Football
Seniors
Olinda-Ferny Creek are Monbulk’s nearest and oldest rivals since first meeting on July 26, 1902, when the Ferny Creek footballers were known as the One Tree Hill club. Just on 124 years since that first encounter the two rivals met again, this time would also be for the now annual Murphy’s Mitre 10 Cup clash. A cold morning in Olinda partially cleared in the afternoon, however the ground remained slippery after the drizzly showers had passed. 

The Olinda ground has not been a happy hunting ground for the Hawks recently, having not tasted success there since 2015. Monbulk’s trademark aggression and contest was on show, met by an equally determined Blood’s team, leading at times to a scrappy affair. Olinda kicked three goals to none in the opening term which largely set up the match for them. Their tight defence limited Monbulk’s chances for scoring and was ultimately the difference between the two sides. Monbulk are in a battle with Upwey-Tecoma, Woori Yallock and Officer in a fight to get fourth or fifth place and will meet those three teams in the next three weeks which will shape their finals chances.

Monbulk 3.9.27 def by Olinda-Ferny Creek 7.9.51
Best: Mitchell Veit, Aaron Hoare, Lochlan Beecroft, Riley Finlay, Caleb Quirk, Joshua Spencer
Goals: Max Thornton 1, Taylor Joyce 1, Lachlan Smith 1

Reserves
Sitting in fifth place the Hawks knew that they had to beat teams below them on the ladder to be a show for finals. The eighth placed Bloods put up a tenacious arm wrestle in a match that was tight all day. Monbulk held a narrow advantage heading into the final term but conceded a couple of goals in the fourth which allowed Olinda to claim the win. A highlight was Ming Poynton kicking his first goal since crossing to the club from a soccer background.

Monbulk 5.8.38 def by Olinda-Ferny Creek 6.7.43
Best: Ming Poynton, Noah Rutherford, Daniel Banks, Jed Noar, Harry Fleming, Trent Purcell
Goals: Callan Brinkmann 2, Thijs Koelewyn 1, Daniel Banks 1, Ming Poynton 1

Under 18s
With the return of captain Will Hughson, out injured since the season opener, and five Under 16s helping out, Monbulk fielded their best side in weeks. The Hawks had lost the corresponding fixture in Round 1 by four goals earlier in the year but the wet contested football saw them thrive and register a resounding win. This lifts them to ninth in the fourteen team competition.

Monbulk 7.6.48 def Olinda-Ferny Creek 1.8.14
Best: Thomas Hill, William Hughson, Finley Ede, Charlie Seamer, Isaac Mullinder, Blake Nicholson
Goals: Thomas Hill 3, Lachie McConchie 1, Bailey McConchie 1, William Hughson 1, Jonah Van Seters 1

Netball
A Grade
Olinda-Ferny Creek threw down the challenge to Monbulk from the start and gained an early ascendancy that the Hawks were not able to wrestle back from. The Hawks were forced into uncharacteristic errors, upon which the Bloods claimed a 7 goal win. Monbulk remain in third but are now level with Olinda.

Monbulk 48 def by Olinda-Ferny Creek 55
Best: Nicole Macdowell, Alice Nicholas, Peri Reid
Goals: Peri Reid 39, Jorja Wragg 9

B Grade
After quarter time Monbulk had a stranglehold on this match as they ran out convincing winners by 32 goals. The Hawks now sit two games inside the Five as they start their campaign on the second half of the season.

Monbulk 67 def Olinda-Ferny Creek 35
Best: Siobhan Munday, Chloe Baker, Catherine Braniska
Goals: Chloe Baker 43, Elly Stewart 21, Dayna Walsham 3

C Grade
Having gained enormous belief and confidence from last week’s win, Monbulk again played the netball that they are capable of and stormed away with a confidence boosting win over Olinda by 19 goals.

Monbulk 40 def Olinda-Ferny Creek 21
Best: Candice Freeling, Maddy Buckland, Hayley Donald
Goals: Maddy Buckland 22, Grace Sands 12, Chloe Simmonds 3, Isla Stubbs 3

D Grade
Jamie Sands became the first Monbulk netballer to reach 300 games in this wet and cold encounter. Jamie was a member of the inaugural squad in 2005, played in the 2006 A Grade and 2025 D Grade premierships and was the club A Grade Best & Fairest in 2011. The club life member was fittingly also best on court in this match and her career will be celebrated in the upcoming Ladies Day luncheon on July 4.

Monbulk 28 def Olinda-Ferny Creek 12
Best: Jamie Sands, Katrina Wragg, Caitlin Utting
Goals: Jamie Sands 16, Ella Flynn 7, Emiley Asling 5

Under 17s
The two Monbulk teams met and comfortably defeated Gembrook and Olinda respectively at the wet Olinda courts.

Monbulk Maroon 44 def Gembrook-Cockatoo 11
Best: Isla Stubbs, Chelsea Ferguson, Milla Puddy
Goals: Chelsea Ferguson 30, Isla Stubbs 2 (+12 not recorded)

Monbulk Gold 42 def Olinda-Ferny Creek 12
Best: Kaitlyn Summers, Bridie McCormick, Mia Hylard
Goals: Kaitlyn Summers 29, Bridie McCormick 12, Stevie Mullinder 1

Under 15s
Both the Gold and Maroon teams travelled to Pakenham and came away with mixed results. The Gold team continued their unbeaten winning run, now stretching to 9 games, while the Maroon team put up a good effort against the second placed Pakenham Maroon team but came up short.

Monbulk Gold 34 def Pakenham Gold 13
Best: Amelia Magarry, Ruby Irwin, Eden Murphy
Goals: Eden Murphy 23, Amelia Magarry 11

Monbulk Maroon 11 def by Pakenham Maroon 41
Best: Hayden Brady, Olivia Dalman, Ella Osborne
Goals: Isabelle Kos 10, Grace Gaunt 1