AUDREY STEINKE kicked a match-winner for Whittlesea’s women’s side on Sunday to take down Macleod by five points.
In a low scoring affair at Whittlesea Showgrounds, the Eagles hit the front in the first quarter through Natalie Struve which gave them a six-point lead at the quarter-time break.
Chances kept flowing for the home side as they pressed for a second major, but numerous shots at goal only resulted in five behinds in the second term, with the scoreboard reading 11-0 in Whittlesea’s favour at the main break.
A deadlock ensued in the third, but Macleod’s Jemima Fox broke the game open early in the final term to get the Kangaroos’ first goal on the board.
The visitors quickly followed up with a second to put themselves in front, and it seemed that Whittlesea may be left rueing the missed opportunities earlier in the game.
That was until Eagles captain Steinke stepped up when she was needed, nailing one at the 15-minute mark to swing the tide back in her team’s favour.
A nervous finish to the game was cancelled out by jubilation when the siren sounded, and the home team celebrated back-to-back wins to start their 2026 campaign.
Olivia Hodgson was named best on ground, with Emma Hancy, match-winner Steinke, Zoe Kendall and Chloe Hicks also named among the best.
Down the road at Laurimar Reserve, the Power couldn’t keep up with Montmorency despite a hopeful start.
Sarah Campbell kicked an early goal to ensure the margin at quarter-time remained just two points in the visitors favour, but things became tough from there.
The Laurimar girls could not get themselves on the scoreboard again in the final three quarters, while the Magpies were able to add another four goals and three behinds to their quarter-time score, running out winners 35-6.
Campbell was joined by Isabella Zanussi, Tara Dyer, Caitlyn Bitton, Lilly Bradshaw and Leah Bickerton as the best for Laurimar on the day.
They will travel to Epping on Sunday to take on the undefeated Pingers while Whittlesea will try to continue their own unbeaten run when they take on Montmorency in an away fixture.