James Murphy
KONGORONG 7.12 (54) d MILLICENT 1.2 (8)
LIMESTONE Coast Women’s football kicked off its 2023 season at Vansittart Park on Sunday, with all four matches contested at the Blue Lake city venue.
The opening match for the day had Kongorong and Millicent go head-to-head.
Both sides entered the round eager to improve on last season, with the Hawks making a statement as they soared to a 46-point triumph.
After reacquainting themselves with a game environment in the first quarter, they opened the goal ledger to pile on three majors in the second and set up a 25-point half-time lead.
By that stage the Saints had just one minor score on the board, with their first and only goal coming in the third term.
Kongorong also found the big sticks in the third, adding a further 2.2 to its total and carrying a unassailable 32-point advantage into the final change.
A scoreless quarter followed for Millicent, while the Hawks ran it out to the finish with another two goals and two behinds.
The Hawks’ attack was as unpredictable as it was dangerous.
They had four goal scorers for the match, with Maddie Carrison, Marnee Formosa and Evie Sealey all snagging two, while vice captain Jasmin McKinnon also found the middle of the tall posts.
However, it was the efforts from Nikki Clayton which received the best-on-ground honours.
She was accompanied by Zara Dirk, Sarah Lucas and Stevi Clayton as the top performers.
CASTERTON SANDFORD 1.7 (13) d KYBYBOLITE 1.2 (8)
Kybybolite was dealt a sting to its title defence when defeated by a determined Casterton Sandford in Sunday’s opening round.
The Cats proved they mean business in 2023 when claiming a narrow five-point win in their low-scoring affair with the northern Tigers.
A couple of behinds in the first term handed the Victorians the lead and they would go on to hold it for the remainder of the clash.
It was not until the final quarter Kybybolite was able to hit the scoreboard, with an eight-point term lessening the damage.
However, the Cats had entered the fourth with a 13-point lead which was enough to open the season with a win.
Claire Smith was the woman of the match, while the likes of Amelia Thomas, Chloe Finnigan and Libby Altorfer were also impressive, with the latter kicking Casterton Sandford’s solitary goal.
For Kyby it was the hard-working Ella Jones who was named best-on-ground for her tireless work around the ball.
Taylor Ryan found the big sticks, while Jedah Huf and Taylor Ryan also played solid games.
MUNDULLA 26.12 (168) d SOUTH GAMBIER 0.0 (0)
A painful loss was dealt to last year’s Limestone Coast Women’s Football League runners-up when South Gambier was blitzed by Mundulla to the tune of 168 points.
The Demons were left scoreless across four quarters and after a 41-point opening term from Mundulla, the scene was set for a tough day.
South’s Sophie Wight, Jarrah Altschwager and Ella Guest were the best of the bunch, but their opponent proved too hot to handle.
A huge nine-goal haul from Kaylene Rowett led the way on the scoreboard, while Erin Horsnell (five goals) and Natalie Twigden (three) were also prolific.
By half time the margin was a stinging 85 points, before an equally dominant second half pushed the difference out to a percentage-boosting 168.
Casey McElroy was a standout in the impressive performance from Mundulla, with Kellsey Hinge, Horsnell and Natasha Horne also ranking highly among the best.
The result sets the tone for a possible shakeup in the top order this season.
However, it is still early days, with the Demons sure to be looking to iron out some kinks come Round 2 this weekend.
NORTH GAMBIER 21.21 (147) d KALANGADOO 0.0 (0)
Another dominant performance rounded out Sunday’s women’s football action.
North Gambier made a statement against 2022 wooden spooner Kalangadoo when it charged its way to a 147-0 point victory.
The Tigers wasted no time establishing a handy lead and at the first change the margin was 44 points.
That grew to 78 by half time and by then the match was won.
A three-goal third term kept the scoreboard ticking over, before a strong finish added another seven majors to the total.
Alice Tentye was a leading force for her team and her seven goals earned her the best-on-ground honours.
Luca Roulstone, Paris Ackland and Maddy Bonanno were also in fine form, while Chloe Perryman and Emmason Ilsley rounded out the best.
For the Magpies Abby Thompson and Amanda Bowd fought hard against the odds, but in the end the Tigers were too polished of an opponent.
