SENIOR SUMMER STATE LEAGUE

 ROUND 3

WSL2  Report by Torben Fink-Jensen

A bye in the SL3 comp tonight allowed Essendon to bring Amber up a grade to get some SL2 experience. Essendon also welcomed Gen back from holiday which was a nice boost.

It seems to be a habit to give the opposition a couple of goals head start and today was no exception as we held back on tackles and let them drop a few long bombs over Kate's head in goals. But this jolted Essendon into life and they spent the rest of the quarter on attack.

Our shooting was a bit rusty as NYP were saved several times by the woodwork from close range. Essendon/DVE/Marlins 16&U team goalkeeper Isla, had been drafted into the NYP team and was doing a good job making herself big in goals and this wasn't helping our shooting.

In the 2nd quarter we were first on the board and it felt like momentum was going our way, but we let them in for an equaliser, before we upped our swimming rate. Kate was throwing herself around the cage and Essendon missed a second penalty but we were comfortably in front 6-3 at HT.

The third quarter started with our newcomers in the pool and due to a lack of goals, they had a long 5 minute stretch in the water. KatieB and Emmy led from the front and put themselves in space for the other players to work around. They kept NYP out before a goal finally came, allowing us to sub the lot off and bring the older hands in to pepper the goals to lead 9-4 at Q3.

The final quarter had us on regular breaks but again the goals didn't come easily as Isla kept out a 3rd penalty. Josie lined up and scored her first SL2 goal while Amber was doing double duty on defence at the other end. Alex finally got some centre time in front of goal and bagged a triple.

Essendon defeated the NYP Dragons : 15 - 6

Goals : Emmy 4, Alex 4, KatieB 3, Gen 1, Claudia 1, Josie 1, Emily 1

Below : our WSL2 girls in action this week (photos courtesy of Torben Fink-Jensen, more on our FB page)

WSL3  (Editor)

A scheduled bye this week for the SL3 women meant a night on the couch for most... but Amber got the call up into the 2s to help out.

MSL4  (Editor)

A scheduled bye this week for the SL4 men, who will come up against Footscray next round.

OSL5  Report by Liam Venosta

Essendon was well represented tonight with a full bench of players and some strong swimming to record an impressive 8-4 win over Melbourne Surge Black. After edging ahead 2-1 in the opening quarter, with goals from Lee and Vincent, Essendon tightened up defensively in the second term, holding The Surge scoreless while Sam added two more goals to establish a 4-1 halftime advantage.

Melbourne Surge attempted to respond after the break, but Essendon continued to control the contest. Another 2-1 quarter with notable goals including Hayden's well-earned penalty and an unguardable shot, outside 5m from Liam, guided by the hand of fate. Both teams found more attacking opportunities in the last quarter, each scoring twice, but Essendon comfortably maintained their lead to secure the victory with another strong shot from Vincent and a goal from Helicopter Ambrose.

An honourable mention must be given to Andrew as goalie, who left no easy shots for the opposition.

Essendon defeated Melbourne Surge : 8 - 4

Goals : SamB 2, Vincent 2, Hayden 1, Lee 1, Liam 1, Ambrose 1

JUNIOR WINTER COMPETITION

ROUND 2

12&U Mixed  (Editor - no report received)

The 12&U team took a hard hit this week, with just the bare 7 players available against a strong Monash side with 2 on the bench. Hopefully next week will see stronger numbers.

Northcote/Essendon were defeated by Monash : 1 - 15

Goals : Lily 1

14&U Girls  Report by Briele Heath

Northcote/Essendon made a strong start, with a positive first quarter and some determined defensive efforts to limit MC's attacking opportunities. As the game progressed, MC found more success in front of goal and were able to capitalise on their shooting opportunities from a variety of positions.

Despite the scoreboard, the team continued to work hard throughout the match and showed encouraging signs, particularly as players continued to build familiarity and confidence playing together. In attack, they created opportunities but at times lacked the cohesion and confidence of a more established line-up.

The game provided valuable experience for the group, with several players, including Essendon's Anja and Madeline, new to playing with Northcote. As the team develops its combinations and understanding in the water, there are plenty of positives to take from the performance and a strong foundation to build on for future matches

Northcote/Essendon were defeated by Melbourne Collegians : 2 - 10

Goals : Lily 2

14&U Boys  Report by Sheridan Mom

Our squad secured a gritty 11-10 victory over Richmond in a tight, down-to-the-wire tussle. After a physical opening, the team rallied for a much stronger second half, backed by a tightly locked-down defense in the final quarter. The match was packed with brilliant offensive highlights, including spectacular goals from Ashton and Charlie, and a fantastic counter-attack goal from Lewis following a sharp interception. Xavier sparked the team in the third quarter, executing a great drive to secure front water and draw a crucial penalty that the team converted. Following heavy whistles and traded goals, the game remained deadlocked until the final moments. With just 20 seconds left on the clock at our centre pass, Vishnu launched a bomb from halfway to seal the thrilling win. The boys were absolutely wrapped with the result, though coach Mitch was quick to remind them to keep a lid on it.

While our driving offense was a major positive, the match highlighted areas for defensive improvement. The team did well to stay focused despite several missed referee calls, including an obvious two-handed catch by Richmond. However, Richmond’s strong centre forward and dangerous outside shooters exposed gaps when given too much space. To counter this, we need to press much closer, provide heavier perimeter pressure, and consistently get goal-side to stop fast breaks.

DVE Aquatic/Essendon defeated Richmond : 11 - 10

Goals : Vishnu 5, Lewis 3, Yoti 1, Ashton 1, Charlie 1

16&U Girls  (Editor)

A scheduled bye this week for the 16&U girls, who will come up against Richmond Black next round.

16&U Boys  Report by Jamie Kirby

Another weekend, another match vs Melbourne Collegians - this time MC Gold. We started well, defending strongly against a much bigger opponent. Some great stops and blocks! As the game progressed, the volume of ball play at our defensive end started to take a toll, with MC's scoring increasing. The boys lost their way in the 3rd quarter, however finished with a great effort in the 4th. 

With a final scoreline blowout, our younger players were really feeling the pressure against the big guys.

Northcote/Essendon/Footscray/DVE/NYP were defeated by Melb Collegians Gold : 0 - 22