The Senior Women kicked off proceedings for the Mooroolbark Mustangs on the weekend when they took on Montrose. These sides played a draw the first time around so it was always going to be a dangerous game for the Mustangs. However, the girls jumped out of the blocks with a solid first term and continued to dominate for the first three quarters, taking a 35-point lead into the final term. The Montrose girls then stepped up a gear and booted four goals to one in the last quarter but it wasn’t enough to overrun the Mustangs, who went on to record a solid 20-point win. The Haberfield girls were again in the best, with Ruby getting the nod as best player. Bella McMaster was the only multiple-goal scorer with two majors.
Final Score: Mooroolbark 6 – 13 – 49 d Montrose 4 – 5 – 29
Goals: McMaster 2, Carrucan, Brown, R. Haberfield, Maki 1 each
Best Players: R. Haberfield, S. Haberfield, McMaster, Batten, Beer, Delaney
Next to pull on the Green and Gold was the Vets Women who hosted top side, South Belgrave, at Kiloran Park. Both sides found it difficult to score until the South Belgrave girls slotted through two goals in the second term and another three in the final quarter while keeping the Mustangs goalless for the entire game. The 26-point loss saw the Mustang girls slide down to fourth on the ladder, and they will have to take on the South Belgrave girls again in the semi-final in two weeks.
Final Score: Sth Belgrave 5 – 1 – 31 d Mooroolbark 0 – 5 – 5
The Seniors and Reserves men’s teams took the long trek to Holm Park to take on the strong Beaconsfield Eagles in what turned out to be two very one-sided games. The Mustangs welcomed another Under 17 boy in Ollie Arthur, who stepped up to help make up the numbers. Unfortunately, the Mustangs were held scoreless for the first three quarters. They saved some face with two majors in the final term but were completely outclassed by the Eagles. Cooper Rouget pulled on the boots again and was judged as best, while Max Batten and Kynan Kowalski continued their solid form.
Final Score: Beaconsfield 19 – 14 – 128 d Mooroolbark 2 – 0 – 12
Goals: Kowalski, Spicer 1 each
Best Players: Rouget, M. Batten, Josh Kist, Kowalski, Harbinson, T. Batten
Things didn’t get much better when the Seniors ran out in very blustery conditions with the Eagles jumping to an early lead and never looking in danger for the entire game, running out convincing 83-point winners. For the Mustangs, Jon Egan and Connor Riley battled hard in defence, while Kane Noonan tried to lead by example, but it wasn’t enough to stop the rampaging Eagles.
Final Score: Beaconsfield 16 – 14 – 110 d Mooroolbark 4 – 3 – 27
Goals: Noonan 2, Gebert, Wright 1 each
Best Players: Egan, Noonan, Riley
Sunday saw the top of the ladder Men’s Vets take on second-placed North Ringwood in front of a large crowd at Heights Reserve. Mustangs coach Bernie Ryan hasn’t had to raise his voice much this season but a quarter-time deficit soon changed that. The blast had the desired effect as the Mustangs stepped up a gear in the second term, booting five goals to one, to take a handy 17-point lead into the main break. The third term was fairly even and the Mustangs came home strongly in the last to maintain their position on top of the ladder with a 29-point win. Skipper, Matt Polkinghorne, led by example and he was well supported by Michael Cardamone and Jeremy Neumann. The win now sets up a home semi-final for the Mustangs in a fortnight.
Final Score: Mooroolbark 10 – 6 – 66 d Nth Ringwood 5 – 7 – 37
Goals: Williams 2, Cultrera 2, M. Polkinghorne, Cardamone, Dimitriou, Neumann, Benson Singer 1 each
Best Players: M. Polkinghorne, Cardamone, Neumann, Singer, Mollica, Williams
