Round 9 Womens Non-Contact Match Report by Reyzl
On a sunny oval in Mornington, the Eastern Warriors Masters Women’s non-contact team delivered an impressive performance that showcased both individual brilliance and excellent team cohesion.
From the first bounce, Sandra set the tone with her dominance in the ruck. Her tap work was clinical, giving Ren and Razor first use of the ball and allowing the team to surge forward. Ren capitalised on the supply, bringing flair and vision to the game with her creative handballs to advantage and relentless drive towards goal.
The Warriors applied equal skill to defensive play. Doc once again displayed her trademark defensive pressure, forcing turnovers. Sunny was a standout in the backline, reading the play superbly and becoming a brick wall for forward entries. One of the moments of the match came when she executed a textbook switch from half-back, resulting in a smooth passage of play that led to a brilliant goal down the line.
Kirsty remained composed throughout the game, delivering pinpoint kicks that helped open up the ground. After a break from injury and overseas travel, Susie returned with a bang—her speed and agility saw her weave in and out of traffic.
Helen impressed with her ability to find space. Her awareness made her a valuable link in transition, and she repeatedly popped up as a reliable option around the ground. Sue led from the front, providing steady guidance and structure while unleashing a few booming kicks that gained crucial territory.
Across the ground, there were some spectacular marks taken, with players showing courage, timing, and strong hands. The team linked up well with impressive passages of play, stringing together handballs and kicks that moved the ball fluidly from end to end.It was a solid team performance on a picture-perfect day

Round 9 Over 50s Mens Match Report by Grunta

With only two regular season games remaining, the Eastern Warriors Over 50s (Motto: “The scoreboard does not reflect our effort”) took on second-placed Bayside Saints at our home ground, Jurassic Park. Finals were still very much in the frame – pundits were predicting the Warriors a real chance for the top four, as long as five of the eight teams above us were disqualified from the competition. Mathematically possible.

Disappointingly, only 15 Warriors put their hand up for Sunday’s game and so we fielded a benchless side, with Bayside reducing their on-field numbers to match us but growing their bench to six.

Bayside soon showed why they are a premiership contender, winning clearances and immediately putting our defence under pressure with brutal contests. The Warriors stuck fast though, and only conceded two goals for the first quarter. Fifteen a side made for an open field, and an opportunity for the Warriors to use the extra space to pick out runners. With Matty D and Clint running the ball out of half back, we managed plenty of movement up the ground but broke down with our forward entries, scoring just three points for the term.

We welcomed back Claudio to the team, who excelled across half forward and bamboozled his opponents whenever he had the ball. In the second term Claude broke through for our first goal, with Jovi-Al providing a big target up forward and getting hands to the ball regularly.

At one point in the second, my opponent marked on the line between the goal post and point post. I remember some yelling and confusion about where I should stand – Dave was on the mark already, so I ran left, right, around a few times, getting dizzy and creating confusion while most definitely infringing on the kicker multiple times, but I am also certain the umpire had never seen behaviour this bizarre and didn’t know what rule to apply when someone is clearly having a psychotic episode. Fortunately for me, the ump had a soft spot for the intellectually challenged and did not pay a 50, but it was a moot point as the ball was kicked to a loose Saints player directly in front for a goal anyway.

At half time we were down five goals to one with plenty to do, but still in the game. In the third quarter, kicking to the southern end, a brilliant passage of play from the backline through Clint, a pinpoint pass to Rev who wheeled and booted long to Steve at half forward creating the play of the day. Steve spilled the mark but gathered quickly, and took off with a Saint hot on his heels to slot a beautiful goal from the pocket. Speedy indeed.

Claude produced another impressive goal and we matched Bayside for the third term with two goals apiece. In the last quarter, the Warriors tired and the Saints took advantage of their full bench rotating players constantly through midfield and forward to kick away with five goals for the final term.

There was plenty to like about the Warriors – Matty D wound back the clock and showed brilliance in dancing around the opposition. Carbo was huge in the ruck, showing the strength, endurance and bodywork one can only get from completing the Warriors pre-season training camp. Eddie was everywhere, taking advantage of the reduced numbers to outrun opponents and be a constant target. The midfield battled hard against the well-drilled and regularly rotated Saints mids, and the defenders kept the pressure constantly on all game.


Ned’s was paying $435 for the following multi –

1. Matty D most bounces

2. Claude multiple goal scorer
3. Eddie to say “I don’t care about the scoreboard”

4. Goal umpires and timekeeper sorted the day before the game.


Missed the last leg again. I’ve found this year there is nothing harder in football, and possibly the universe, than trying to get three people per home game to commit to these roles – huge thanks to those who have, but hoping it gets easier for Round 10 on August 17th. Don’t make me beg. Who’s in?

That’s our final home game for the year, our best shot at a win against bottom-placed battlers Port Melbourne, and a chance to sing a song that I can’t remember. Let’s go Warriors!


Final Score

Eastern Warriors 3.3.21, Bayside Saints 12.15.87