By David Nagel
Pakenham has virtually locked away a place in this year’s Outer East Women’s Division One finals series with a comfortable 44-point victory over Monbulk on Saturday.
The Lions – missing key players Courtney Stephens, Sarah Ventura, Courtney Karayannis and Amanda Hobba – played some rock-solid team football, handballing their way to a 7.10.52 to 1.2.8 success.
Pakenham kicked with the breeze – but up the hill at Monbulk – in the first term, with key-forward Chelsea English dribbling through the first of the day after seven minutes of play.
Tash Wakenshaw was giving the Lions midfielders Bianca Moody, Chloe Nagel and Tayla Sbisa first use in the ruck, while winger Tianah Vandesteeg was simply on fire on the outer side of the ground.
Katie Sanders, Pippa Simon and Brianna Menere were applying plenty of pressure for the Lions, while the attack on the ball of Sarah Connelly was also impressive.
English kicked a late goal to give the Lions a 15-point lead at quarter time.
Pakenham played its best football in the second quarter, with Emily Divine, Kayla Menere, Aliya Daniel and Steph Grentell controlling the back half, and Emma Caulfield, Tanya Stafford and Niamh Mooren having an influence around the ground.
English kicked her third and final goal after three minutes in the second quarter, before Lions’ skipper Nagel nailed a goal on the run to cap off a great passage of play…with Caulfield the instigator at half back.
Briana Menere then took a chest mark and goaled, after the siren, to give the Lions a 38-point lead at half time.
The Lions shared the ball beautifully by hand in the second term, opening up the play with some great teamwork.
Monbulk really lifted its intensity after the break, making the Lions work for everything, before Vandesteeg put the finishing touches on her best game for the Lions with a goal from the top of the goal-square.
The Lions kicked one more in the final term, with Nagel kicking her second to cap off a fine game through the midfield.
Kathryn Gow and Madeline Caarels were best for Monbulk, who battle bravely in the second half.
The third-placed Lions face Olinda Ferny Creek on Friday night this week, while the Hawks face a tough test at home against Healesville.
Berwick Springs continues to emerge as a finals contender this season after the fifth-placed Titans downed fourth-placed Olinda Ferny Creek by 29 points at Mick Morland Reserve.
The Titans, fresh off a commanding win over third-placed Pakenham last week, overcame a half-time deficit to win 6.6.42 to 2.1.13.
The Titans were held goalless in the first half – trailing by 11 points – but booted three goals in each of the third and final quarters to race away with victory.
Emily Browning kicked three for the winners, and Sheridan Holland two, while Kim Emile finishing off a cracking of football with a single contribution to the scoreboard.
The Titans will put their good form to the test against second-placed Upwey Tecoma on Saturday, while the Bloods will look to bounce against Pakenham on Friday night.
And undefeated Healesville would appear to have the premiership at its mercy after a complete shutdown of second-placed Upwey Tecoma.
Healesville eventually prevailed 4.10.34 to no score, with Danielle Carrucan kicking two goals and skipper Alexandra Bryan and Scarlett Potter one apiece.
Leah Borg, Teagan Burton and Dakota Roach were best for the defeated Tigers.
Results: Monbulk 1.2.8 def by Pakenham 7.10.52, Healesville 4.10.34 def Upwey Tecoma 0.0.0, Berwick Springs 6.6.42 def Olinda Ferny Creek 2.1.13.
Ladder: Healesville 48, Upwey Tecoma 32, Pakenham 28, Olinda Ferny Creek 20, Berwick Springs 16, Monbulk 0.
Fixture R13: Olinda Ferny Creek (4) v Pakenham (3), Monbulk (6) v Healesville (1), Berwick Springs (5) v Upwey Tecoma (2).
