By David Nagel
Pakenham has leapfrogged Healesville to sit at the top of the Outer East Women’s Division One ladder after the Lions handed the Bloods their first defeat at Toomuc Reserve on Saturday.
The Lions played magnificent team football on their way to a 6.3(39) to 0.5(5) victory, handing Healesville its first loss in home-and-away football since June 25, 2022.
Pakenham has been on the receiving end of some big thumping’s from the Bloods over the years, with the combined scoreline reading 382 to 9 across seasons 2022 and ‘23.
But this Lions’ outfit is made of sterner stuff and showed it would not be pushed around by the physical Healesville team from the outset.
Some great ruck-work from Tanya Stafford set up gun-rover Bianca Moody for the first goal of the day, before Aiesha Kolaritsch gave the Lions a 10-point lead at quarter time.
The second quarter was an arm-wrestle, with the defence of both teams right on top.
Emily Devine, Kate Green, Annalise Ryan, Abbey McKenzie and Aliya Daniel were rock-solid for the Lions, while Erica Cianci, Kate Methven, Brooke Wandin and Milla Potter were equally as good for the Bloods.
But the Lions opened the game up with some relentless running and tremendous teamwork in the third quarter.
Beth Quadara competed brilliantly in the ruck, allowing midfielders Moody, Courtney Stephens, Chloe Nagel, Sarah Connelly and Courtney Karayannis to drive the ball forward at will.
The speed of Tianah Vandesteeg was causing the Bloods some headaches, while Emily Johnston, Rielle Menere, Bec Domotor and Brianna Menere fought hard for every disposal in the front half.
Some terrific unselfish handballs from Vandesteeg and Quadara set Kolaritsch up for two goals in the third quarter to open up a four-goal lead at the final break.
Rielle Menere and Kolaritsch then kicked a goal each in the last quarter; providing a change to both team’s percentage that saw the Lions jump to first place on the ladder.
The aforementioned backline was superb for the Lions all day, while Quadara, Moody, Stephens and Nagel were well-organised around the stoppages.
Kolaritsch ended with four goals for the winners, taking her tally to a league-high 23 goals for the season.
In other games this week, Belgrave is celebrating its first win in Division One after the newly-promoted Magpies scored 6.8(44) to 1.3(9) victory over Berwick Springs.
Sophia Thomas-Tatti kicked three goals for Belgrave, while Amber Drummond and Lauren Sultana were among its best players.
And Upwey-Tecoma has overcome a fast-start from Olinda Ferny Creek to score a 5.1(31) to 4.2(26) win at Olinda.
With Olivia Edwards in fine form, Olinda kicked three of its four goals in the opening term; before the Tigers regained their composure.
Skipper Alex Bantock was magnificent for Upwey, kicking four goals, while Madi Walsh, Tahlia Sheehan and Dakota Roach all played key roles in the victory.
In Division Two, three goals to Molly Webb provided the impetus for Emerald to hand Monbulk its first loss of the season at Chandler Reserve, while four goals to Jade Mewburn led Warburton-Wesburn to a 52-point win over Officer.
In other games, Seville proved too strong for Thornton-Eildon, while India James snagged two goals in Woori Yallock’s 11-point win over Wandin.
