Newtown & Chilwell escape with narrow 43-41 win against St Joseph’s in GFNL A-grade season-opener

Newtown & Chilwell showed why it’ll again be the team to beat in the GFNL, but does St Joseph’s new pieces hold the key to unlocking the final step in 2025?

Newtown & Chilwell centre Danielle Mather. Picture: Mark Wilson

Newtown & Chilwell and St Joseph’s grand final rematch showed why both teams will again be the teams to beat in 2025.

But while the Eagles picked up right where they left off from September’s premiership - a dominant first half enough to seal a thrilling 43-41 win at Elderslie Reserve on Saturday – to maintain their status as the competition’s benchmark, the Joey’s second half fightback was just as telling and signalled an already talented group which has immense potential for further growth in the rounds ahead.

The Eagles rolled out a largely unchanged line-up – just one new face injected in the form of New Zealander and VNL defender Charity Nasalio in goal keeper – though didn’t have Mia van Wyk, Holly Adams-Adcock and Joss Bennetts at their disposal for round 1.

In contrast, while St Joseph’s had their full range of 10 players, early wobbles came in the form of new connections, three new faces – midcourters Kiahna Fallon and Larni Howard and goaler Ella Closter – joining the Joey’s top-grade side this year.

Midcourter Kiahna Fallon in action in her first game for St Joseph’s. Picture: Mark Wilson

Down by double-digits at half time, new Joey’s co-coach Tracy Howard conceded there was some early nerves, though their second half fightback was praised by both Howard and returning co-coach Riley Richardson.

“We blooded our new players … and no — one looked out of place, we got defensive gains all over the court, we had good volume from all our shooters, and I think it’s most exciting we still have lots of room to improve and we’re already in a great place,” Richardson said.

An established GFNL player after crossing from South Barwon, Fallon picked up where she left off.

Offering greater flexibility to the Joey’s midcourt, Fallon rotated through WD and C, her spell in the latter paving the way for a dynamic stint in WA for Elli Leydin.

St Joseph's recruit Ella Closter lines up a shot during Saturday’s close defeat. Picture: Mark Wilson

And while Closter – a new face to the competition – looked a touch shaky in the first quarter, before spending the second term on the bench, she responded with a steadfast second half shooting performance to help instigate the Joey’s comeback, and finish with a game-high 26 goals at 78.78 per cent.

“It was just great to see her assert herself as a young player and for her to come on and carry that confidence – midway through the game she hit her point, and was like, ‘I’m going to start taking this game on’,” Richardson said of Closter.

But for the Joey’s injection of youth, the Eagles’ experience is a hard task to come up against on the best of days – the reigning premiers composed early, particularly in their attacking end with the evergreen Julia Woolley (20 goals at 83.3 per cent) at and Dani Mather combining brilliantly with Mikaela Vaughan (23 at 60.5) and Vanessa Augustini, while the defensive end showed composure in the final minutes to hold off a Joey’s’ line-up coming hard.

Newtown & Chilwell goal attack and skipper Julia Woolley. Picture: Mark Wilson

Newtown & Chilwell goal shooter Mikaela Vaughan. Picture: Mark Wilson

Defender Ruby Pekin-Schlicht, who spent the off-season in England starting her PHD, said the squad’s longtime familiarity playing with other helped quickly re-establish on-connections so early in the season.

“It’s pretty much the same team which is nice, we’ve got that experience,” Pekin-Schlicht said.

“Vanessa, Julia, Dani, Mikka, they’ve just got figured it out, they know what they’re doing,”

St Joseph's wing defence Kiahna Fallon (right) flies in an attempt to intercept a pass to Newtown & Chilwell wing attack Vanessa Augustini. Picture: Mark Wilson

Olivia Powell, who split her time between A-grade and 17 & Us last year, showed pace and poise in centre when coming in for Mather for the final 1.5 quarters, while new recruit Nasalio impressed in defence.

“I think she slotted in really well, really good at communicating, just goes for the ball, really strong body, great hands,” Pekin-Schlicht said of Nasalio.

With their round 0 clash a reschedule of their round 15 fixture, the two teams’ regular season rivalry will be confined to the first half of the season – their next clash in round 7 – with little doubt both will see each other come September.

Meanwhile, Bell Park showed it could be poised to take the take the next step, after a healthy 62-51 win over Colac.

The Tigers have long had the wood over the Dragons, who failed to defeat any side inside the top five in their two most recent seasons.

But the Tigers lost several established A-grade players, including goaling sisters Bec and Michelle Winch and star defender Indya Forde while midcourter Amy Hammond is on maternity leave, as new coach David Boyce promotes within the Tigers’ premiership-winning B-grade ranks.

It may offer a foothold to the likes of the Dragons and clubs such as Leopold hoping to push a well-establish top five, the former impressing in their first performance with a number of new recruits, including Charlotte Morey who switched between centre and wing attack – though it was the returning Makaela Connelly who stole the show in goals, shooting 59 of the Dragons’ 62 goals at 88.06 per cent efficiency.

Ammos set sail under Sheringham

Reigning BFNL grand finalists Geelong Amateur may have a new-look goaling circle, but showed it will still be one of the teams to beat with a 24-goal round 1 win over Torquay.

New recruit Kim Hammond combined with her former Bell Park teammate Lauren Lapsley, the pair evenly splitting the workload of scoring with 27 and 28 apiece, as the Ammos feasted on a Tigers side missing Daisy O’Kane and working in their own recruits Kate and Erica Schippers.

With last league’s hot shot winner Ruby Watson taking time off at the Ammos this year, and with goal attack Darcy McFarlane travelling, new A-grade coach Kaitlyn Sheringham has turned to her former Dragons teammates in Hammond and Lapsley - Lapsley promoted after playing B-grade at Ammos last year.

Ocean Grove goal attack Zanna Woods led the Grubbers’ attack in a big round 1 win. Picture: Mark Wilson

Reigning premiers Ocean Grove also started their quest for the three-peat in formidable form with a 53-goal drubbing of Modewarre, with their three-pronged attack of Zanna Woods (30 goals) Ashton O’Brien (24) and Arlee Bennett (19) all getting court time.

Meanwhile, Anglesea and Drysdale’s new-look squads played out a thriller, the Roos getting over the line by one goal, with new recruit and captain Ariana Luamanu combining with Jessica Croker in the goals, while returning Hawk Alyce Delaney was her side’s best 27 goals at 84.37.

Meanwhile, Tully Bethune made an instant impact for Portarlington in their 37-31 win over Barwon Heads, shooting 29 at 87.8 per cent, while Queenscliff started the season strongly with a 58-35 win over Newcomb as new recruit Alex Booker shot 27 at 71.05, with Coutas’ captain Kaitlin Gladman extremely accurate with 23 at 95.83.

Blues battle for round 1 win

Inverleigh showed it could be one to rise up the ladder this season, pushing last year’s GDFNL grand finalists Winchelsea within five goals on Saturday.

While the Blues, who boast a strong defence, got enough out of their new-look goaling end Grace Pullen (23 at 69.70) and Amy Dodds (15 at 57.69) to secure the opening win, there is arguably growth there to be had as both new recruits settle into the side, while Inverleigh also had new recruit and former VNL talent Elle Rice in the mix in attack with 15 at 71 per cent.
But the Hawks, who finished seventh in 2024 and missed finals by 2.5 wins, were missing another recruit in Bailey Ryan, a tall defender who has played at a division one level for Hamilton in the strong Hampden league, in what should strengthen their back court.

Meanwhile, Shayna Brown’s new reign in charge of Belmont Lions started with a 46-35 win over Werribee Centrals, Angelique Ross (34 at 75.5 per cent) and Ella Wasik (12 at 70.6) both rotating between goal shooter and goal attack, while reigning premier East Geelong was too strong for a youth-filled Bannockburn, 73-17.

Originally published as Newtown & Chilwell escape with narrow 43-41 win against St Joseph’s in GFNL A-grade season-opener