Port Melbourne continue their winning streak
By Gabby Woods on April 26, 2023
Port Melbourne kept their winning streak alive making it 4 in a row, defeating the Box Hill Hawks at ETU Stadium on Friday night. The final score was Port 9.2.56 to Hawks 4.6.30.
Taylah Watson led Port’s disposals count for the night, gaining 19 for the game along with 3 tackles. While Jessie Williams had 18 disposals and 4 tackles for the match. Kaitlyn O’Keefe led the tackle count across both teams for the match racking up a huge 14 for the day along with her 14 disposals. O’Keefe’s tackle pressure in the 2023 season has been crucial in Port’s defence averaging 7 per game, adding to their already prominent defensive pressure.
Stella Reid also had a great game with 2 goals and 14 disposals for the day, and Amelia Peck was back in this round and didn’t miss a beat kicking 2 majors and gaining 12 disposals. Round 5 also saw Port Melbourne’s 100th VFLW debutant, Tilly Mottram made her debut for the club lining up in the backline, where she was able to amount to the defensive pressure to help get Port over the line.
The first quarter started off as a physical and tight contest with our only goal for the term going to Alice Campbell. A continuous effort from skipper Claire Dyett to win the ball in the centre allowed for her to hit up Campbell on the run in a perfectly executed kick. This set Campbell up on a 45-degree angle about 20 metres out, allowing the Borough to level up the score. Laura Wright and Courteney Bromage were struck down with injury no more than 5 minutes into the match, which for the remainder of the game only saw Port Melbourne with three on the bench. It was 1.0.6 all at quarter time.
The second quarter saw the Borough come out firing and laying crucial tackles in a display that saw fast and skillful footy being played. While the ball was in the Hawks forward 50 for majority of the second quarter the first goal came from Amelia Peck on the 18-minute mark from a very team-oriented play that saw clean connection from the backline to the forward line starting with Maggie McKellar, Peck was then set up by Steph Williams straight in front about 25 metres out. Our second major came not long after, when a kick from the top of the 50 from Molly Denahy-Maloney hit up Peck who was then able to give a quick handball to Williams in the goal square to secure a goal.
Port Melbourne started the third quarter fast when in just the first minute of play they were able to secure a goal through Peck, who received a strategic handball from Bella Stutt in a vacant goal square. The Borough utilised their skills and looked very dangerous inside their forward fifty, kicking four majors in the third. Two goals were kicked by Stella Reid in the third term and once a piece to Frew and Peck. This allowed Port Melbourne to go into the last quarter leading by 16.
For the last quarter, the Borough were able to keep their composure and not give in to the Hawks physicality. The final term was steady, and Port were able to secure two goals, the first by Olivia Barton who kicked a beautiful on the run snap after finding her way through traffic. The next goal for the last quarter came from Beth Wilson after she was rewarded a free kick for holding the ball 30 metres out on a slight angle. Wilson’s goal complimented the pressure and desire that the forward line had been presenting all game.
Port Melbourne are going for 5 wins in a row when they face Carlton for the second time this season. They last met in round one where they went down by 24 points. The first bounce will commence at 4:15pm on Sunday the 30th of April at ETU Stadium.
Port Melbourne 9.2 56 def 4.6 30 Box Hill Hawks
Goals: A Peck 2, S Reid 2, O Barton, A Campbell, F Frew, S Williams, B Wilson
Disposals: T Watson 19, J Williams 18, C Dyett 17
