Round six for the Gisborne girls was a mixed bag with the club’s Under 13 Girls and Under 15 Youth Girls enjoying wins, the U18 Youth Girls losing their first game for the season and the Senior Women playing out a draw.
U15 Youth Girls
In the first game of the round, the U15 Youth Girls travelled to Blackwood Drive Reserve in Melton to take on Melton. Having comfortably defeated Melton earlier in the season, the Gisborne girls entered the game full of confidence, and started the game strongly, quickly opening up a 26 point lead at quarter time. The girls continued to pepper the goals in the second quarter, sharing the ball well among the forwards, to boot five unanswered goals, to take a commanding 60 point lead into half time. The story was very much the same after halftime, with the Gisborne girls continuing to press forward, eventually running out convincing winners 17.10 (112) to Melton 0.0 (00). Goal kickers for Gisborne included three goals each to Bridie Alexa-Collings, Lauren Marsh and Charlotte Richardson, two goals to Natalie Schipano and Cienna Strachan, and singles to Ava McClure, Phoebe Prout, Chloe Prpic and Hailee Redmayne-Williams. Best players for Gisborne included Natalie Schipano, Lauren Marsh, Charlotte Richardson, Ava McClure, Lulu Slater and Madeleine El Hitti.
U18 Youth Girls
The U18 Youth Girls were matched against Melton Centrals at Arnolds Creek Reserve in Melton. In a very scrappy and congested first quarter, Melton Centrals made the most of their scoring opportunities to take a seven point lead into quarter Time. The Gisborne girls started to create some opportunities in the second quarter scoring two unanswered goals to take a slender fivepoint lead into half time. Despite their best efforts, the Gisborne girls couldn’t stop the Melton momentum in the third quarter when Melton scored four unanswered goals to open up a 19 point lead, which ended up being the difference between the two sides. Final Scores Melton Centrals 6.3 (3)9 to Gisborne 3.3(21). Goal kickers for Gisborne included singles to Mackenzie Hayes, Abbey Vickery and Ruby Watts. Best players included Gabriella Gabranis, Loree Newton, Alexandra Cairney, Nicole Steward, Grace Krstev and Mackenzie Hayes.
U13 Girls
Fresh off the bye, and immediately after the U18 Youth Girls, the Gisborne U13 Girls were matched against Melton Centrals. In a very even and tight contest, not much separated the two teams during the first half, with both having opportunities to score but not being able to capitalise on the scoreboard. At three quarter time, Melton Centrals held a slender one point lead. Needing a big final quarter, the Gisborne girls rallied, applying tremendous pressure against their opposition all over the ground, and through some terrific passages of play, managed to hit the scoreboard to run out seven point winners, 2.2 (14) to Melton Centrals 1.1(7). Goal kickers for Gisborne included Shakira Parker and Tasha Triffit with one goal each, and best players included Shakira Parker, Lauren Shaw, Tamsyn Williams, Sarah Doyle, Louise Brierty and Lotti Gujer-Jones.
Senior Women
In the final match of the round, the Gisborne Senior Women were matched against Bacchus Marsh at Maddingley Park, a very spacious ground. In a scrappy and congested contest, neither team was able to take any advantage, with the ball spending much of the first half rebounding between both sides’ 50 metre arcs, and Bacchus Marsh holding an eight point advantage. The Gisborne girls stepped up a gear in the third quarter and peppered the goals, but were not being able to convert, kicking one goal five behinds for the quarter to lead by three points at the last break. With Bacchus Marsh kicking with the wind in the final quarter, it was Gisborne who managed to score against the wind, opening up a 10 point advantage half way through the final term. With both sides getting tired, Bacchus Marsh managed to continue to force the ball forward, scoring a goal to level the scores with a couple of minutes left on the clock. In a frantic final minute, the Gisborne girls defended valiantly despite Bacchus Marsh pressing again, and at the final siren, the scores were locked at 2.6 (18) a piece. Goal kickers for Gisborne included Olivia Peterson and Finley Donaldson, with best players including Hannah Beasley, Stephanie Brancatisano, Steph Larsen, Marilyn Elder, Alana Preston and Kirrily Mitchell.
