WITH the AFL Yarra Ranges teams all having the week off, the Eastern Region Girls Football League were the only junior games in the Yarra Valley this weekend.
Once again, it was the local derby between Yarra Glen and Healesville Under 12s girls for the third time this season.
Healesville were hopeful of finally beating Yarra Glen after coming so close in their previous encounter.
Yarra Glen brought in the their big guns, with Estelle Peterson making a rare appearance in Under 12s Girls this week, while Jade Spence was back for her first game after being injured in the previous derby.
Healesville were decimated with school holiday absentees and illness with four of their regulars missing.
The first quarter started well for Healesville with the ball spending considerable time in the Healesville forward line, but Healesville just couldn’t capitalise and a turnover to Yarra Glen resulted in them scoring the first goal.
A couple of great tackles in the first quarter by Jacinta Scragg helped to nullify Peterson’s influence.
Healesville continued to defend hard and keep Yarra Glen from scoring, but Yarra Glen managed further goals in the second and third quarters.
The ball spent the majority of the final quarter in the Healesville forward line, thanks to some hard work by Briley Heard, Kira Ellis and Billie Heard, but once again Healesville couldn’t find a way to get the ball through the goals.
Yarra Glen secured their seventh win of the season to draw equal with Healesville.
Both teams will contest the finals in August and are looking to inflict Mount Evelyn with their first loss in the coming weeks.
Under 12s Girls
Yarra Glen 3.10(28) d Healesville 0.2(2)
Goals: no goal scorers
Awards: Z. Travis, Bi. Heard, A. Pozzi
