MILESTONES
Congratulations to Indy Baker on playing her 50th game of footy this weekend!

FOOTBALL

SENIORS
Monbulk and Olinda-Ferny Creek have been traditional rivals for well over a century on the football field, and on Saturday met for the latest installment of the rivalry. The Hawks have been competitive this year but have failed to register a win to date, primarily due to lapses where they let their opponents off the hook with a poor quarter.

The Olinda ground was in fine condition, with cool, calm and sunny weather greeting the players. The Hawks dominated the first quarter but wasted multiple opportunities in front of goal with wayward kicking. By quarter time Monbulk held a one point advantage after kicking 2.9, which should have been a lead of five or six goals. Olinda made them pay in the second term when they slammed on seven goals in quick succession. The second half was fairly even and Monbulk were left to rue the chances that they let slip early in the day.

Monbulk 9.17.71 def by Olinda-Ferny Creek 17.9.111
Best: Ziggy Hatherley, Joshua Spencer, Lachlan Sheppard, Mitchell Dekker, Declan Browne, Lochlan Beecroft
Goals: Ziggy Hatherley 4, Hayden Finlay 2, Mitchell Dekker 2, Johnathon Hevern 1

RESERVES
The Monbulk Reserves have had their best depth in about 15 years, and even with injuries they are comfortably filling the 22 team positions. Despite the list depth, the winless Hawks were in 11th place and facing Olinda, who were in 6th with two wins. The ladder positions proved to be inconsequential as the Hawks dominated the play and possession. Monbulk however missed numerous chances to close out the game with some inaccuracy. Late in the match the Bloods booted consecutive goals to get within a kick but the Hawks held on in a desperate final scramble.

Monbulk 5.11.41 def Olinda-Ferny Creek 6.3.39
Best: Thomas Trezise, Nicholas Taylor, Charlie Barge, Kai Linde, Jacob Defina, Lewis Oliver
Goals: Lachlan Smith 2, Harry Fleming 1, Charlie Barge 1, Brodie Emmett 1

WOMEN’S
Round 4 pitted two unbeaten sides against each other at Warburton, when the newly formed and top placed home team Warburton-Wesburn took on the third placed Hawks. In a match befitting two premiership contenders, a tight and entertaining match ensued. Jade McCormick, the former ruck who has moved to full-forward this season, marked with the scores tied at the final siren. With ice in her veins she coolly slotted through the winner, straight through the middle, after the final siren to rapturous scenes from team mates and supporters. Jade is the equal leading goalkicker in Div. 2 with 10. Coach Sascha Wolfe has deservedly been named the Outer East Coach Of The Month for April as Monbulk now sit atop the Women’s Div. 2 ladder as the only undefeated side.

Warburton 4.4 28 defeated by Monbulk 5.4 34
Best: Shania Turner, Indy Bakker, Stephanie Pauw, Molly Licciardi, Grace Emmett, Jade McCormick
Goals: Jade McCormick 3, Kathryn Gow 1, Laura Gillard 1

NETBALL
A GRADE
Olinda had dominated Monbulk for 10 years until a breakthrough win by the Hawks last season broke the ice. The Hawks are looking to eye off a finals spot in 2024 and needed to win, and win well, to send a message to the competition. They managed their highest score against Olinda since 2008 (where they scored 76 goals) and were dominant in every quarter in an unrelenting runaway win by 43 goals, and moved up to 5th in the process.

Monbulk 75 def Olinda-Ferny Creek 32
Best: Stephanie Ferguson , Paige Whitworth, Georgia Himmelreich
Goals: Elly Stewart 40, Stephanie Ferguson 32, Sophie Stubbs 3

B GRADE
After a disappointing few weeks, the B Grade girls put on a strong showing against Olinda. By half time they had established a 6 goal lead and then took no prisoners in the second half, to win comfortably by 20 goals, with good play on all lines.

Monbulk 57 def Olinda-Ferny Creek 37
Best: Siobhan Munday, Georgia Wilson, Rihanna Kelly
Goals: Jorja Wragg 39, Dayna Walsham 13, Chloe Schmidtke 5

C GRADE
Monbulk ground out an ever increasing lead over the first three quarters before unleashing a 13-4 final term which had the Hawks convincing 17 goal winners and moving up to equal 5th.

Monbulk 43 def Olinda-Ferny Creek 26
Best: Lisa Boyle, Sammi Kelly, Jamie Sands
Goals: Grace Sands 26, Jamie Sands 10, Chloe Carmichael 7

D GRADE
The development squad came up against the equal 3rd placed Olinda team and fought out a very even game. It was only some rushed passes that were intercepted in the third quarter which really proved to be the difference between the two sides.

Monbulk 23 def by Olinda-Ferny Creek 30
Best: Leah Hansby, Maddy Buckland, Caitlin Utting
Goals: Maddy Buckland 18, Hayley Donald 5

UNDER 15s
The Monbulk Under 15s met Woori Yallock, the only other Yarra Ranges club in their Division, on Saturday morning at Olinda. The young Hawks are teaming together well and played a consistent four quarter game where they extended the margin at each break. The players are being rotated through different positions which has made them a versatile unit, not relying on any one individual. They sit equal second, tied with the team that they will meet next week, Pakenham.

Monbulk 33 def Woori Yallock 19
Best: Isla Stubbs, Stevie Mullinder, Lara Stenhouse
Goals: Lara Stenhouse 15, Kaitlyn Summers 10, Isla Stubbs 4, Stella Dunstan 4