Week One Recap

It was fantastic to get the first week of the Outer East Football Netball competition underway and enjoy in the fullness that community sport to everyone across the region.

There some big games across the weekend, from Narre Warren and Pakenham commencing a week early in premier division right through to the match of the round between Yarra Junction and Powelltown which was a thrilling affair across both football and netball.

Here is the Week One recap for season 2o22:

Premier Division Football

A brilliant match took place on the field of Kalora Park on Saturday night, with bragging rights going the way of Narre Warren for the opening Premier Division match against Pakenham. Taking only a two-point lead into quarter time, the Magpies took control from there and gradually extended its lead throughout the match before running out as 36-point winners. Jesse Davies and new recruit Jarrod Smith kicked three goals each for the Magpies while Peter Gentile, Kurt Mutimer, Riley Siwes, Hayden Stagg and Josh Tonna starred as its best players.

Premier Division Netball

Erin Bell’s team of A grade netballers got its season off to a great start on Saturday afternoon, taking a 20-point win over Pakenham Lions at Kalora Park. Bell scored 26 goals for the side she leads, with Jemma Osborne and Chelsea Tonna also chipping in on the scoreboard. Gabrielle O’Dwyer and Maddie Maund also starred as the best players for the Tigers. In her first game at A grade level, Victorian State 17 & Under representative Eliza Molinio played well for the Lions, shooting five goals.

Division One Football

Healesville got its season off to a great start in Dean De Munk’s first game in charge, with a 37-point win over Berwick Springs. The Bloods of Don Road had control of the match right from the start, kicking four goals to none in the first quarter and were never headed as the game wore on. Young gun Max Donegan starred with three goals while Daniel Ebbels, Campbell Frazzetto, Lochie Oliver, Zachary Fawdry, Will Kristelly-Kelety and Sam Gebert also starred as the best players on the day for the winners while Josh Herkess kicked three for the Titans.

Emerald had a big win to start its season 2022 campaign, with a 76-point victory over Yarra Glen in its first match since its step up to Division One. Jordan Donadel and Callum White kicked three each for the Bombers as they continued to build its big lead as the match wore on. Harry Lang, Jordan Donadel, Jake Pedder, Dale Karacsonyi, Lachlan Collihole and Ethan Grose featured prominently throughout the day as Emeralds best player, while the River Pigs now have a bit to think about leading into its match this week.

After sitting out of a coaching role for more than five years, Chris Murphy got a first up win in his first game in charge of Seville, defeating Belgrave by 123-points at home. Playing on the junior ground this year, due to ongoing works to the main field at the Seville Recreation Reserve, the Blues were dominant right from the start and have built a great percentage boost to place themselves on top of the ladder following Round One, giving new Belgrave coach Darren Hamilton plenty to think about for the Magpies’ next game. Rob Petracca, Domenic Aloi, Nathan O’Keefe, Andrew Condello and Jye Sciortino all kicked multiple goals which gave its supporter base plenty to celebrate.

Division One Netball

With coach Jessie Hare missing from the on-court line-up, Berwick Springs made up for the disappointment of its loss on the football field, with the A Grade team beating Healesville 36 to 21. Jess Hoskin and Chloe Maas were the goal shooters for the Titans while Laura Walker and Allana Hadley also stood out as its best players. Healesville tried hard to stay in the contest, but ultimately could not keep up with the Titans poise and skill work, with Jessica Giudice, Brooke Erickson and Issy Smith managing to get some goals in the net for the Bloods.

In the first game for Michael Loulanting in charge of the A grade team at Emerald, the Bombers of Chandler Reserve grabbed a 53-to-36-point win over Yarra Glen in a good start to its season 2022 campaign. Kaylah Loulanting was a star with her goal shooting, scoring 39 goals while Matilda Preston and Suria Loulanting also chimed in with nine and five goals each. Stepping into the A Grade line-up after clinching the leading goal shooter award in B Grade last season, Stephanie Gibbs enjoyed a good start to season 2022 by scoring 28 goals for the River Pigs.

Despite missing gun goal shooter Olivia Ray from its line-up, Seville still managed to capitalise on its strong program over pre-season training to beat Belgrave 53 to 29. In her place, Ella Dowling was the leading goal shooter with 32 goals and was well supported by Ella Morse and Carly McDonnell with 21 goals between them. Indiana Peacock and Emily Wicks also featured prominently as the best players for the Blues as they slot into second on the ladder.

Playing on its home court at Edwin Flack Reserve, Berwick have claimed top spot on the ladder following the Round One games with its defeat of Gembrook Cockatoo on Saturday. Emma Clarke, Emily Pupuke and playing coach Chloe Phillips scored the goals for the Blues while Danielle Hanley and Kyla Quinn also stood out on the court to be named as their best players.

Division Two Football

The Match of the Round produced was a ripping contest with Yarra Junction and Powelltown going head-to-head for the Jeff Cole Shield, with the Demons coming away as seven-point winners thanks to a late snap from Dean Roy to seal the game. It was a tight affair throughout, with the Eagles in front at every break before Powelltown went up a gear in the final quarter kicking five goals to three. On his 31^st birthday, Roy was recognised as the best on ground with six goals while Michael Fowkes and Russell Cowan kicked five and two goals each. Playing assistant coach David Johnson was the star for the Eagles with his five majors for the home side.

Following a busy off-season of recruitment and training, Warburton Millgrove got its season off to a positive start with a Round One win against Alexandra on its home turf at Mac Sparke Oval. New recruits Jack Farrugia and Mitch Bonuda were prominent up forward with seven goals between them while for the Rebels, captain Brayden Norris and new recruit Sam Kerridge starred up forward for the visitors with seven goals between them. Nelson Aldridge, Shaun Marusic, Brady Mitchell and Matthew Wright were the other Burras who starred as the best players.

Broadford and Yea did a superb effort to front up for Round One with teams, with the Kangaroos coming away as 109-point winners over the Tigers on its home turf. Club veteran Sean Duggan was a star with five goals and was ably supported by James Duell, Tom Knight, Liam Lucas, Angus Norris and Zac Hill who shared 13 goals between them. The Tigers tried their hearts out on the day, with Corbin Sutherland snagging four goals to give his side something to cheer about through the course of the day.

Division Two Netball

The Match of the Round for A Grade was a thrilling contest between Yarra Junction and Powelltown, with the two sides locked in combat for the entire match before finishing on 37 all. With each side showing great consistency in competitiveness and great ability throughout the match, neither were able to build a substantial lead and stayed in touch with each other throughout the game before the drawn result occurred. Jessica Ellwood and Amy Stanley were the leading goal shooters for their sides with 24 and 25 goals each with Rachelle Jones and Mia Motteram being the standouts for the Eagles, while Maddalyn Beet and Olivia Caneva also featured as the best players for the Demons.

The A grade match was a great affair to watch with Alexandra showing great signs of improvement from last year by taking it up to Warburton Millgrove as the away team before going down 44 to 33. Shae Gee, Kirralee Luiyf and Bianca Daniels shared all the goals between them while Gabby Woods was also named as a standout player. Louise Chapple and Ellie Hedger shared the goals between them while Katherine Quinsee also stood out for the Rebels.

Broadford got its 2022 campaign off to a great start against Yea, taking the win 55 to 23. Kangaroo stars Renee Sari and Ally Black shared the goals between them while playing coach Rhiannon Aldous and 2021 league best & fairest winner Nikki Watts led from the front for its group of young A grade talent, sharing the 21 goals between them.

Women’s Football

The game between Upwey Tecoma and Yarra Glen was a forfeit and no match took place.

Under the leadership of new coach Rick Stalker and captain Chloe Nagel, Pakenham took a great win over Yarra Junction on Saturday morning by controlling the match right from the start and finishing as 35-point winners. The best players for the Lions were Bianca Moody, Donna Monckton, Natalie Holmes, Melina Eppel and Courtney Stephens while Jamee Cousens, Jess Laidlaw, Sarah Wilcox, Georgia Page, Emily Spicer and Sienna Mills were the Eagles’ best.

Olinda Ferny Creek took a comprehensive win over Thornton Eildon on Saturday afternoon, taking a 61-point win as the away side. The win places the Bloods in third on the ladder as they set themselves for the year ahead where they are well placed to be leaders in the women’s football competition.

Belgrave are another women’s side who got its season off to a great start, with a dominant 95-point victory against Seville on Saturday afternoon. Christina Missos led the way for the Magpies with four goals while ably supported by Serenity Connolly, Nicole Baboucek and captain Danielle Weisgerber who shared seven goals between them. Jess Walker and Amy Anderson were the others who starred as the best players for the Magpies.

The match between Healesville and Monbulk was a forfeit and no match took place.