THERE were mixed results across the Whittlesea region in the Northern Football Netball League (NFNL).
Whittlesea has lowered its colours for the first time this season, losing to Diamond Creek in a clash which pitted first and second by 31 points at the Whittlesea Showgrounds.
The Creekers got the jump on Whittlesea, kicking four goals to two in the opening term to lead by 12 points at the opening change.
Whittlesea asked plenty of questions in the second term, but Diamond Creek appeared to have all the answers, with both teams kicking two goals apiece. It meant the Creekers would go into half time leading by 13 points.
In a tense third quarter, it appeared Diamond Creek dominated, but it couldn’t quite land the knockout blow, while Whittlesea were still very much in the game, despite holding on, with its defensive unit doing a stellar job.
With a 15-point game at the final change, both teams looked to attack the game with plenty on the line, but it was Diamond Creek who were just that little bit cleaner, eventually kicking away to record their win to remain unbeaten, 9.14 (68) to 5.7 (37).
Paul Higgins led the way for Whittlesea, while Harley Fraumano, Josh Eid, Lucas Hobbs, Matthew Atta and Thomas Falls were also named in the best.
In division three, it was better news for Mernda, who put in one of its most complete defensive performances in club history to almost completely shut out Old Eltham Collegians at Eltham College.
The Demons struggled to put the Turtles away in the first term, kicking just one goal to lead by nine points at the first change.
But they had a completely dominant second quarter to take control in every facet of the game, kicking four goals from 13 scoring shots to lead by 42 points at the main break.
Mernda continued to increase the margin, kicking the only two goals to lead by 54 points at the final change.
The Dees had their best quarter of the day in the final term, kicking five goals to take an 87-point win, 12.16 (88) to 0.1 (1).
The one behind the Dees conceded was their most frugal defensive performance in the club’s Northern Football Netball League history, beating out the two behinds Lalor kicked against them in round 17, 2023.
Nicholas Gregson had a commanding performance at centre-half-forward for the Demons, while Josh Mazzarella, Chris Roussos, Will Crouch, Billy Morrison and youngster Declan Felle also performed strongly.
Laurimar took time to get on the board against Ivanhoe, but once it did, it was a very comfortable victory, keeping pace with ladder-leader Fitzroy Stars with a 44-point win.
The Power were a goal behind at the first change but started to swing things their way in the second term with the only four goals to lead by 14 points at the main break.
In a tense third quarter, it was goal-for-goal, with the Power scoring four goals and Ivanhoe three, but it was Laurimar who turned for home 24 points in front.
Five goals to two in the final term meant the Power were able to put the game away, scoring 15.10 (100) to 8.8 (56).
Co-captains Kaiden Arthur and Luke Wilson led superbly from the front, with Arthur kicking five goals in an outstanding individual display. Ethan Bateman and Aidan Clarke controlled the air, while Jacob Lawson and Bailey Macleod were also named in the best.
South Morang lamented a final quarter fadeout to lose by 33 points to Hurstbridge at Mill Park Lakes Reserve.
The Lions remained in the game for the balance of the afternoon, trailing by two goals at the final change, but could only kick one behind in the final term compared to Hurstbridge’s three goals to lose 13.13 (91) to 9.4 (58).
Tyrone Leonardis, Mitchell Kalpakis, Liam Failla and Bailey Brown were all named in the best for the Lions.
In the NFNL netball competition, Whittlesea 1 had a tight loss to Diamond Creek in division 1, losing 55-53 in a tense matchup.
There was better news for Whittlesea 2 as it defeated Heat 3 in division 3, winning 35-28, while South Morang 1 lost 23-40 to Hurstbridge.
The Eagles had two wins and two losses overall for the weekend, while Laurimar had two wins, a loss and a draw. South Morang finished its Friday night with one win from their seven matches.
Frustrating weekend for women’s teams
Whittlesea had a frustrating afternoon at De Winton Reserve in the Northern Football Netball League division three competition, losing by seven points.
The Eagles kicked the opening goal of the game to ensure they took a four-point lead going into the first change, but Macleod hit back in the second to kick the only goal to lead by four points at the main break.
Macleod made its move to kick another goal in the third term, although the game was still very much on the line at the final change with just eight points separating the teams.
In a game with few chances, the Kangaroos held out the Eagles as both teams kicked a goal apiece in the final term, with Macleod taking a 3.2 (20) to 2.1 (13) victory.
Tahlia Brander was best for Whittlesea, while Eden Attard, Olivia Hodgson, Harper McPherson-Goulding, Ashley Fitzpatrick and Tara Jenner also named in the Eagles’ best players.
Laurimar was desperately close to securing its first win of the year against Thomastown at Main Street Reserve but fell short by nine points.
In the end, it was a goal in the first quarter for the Bears which helped them secure the win, as defensively, the Bears completely shut out the Power.
Their 1.3 (9) to 0.0 (0) win meant the Power, for now, continues to stay at the bottom of the ladder.
No best players were named for the Power at the time of production.
Despite a good start, South Morang proved to be no match for Lower Plenty at Lower Plenty Oval.
The Lions led at the first change by six points, and despite the Bears kicking three goals to one in the second term, were still very much in the game at half time as the Lions trailed by just six points.
However, Lower Plenty continued its charge in the second half, kicking the only goal of the third term to increase its lead to 17 points, before adding another two goals in the last term to win 6.10 (46) to 2.4 (16).
Hailey Cordova again starred for the Lions, while Devony Hoare, Ruby Failla, Ella Pinney, Abbey Quirk and Isabella Chessler also played well.
