AN EFFICIENT Port Melbourne officially announced itself as a rebel VFLW premiership threat under the Friday night lights, wearing down and running away from Box Hill Hawks by 26 points at ETU Stadium, 9.2 (56) to 4.6 (30).
The Borough relished the opportunity to take centre stage, holding firm as the Hawks dominated possession in the first half before cracking the visitors’ resolve with two late goals to take an unlikely lead into the main break.
When they booted the first two of the third quarter to go 16 points clear they had their tails up and the Hawks were always going to be hard pressed to stop the momentum.
Two more majors to none in the last lifted the Borough into second spot on the ladder and amazingly left the top three from last year sitting in the bottom six on the ladder after five rounds.
Jessie Williams (18 disposals, seven inside-50s) starred up the ground for Port Melbourne, alongside Lauren Caruso (15 disposals, eight tackles, six clearances), Taylah Watson (19 disposals) and Claire Dyett (17 disposals), while Stella Reid threatened every time she went near the ball to finish with two goals from 14 touches.
Kate Dudley had 24 hitouts, Kaitlyn O’Keefe 12 tackles and five clearances and Amelia Peck two goals.
Box Hill star Jordan Mifsud led all comers with 22 possessions and five marks, with support coming from Grace Matser (15 disposals, 19 hitouts, nine clearances), Kristy Stratton (16, six tackles, one goal) and Jess Trend (15 disposals, one goal).
PORT MELBOURNE 1.0, 3.0, 7.1, 9.2 (56)
BOX HILL HAWKS 1.0, 2.3, 4.3, 4.6 (30)
