By Jarryd McGuane
@JMcGuane
East Brighton 5.10 (40) def Highett 5.9 (39)
The game of the round was a nail biter as East Brighton held off a fast finishing Highett for the narrowest of one-point victories at Hurlingham Park on Friday night.
Highett were the faster starters, with 2.1 to East Brighton’s 0.6 to lead by seven points at quarter time.
The Vampires took their turn in the ascendency in the second, as they put on three goals to the Bulldogs one, with the lead swapping hands and the difference being five points at half time.
East Brighton would extend the margin to eight points at the final change with the only goal of the quarter.
Highett would fly home with a wet sail and their 2.2 for the quarter had them right in the picture.
But the Vampires kicked 1.1 of their own to continue their success in the tight games.
Anna McDonald stepped up for the second time in the game of the round to be the best on ground. She was ably supported Isabelle Catrice, Sarah Burren and Rachael Martin with Natalie Rogers kicking two goals.
Lyndhurst 3.14 (32) def Oakleigh District 4.7 (31)
In the upset of the round, Lyndhurst shocked Oakleigh District to claim the one-point victory at Marriott Waters Reserve on Saturday.
Despite inaccuracy in front of goal, the weight of shots from the Lightning proved to be enough.
Tarryn Hart was Lyndhurst’s best alongside Jessica Wilkins and Jessica O’Connell, with Hart, Samara Hazelden and Ashleigh Helsby kicking their goals.
Hallam 11.22 (88) def Bentleigh 1.1 (7)
With the surprising blowout of the round, Hallam inflicted an 81-point thumping to Bentleigh at Hallam Reserve on Sunday.
After opening up a 10-point lead by quarter time, the Hawks piled on five unanswered goals to push the margin out to 45 points at half time.
Bentleigh would add their only goal of the game in the third quarter, but saw the Hallam lead by 60 points at the final break before cruising to an easy victory.
Pip Attard, Natalie Horua, Tamisha Gersbeck and Amanda Valdemarin all kicked two goals for the victorious Hawks.
Endeavour Hills 0.1 (1) def by Murrumbeena 23.23 (161)
At Barry Simon Reserve on Sunday, Murrumbeena continue to remain the class of the competition with a 160-point thrashing of Endeavour Hills.
Inaccurate in the first half, Beena would finish the first half kicking 8.17 to 0.1 to lead the by 64 points at the long break.
It would only get worse for Endeavour Hills, with the Falcons to be scoreless after half time and Murrumbeena finishing with 15 second half goals.
Emma Morison (eight goals) and Shanae Carter (six goals) combined to lead the way up forward, and Paulina Tragarz, Aisling Muir and Danielle Wearne their best.
Gail Worsley, Devi Whelan and Jennifer Dean were the Falcons best on an otherwise disappointing day.
Mordialloc 13.11 (89) def Edithvale Aspendale 0.0 (0)
In the final Sunday game, Mordialloc remained right behind Murrumbeena in the run to finals, with an 89-point defeat of Edithvale Aspendale at Ben Kavanagh Reserve.
Edi-Asp were out of their depth this week as they would remain scoreless throughout the game.
With four goals in the first quarter and only a single goal in the second for the Bloods to lead by 35 points at half time.
Five more in the third quarter had the game sealed at 75 points and Mordialloc took the foot of the pedal in the last quarter with two more goals.
Tanya Rosenquist led the way with four goals and was their best, along with strong performances from Natalie West, Ashleigh Phipps-Nelson and Jodie Miller.
Olivia Davies, Ebony Robinson, Brigid Kelly and Amy Little battled hard for Edithvale Aspendale.
