MILESTONES
Jamie Sands – 250 games!
Monbulk hosted Berwick in a big day for the netball teams. Jamie Sands, currently playing in C Grade,  became the first Monbulk netball player to reach the 250 game career milestone.

Jamie officially holds the record for most netball games played, as well as the club leading goal scorer. Jamie has had an incredible netball career since playing her first MFNC game in 2005, and has scored herself over 3,500 goals (and still going).

Jamie joined the club as a part of the twelve inaugural netball players in 2005, and has been the heart and soul of our club since then.

In 2006, Jamie played a vital role as one of our key gaolers to push our A Grade netball team to winning their first A Grade premiership – during this season Jamie scored a cool 307 goals.

Jamie has been awarded the A Grade Best & Fairest in 2011, where during this season she scored an impressive 345 goals that year. Jamie was awarded the A Grade Best & Fairest again in 2014.

Jamie has always shown a commitment to the club on and off the netball court, where she has been an integral committee member and social representative. Jamie has also assisted with developing our players through coaching positions and working with new players coming into our netball squad. Jamie was selected as Vice Captain of the C Grade team in 2022, and has always been a leader out on court.

The club would not be what it is without Jamie Hicken (Sands), with the impact she has made and are still making will stay with our club and netball group for many years to come. When you think of MFNC, you think of Jamie, we can’t wait to see what else you achieve over your netball career.

Congratulations, Jamie.

 

Nicole Macdowell
A second milestone was also reached by Nicole Macdowell, the current A Grade captain, when she ran out for her 100th game for the Hawks. Nicole joined Monbulk in 2017 and won the 2017 and 2021 A Grade Best & Fairest Awards.

 

NETBALL
A Grade
Monbulk got out to an early break before Berwick pegged back the lead to just 2 goals at quarter time. After that the Hawks mostly controlled proceedings and were up by 13 goals by three-quarter time. Numerous rotations of positions in the final term invigorated the team further as they finished with a 16-7 term and ran out convincing winners.

Monbulk 61 def Berwick 39
Best: Nicole Macdowell, Paige Whitworth, Peri Reid
Goals: Peri Reid 51, Jen Dewhurst 10

B Grade
When Monbulk met Berwick earlier in the year they played out an exciting game where the Hawks came from behind to win a thriller. On Saturday it looked to be heading for a regulation win for Monbulk who had gotten out to a 20-11 lead by half time. Berwick fought back though in the second half and these teams again staged another enthralling contest where the Hawks hung on to claim a win by a single goal.

Monbulk 33 def Berwick 32
Best: Rihanna Kelly, Lisa Boyle, Alice McCormick
Goals: Paige Rondinella 27, Chloe Schmidtke 6

C Grade
The occasion of Jamie Sands’ 250 game drew the largest attendance in memory for a home and away match, with all vantage points taken around the court. The wind was at its strongest during this match and the blustery conditions played havoc at times. The sides shooting with the wind to the pine trees end would win each quarter. The Hawks had a one goal buffer heading into the final term but were unable to keep Berwick out and eventually went down by four goals in a low scoring match.

Monbulk 21 def by Berwick 25
Best: Tasha Selby, Tara Donald, Courtney Witt
Goals: Jamie Sands 16, Sammi Kelly 5

D Grade
This side continues to improve as the season progresses. Earlier this year the corresponding game resulted in a 48-7 loss. For the second week in a row the Hawks allowed their opponents to gain a significant lead by half time but then bounced back to win the second half only to still come up well short of the deficit. This week Monbulk won the second half 12-9, but the overall lead that they had conceded was too great to bridge.

Monbulk 21 def by Berwick 32
Best: Kate Smith, Hannah Dickason, Leah Hansby
Goals: Kate Smith 15, Jessica Steele 3, Hannah Dickason 2, Eireann Lawson 1

FOOTBALL
Under 19s
The Monbulk Seniors and Reserves had a bye, so the Under 19s were finally able to select most of their eligible players. Their task on Saturday was to meet Officer at Officer, a team that has lost just once this year, that being by 19 points to the undefeated Narre Warren. With Monbulk looking to make the finals, they would need to collect a scalp of a leading club to stake their credentials.

On an unusually sunny day for July, conditions were close to ideal as the teams took to the field. Monbulk immediately stated their intentions with an attacking game style which yielded four goals to none with a slight breeze in the opening term with some uncustomary accuracy for a change. They maintained that advantage until half time as each side kicked a goal in the second quarter. The wind increased for the second half and the Hawks grew the margin to 49 points by the final change. Officer battled hard in the last quarter but were only able to penetrate Monbulk’s defences for a further 3 behinds.

Officer 1.7.13 def by Monbulk 9.5.59
Best: Josh Wentworth, Riley Finlay, Mackenzie Rouget, Ben Smith, Noah Rutherford, Coby Passingham
Goals: Ben Smith 2, Mackenzie Rouget 2, Josh Wentworth 2, Zeke Charlton 1, Jai Farmer 1, Lachlan Smith 1

Women’s
The Monbulk senior women have had a season of battling the odds in the top division. Despite this, the Hawks have maintained a consistent positive approach throughout the year. The results that had been posted against them had not been a true reflection of the efforts exerted, where they had yet to see a win materialise. They played their final match of the season at the Mick Moreland Reserve against Berwick Springs. While they were again outclassed they will eagerly await next season as they return to 2nd Division, where they had won the premiership last season.

Berwick Springs 14.15.99 def Monbulk 0.0.0
Best: Ayla Short, Josie Ford, Genna Seamer, Kathryn Gow, Calida Borrett, Shaye McLean