IT is a vastly different women’s season for 2026, with Laurimar and Whittlesea participating, while South Morang and Mernda sadly had to pull out late after being unable to field a team.
Laurimar, under new co-coaches Sam Halpin and Chris Morton, got its season underway under the Friday night lights at Laurimar Town Park against Eltham 2.
Despite some promising signs, the experience of Eltham helped get the job done for the Panthers.
It looked as though Eltham would blow Laurimar off the park in the early stages of the game as it added four goals to no score in the first quarter to take a 26-point lead, 26-0.
However, Laurimar looked impressive in the second quarter and was rewarded later on with a goal through Rai Chambers to get the Power on the board, trailing 43-6 at the main change.
Laurimar continued to defend resolutely in the third quarter, restricting Eltham to just one goal. Late in the quarter, Sarah Campbell, who had fought hard for the Power, kicked a goal to give them their second from a good snap, and trailed 12-52 at the final change.
The final quarter was all Eltham as it kicked three goals to no score in the final term, but it was a game where both teams took plenty out of their encounter, with Eltham winning 10.10 (70) to 2.0 (12).
Laurimar look like they will show improvement from last season, with Campbell playing well, while Hayley Dyer, Brittany Zahra, Tara Dyer, Gabrielle Donald and Courtney Dark also named in the best.
Three goals to Tahlia Brander helped Whittlesea take a commanding 61-point win over Thomastown in new coach Chris Hoysted’s first game in the hot seat at Main Street Reserve.
The Eagles dominated throughout but were rewarded with just one goal from five scoring shots in the first term as they led 10-0 at the first change.
Whittlesea slowly started to get its kicking boots on as the game wore on, kicking two goals in the second term to ensure it would take a 26-point lead at the main break, 26-0.
Three goals to nil in the third term meant it was starting to be a blowout, and the Eagles led 46-0 at the final change, before adding two more goals in the last quarter to eventually win 8.13 (61) to 0.0 (0).
Audrey Steinke had a good performance, as did Brander, Harper McPherson-Goulding, Emma Hancy and Bern Azzopardi.
