FOOTBALL
Violet Town co-president Tim Ross has praised the club’s resilience following a challenging weekend for the senior football side, which suffered a 118-point defeat to Stanhope.
“We had about a dozen guys out of the side with injury and so forth and we can expect them back next round,” Ross said.
“For the seniors, well, that was a week we just had to get through.”
Despite the tough loss, which saw the seniors go down 3.3 21 to 19.25 139, Ross highlighted the club’s strong overall position.
“The club’s in strong positions and our three juniors all had wins and the netballers had wins.”
A highlight for the club came from the Under 15s, who recorded a particularly dominant victory.
Among the best for Violet Town’s seniors were Caden Robinson, Mitchell Saunders, Ben Harrison, Nathan Abley, James Herring, and Nathan Butler. Robinson also contributed two goals, with Harvey Bell adding one.
UNDER 12
THE under 12s enjoyed a cracking home game, sharing the ground with the rest of the club and notching up their second consecutive win.
The team has shown clear development throughout the season.
When not in possession, they tackled relentlessly, and when they had the ball, they protected their teammates and combined for clean forward entries.
They hustled hard for loose balls, putting their bodies on the line — making for an exciting game to watch.
Although they began to tire in the last quarter, Towners held on for a well-deserved win.
SCOREBOARD: Violet Town 5.9.39 defeated Mooroopna 4.4.28
AWARDS: Harley Goodson, Isla North, Luke Conway, Liam Antonis, Billy Ross, Basil Piper
NETBALL
By AMELIA ELLISTON
A GRADE
TOWNERS led for the majority of the match against Stanhope but ultimately suffered a frustrating 39–35 loss after a disappointing final quarter.
Despite controlling the game early and maintaining a strong lead, the team faltered in the closing stages, allowing Stanhope to overrun them with a late surge of energy and pressure.
Key mistakes and a drop in intensity cost Towners dearly, undoing the hard work from earlier in the match.
It was a difficult result, reflecting a lack of composure when it mattered most and one the team will need to learn from as they look to improve in future matches.
SCOREBOARD: Violet Town 35 defeated by Stanhope 39
AWARDS: Kolby Wild and Maddie Gottschling
B GRADE
THE first half was a closely fought contest with both teams matching each other goal for goal.
With finals in sight, Violet Town responded to an inspiring half-time address from coach Maggie Hamill, lifting noticeably in the third quarter to establish a solid lead.
They didn’t stop there.
Towners increased the pressure in the final term, combining across the court to play structured, disciplined netball.
SCOREBOARD: Violet Town 55 defeated Stanhope 31
AWARDS: Megan Bamford and Makaila Gilbee
C GRADE
C GRADE produced an excellent first half against a formidable Stanhope, with scores fairly even at the break and an upset within reach.
However, Stanhope’s tall shooters gained control in the second half.
Despite strong defensive pressure across the court, the visitors pulled away.
SCOREBOARD: Violet Town 36 defeated by Stanhope 52
AWARDS: Ella Bast and Bianca Robins
C RESERVE
VIOLET TOWN started well, matching Stanhope goal for goal throughout the first quarter, with solid turnovers and great ball movement.
In the second quarter, a series of errors allowed Stanhope to take control and build a lead by half-time.
Towners continued to battle hard in the second half, producing great passages of play and plenty of intercepts and rebounds.
However, the damage from the second quarter proved too much to overcome.
SCOREBOARD: Violet Town 27 defeated by Stanhope 37
AWARDS: Kayla Jones and Lauren Manley
17 AND UNDER
THE girls faced a tough challenge against ladder leaders Stanhope, who made a strong start.
Towners found their rhythm midway through the first quarter and put significant pressure on their opponents.
The second quarter saw Violet Town lift their defensive intensity, forcing errors and converting opportunities.
The game remained tight, with neither team gaining clear momentum.
In the third quarter, Stanhope responded with increased defensive pressure, forcing turnovers and edging ahead.
Towners fought hard in the final term, regaining possession and scoring well, but Stanhope held on in a close finish.
SCOREBOARD: Violet Town 37 defeated by Stanhope 41
AWARDS: Whole team
15 AND UNDER
STANHOPE's shooters were outstanding, combining fluently in the ring and presenting a real challenge for the Towners’ defence, who did not let up despite the pressure.
The midcourt delivered good passages of play, and the attacking end improved as the game progressed.
Despite the margin, Towners kept their heads up and fought throughout the match.
SCOREBOARD: Violet Town 9 defeated by Stanhope 57
13 AND UNDER
SCOREBOARD: Violet Town 9 defeated by Stanhope 16
11 AND UNDER
THE Towners’ under 11s produced a dominant performance, securing an 18–2 win.
From the first whistle, the team displayed determination, teamwork, and focus.
The attacking end was strong, with excellent ball movement and composed shooting.
The midcourt maintained high intensity, connecting defence and attack with effective communication and control.
Defensively, the team was rock solid - making timely intercepts and applying pressure that limited Stanhope to just two goals.
This confident and complete performance showcased how far the team has come this season.
SCOREBOARD: Violet Town 18 defeated Stanhope 2
AWARDS: Emmie and Lilli