield alongside Molly McErlain, with Victoria Lawrence resilient in defeat for the Borough.
Ivanhoe had the closest win of the Division, triumphing by eight points against South Morang at Mill Park Lakes Reserve. The Ivies kicked four goals and kept South Morang scoreless in the first term before the Lions came roaring back with a three goal second term. Ian Callahan’s side then kept South Morang at arm’s length for the remainder of the contest to secure the 6.4 (40) to 5.2 (32) win on the road. Both the Lions and Ivies were well led by Ruby Faillia while Ivanhoe duo Sophie Bone and Georgia Pirdis kicked two goals each.
Diamond Creek Women’s 2 made it consecutive wins after they defeated Thomastown by 65 points at Main Street Recreation Reserve. After leading by 19 points at half time the Creekers kept Thomastown to just three scoring shots in the second half whilst they kicked eight goals in that period to secure a 12.12 (84) to 2.7 (19) win. Imogen Hammond was the pick of the bunch for the Creekers, kicking five goals on the day. Poppy Strickland also performed well on the day while Thomastown captain Cara Mazarella was also solid.
NFNL