DEFINITIVE WINS MARK ROUND 1
By KEL ROWE
Following on from last weekend’s stand-alone game, Round 1 of the Victoria University Polytechnic Senior Women’s competition officially kicked off on Saturday, with Point Cook Centrals going head-to-head with Spotswood.
The morning presented some pitch-perfect conditions for footy — light clouds, cool temperatures and just a hint of a breeze.
Point Cook Centrals has long made a name for themselves as a tough, but fair opposition. Whilst the protracted off-season has meant some rebuilding for the team, the Sharks Saturday morning intensity, helmed by coach Leanne Meyer, was not to be underestimated.
Similarly, the Spotswood Senior Women might present as a new, fresh-faced side in the WRFL for 2021.
Under the long-term tutelage of coaches Chris Grant and Ian Allan, many of these players have come up together through the junior ranks of the club, and many are former Under-18 flag winners from the 2019 season.
From the opening siren, the Spotswood quickly asserted their intention to be serious competition contenders — with a captain’s goal from Caitlin Brennan the first of three successful scoring opportunities inside the opening 10 minutes.
Despite their solid pressure, Point Cook Centrals were kept scoreless in the first term.
The Sharks, fired up from the message at the quarter-time break, broke into their forward 50 with repeated surges early in the second and were finally rewarded for effort when Maddie Johnson took a strong aerial mark, setting up teammate Mandy Seath in front of goals.
Following the halftime break, Spotswood doubled down on their scoring assault, kicking five additional goals. Some impressive ball running from Caitlyn Gashi and Isabel Choate — including a classy burst of speed with the ball in hand, bounce and snap from the latter — saw play repeatedly move up the ground and into the Shark’s defensive 50.
At three-quarter-time, the Spotswood co-coaches praised their side for taking the game on, with Grant saying that their hard work at training was resulting in goals on the scoreboard.
Despite a late goal from the Sharks courtesy of Ghaysaa Saoud, Spotswood continued to dominate in the final term, storming home for a definitive 78-point win.
Caroline Springs won away from home over Yarraville Seddon. The Lakers banked a massive 62-point win over the Eagles, thanks to the efforts of six individual goal kickers. The final siren saw the scoreboard register 1.3. (9) to 10.11. (71) in favour of the visitors.
Newly merged Braybrook/Albanvale were too strong for hosts North Sunshine, running over the Road Runners to claim victory by 38-points.
West Footscray opened their season with a home-ground loss to Werribee Centrals. The game was a tough, contested hit-out, with Centrals running away with the win in the final quarter, kicking three goals to zero.
Hoppers Crossing played their first game on home turf at Hogans Road Oval, suffering a defeat to a strong Manor Lakes side. The Storm brought it to the new addition to the competition, winning 6.8. (44) to 3.3. (21).
On Sunday afternoon it was a battle of the birds, with Wyndhamvale executing a dominant 37-point win over Laverton. Kellee Mcintosh kicked five goals for the Falcons.