FOOTBALL
FEMALE FOOTBALL GIPPSLAND
By ZAIDA GLIBANOVIC
FEMALE Football Gippsland’s festival of footy was a hit last Sunday, as all teams descended on Morwell Recreation Reserve for the league’s Gather Round.
Round 3 action started at 10am with Youth Girls games.
In the Division 1 match, Traralgon played Sale City on the main oval.
The Maroon Youth Girls started with a bang, as Steevie McClements snagged the first major in the first five minutes following an earlier rushed behind.
It was a tough contest in the middle, but the Maroons were winning the clearances, which allowed for repeat entries deep into their 50. Traralgon kicked three points before finally taking advantage of their time in possession as Ashlyn Murtagh kicked a beauty, followed by Oliva Ambler who added a goal of her own.
Traralgon led 3.4 (22) to no score by the first break.
The Maroons continued to build their lead, with Murtagh and Ambler adding one each to their tally. Murtagh missed an opportunity late in the second term, and the Bulldogs were forced to rush through a point right on halftime.
The third quarter was an arm wrestle, as neither team could get the ball out from the middle. Somehow, the Bulldogs gained possession, sending it down into their forward line, but only managing a behind after a good build-up of offensive transition.
Some relief came for Sale City when Brooke Kelly secured the Bulldogs first major.
Sale City couldn’t celebrate for long, as Traralgon, too strong out of the midfield, secured another goal from Hannah Muhlberg.
The last quarter saw Traralgon put the foot down, locking the ball in their offensive 50. Murtagh and Ambler added another goal each, going home with six goals between them and an 8.10 (58) to 1.2 (8) win.
The Maroons’ midfield was integral to the win, with Zali Budd, Charley Patience, Emerald Briggs, Emily Carney, Ava Pickard-Millier and Joci Heenan named best-on.
For Sale City, Brooke Kelly, Cienna Searle, Lucy Hannah, Phoenix Anderson, Isabelle Elson and Emma Feltis were good despite the loss.
At the same time, Youth Girls Division 2 played on the Keegan Street cricket oval. Morwell and Dalyston played a fast game on the small field, but it was the Dalyston Magpies who won. The final scores were 8.8 (56) to 3.4 (22).
At 11.30am, the main stage became a Bairnsdale Youth Girls clinic. The Redlegs dominated Boisdale-Briagolong to win by 46 points. The final scores read 6.16 (52) to 1.0 (6).
Lara Healey with a goal and heaps of the ball, Keira Gibbs, Lucy Carrol with a goal, Jessica Grimsted, Indie Chapman and Sara Melrose were best for the Redlegs.
Mercadies Gorfine with a goal, Summer Harbour, Lara Dowsett, Susie Coleman and Lily Rouse were good for the Bombers.
By 1pm, it was time for the senior women’s reigning premier to shine, as Boisdale-Briagolong took on Drouin on the main stage.
It was most certainly one-sided play, as the Bombers dominated all aspects on the field, winning 17.15 (117) to 0.1 (1).
For the Bombers, Meg Graham, Laura Jonston, Chellce Ward, Amanda Hancock, Olivia Marshall and Ashley Chester were impressive.
Graham kicked a bag of four goals, alongside vice captain Johnston.
Mea Perkins, Emily Porter and Stacey McKinley had two each, while Megan Lee, Marshall, and Cassandra Herdman also hit the scoreboard.
The Bombers dominant performance puts them as flag favourites for season 2024.
Moe-Newborough Allies were far from the best as they fell short to Lindenow South 1.2 (8) to 6.5 (41).
The Allies started hot, getting on the scoreboard thanks to the work of Maneesha Nambirajan, but the Swampies came back hard to get 19 points in front by halftime.
Despite the efforts of the Allies’ Jacinta Davis, Kaylah Thorburn, Kaelee Paltridge, Eryka Amarant, Lily Brown and Amber Davis, the Swampies were too strong.
Lindenow South’s Siarra Peters, Amy Dunn, Brianna Foster, Liesel Nunn, Tayah McNaughton, and Brodi Harris were instrumental in their sides win. Captain Harris led by example with a game-high three goals of her own.
In other matches, Newborough Youth Girls defeated Bunyip, 5.9 (39) to 2.1 (13) in Division 1.
In Youth Girls Division 2, Woodside was victorious with a 41-point win over Phillip Island.
No matter the results, the Female Football Gippsland Gather Round was another huge success, facilitating a professional environment for young women who just love their footy.
