Round 8 saw the Under 19’s breakthrough for their first win of the season and the Women record another great victory, while it was tough going for the Seniors against an impressive Old Ivanhoe.
How much does footy change in 12 months – this time last year we had all five of our teams in the four and were clearly on our way to finals footy. We achieved that goal and were raring to go in 2025. It shows what a leap it is when all teams are promoted in the one season and how critical injuries can become to on field success. Well done to the Women for being competitive in Div 1 and let’s hope they can keep another finals dream alive.
Senior Men
A tough outing for the Seniors out at Chelsworth Park against an Old Ivanhoe outfit featuring multiple ex-AFL and VFL players and an A-grade midfield that has them as premiership favourites and near certainties to rise to the top division next year. The Rovers battled hard but couldn’t match it with the ‘hoers.
OI 7.2 12.4 17.9 23.15 153
HR 1.0 2.2 3.3 3.5 23
Best: Owen Bater, Blake Jenson-Muir, Chris Perkins, James Prosser, Jake Dermott, Lachy Costello
Goals: Liam O’Driscoll 3, Ben Crothers 1
Senior Reserves
OI 2.8 6.9 12.13 19.17 130
HR 1.1 2.4 4.5 4.6 30
Best: Lucas Sharp, Oscar Donald, Tom Goldsmith, Ryan Leslie, Lachy Cowell, Max Blackie
Goals: Shelton Hegarty1, Lachy Cowell 1, Peter Somogyi 1
Senior Women
Parkdale Vultures were regraded down from Prem B and were all over us for the first quarter and a half. They had far more desire for hard running and contested footy than we did to start.
Our backline led by Harmoni Collins on her birthday and the return of Holly Lance was under constant pressure and did well to hold the bin chickens to the first two goals of the game.
Some quarter time positional changes including the brilliant Mandy Naylor and Tiara Annear into the backline and a plea for more intensity from skipper Shae Raywood did the trick as we withstood ten minutes of pressure before bursting into action in the second. Two and half quarters of total domination against a very good team was incredible to watch. Amber Price was amazing down back and took 12 intercept marks on the day!
The midfield took total control led again by Millie Smith who is now an elite level midfielder and also kicked an amazing goal of the year contender. Bryanna Arnold, Shae Raywood and Hollie Brodribb and the Ward sisters got tough in the contest and we became unstoppable. Suddenly our forwards were getting some footy and we went in half time level on the scoreboard.
An amazing third quarter with us going all out attack was joyous. Incredible forward half games from Grace Bonano who had Parkdale’s ruck moved onto her in a failed effort to stop her incredible contested grabs and kicked three. Maddy Pearson is elite and bagged 5 more exciting goals.
High forwards Maegan Miller and Chelsea Bowen were both marking everything that came their way and were mighty targets for our backline and mids. Breeza is going about her business being an unbelievable small forward.
The game was done and dusted at three quarter time and Alana was able to shuffle the magnets around with all our up and comers getting valuable game experience. A special mention to Lily Bayes who played her first women’s game after rehabbing her knee for two years, an injury she sustained playing juniors in 2023. An amazing amount of effort and tears went into that debut.
We head into the long weekend bye with 5 wins and three losses sitting fourth and feeling satisfied.
Parkdale 0.3 2.4 2.5 2.5 17
HR 0.2 2.3 6.7 8.10 58
Best Millie Smith, Shae Raywood, Grace Bonanno, Madelaine Pearson, Bryanna Arnold, Mandy Naylor
Goals: Madelaine Pearson 5, Grace Bonanno 3
Under 19s
Training during the week was less skill based and more about winning the contested ball focus and maximizing opportunity going inside F50, this paid off greatly as our forwards got it one out and were able to impact the scoreboard more often, our centre clearance worked well for us and Ormond found themselves 32 down at the half.
With only one on the bench and with Hudson sick but able to give us all he had, the oppo drew close as we ran out of legs. A goal saw Ormond hit the lead with 8 minutes to go, it was time for someone to draw a line in the sand and Cohen Friend was the one, he broke out of a stoppage and from 52m kicked the goal of the year thus far (along with Will Rogaki from two weeks ago). The Rovers kicked the next 2 goals and held onto a nail-biting stoppage after stoppage to ice the clock and the game.
Smoji, Jamie, Steeny were all great, the back 6 awesome, Mason kicked 5 his last the game sealer on the run from a tight angle. I said Thursday night the lads would win and they did, stand by for more wins as we get numbers back in the back half of the year. Gee did they sing the song out loud!
HR 4.2 9.7 11.9 14.9 93
Ormond 3.4 4.8 9.7 13.8 86
Best: Mason Carrigan, Cohen Friend, James Delaney, Stef Somogyi, Charlie Steen
Goals: Mason Carrigan 5, Elliot Jurdakian 2, Jake Taranto 1, Hudson Thompson 1, Angus Zufie 1, Charlie Steen 1, Cohen Friend 1, Ben McGurgan 1, Harvey McConkey 1
Thirds/Development Squad
It was commitment at its finest with the Rovers coming up against the top side Marcellin. Their ground was harder to get to than Machu Picchu owing to the ‘big build’ out at Bulleen, resulted in some people getting there only 10min before the game. The boys matched it with them all day but just couldn’t get it done on scoreboard. Sources claim if Baxter and Atkins could have kicked straight, we would have got home! Sources also claim Lovig took about 30 marks and another 15 votes in the B&F.
Marcellin 6.2 6.3 10.5 10.8 68
HR 2.2 5.4 6.6 7.10 52
Best: Max Green, Jess Lovig, Jacob McLean, Richard Ironmonger, Richard Atkins
Goals: Richard Atkins 2, Jack Baxter 1, Jess Lovig 1, Oscar Beaton 1 ( and 2 more goals who I don’t know who kicked them!)
This Tuesday we have the Tackle Your Feelings night at the Boss where the VAFA will run a program on dealing with Mental Health in today’s challenging times. All are encouraged to attend. The session starts at 7pm and food and drinks will be available from 6:30pm.
This weekend is a bye owing to the Kings Birthday long weekend. Next game for all teams is the 14th June. The Seniors will host Caulfield at Boss James Reserve on what is Past Players Day and also the 1995 Premiership Reunion – book now for the big Luncheon. The fixture is currently being finalised for the Women, U19s and Thirds.
Have you purchased your 2025 Club Membership yet?
