PORT Melbourne moved back into the top six and all-but ended Southern Saints’ finals hopes, hanging on to win by four points in a low-scoring struggle at Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Sunday.
The Borough booted two unanswered goals in the first half and then held on despite not adding another, with the Saints’ only major coming in the 15th minute of the last quarter, with the Port defence managing to knock Kiara Henry’s late shot through for a behind.
Gabby Seymour was huge for Port Melbourne in her first VFLW game for three years with 20 disposals, eight marks, five entries and five tackles, while the stocks of Ava Seton (19, eight clearances, five tackles, five entries, five rebounds, one goal) continue to rise.
Eloise Ashley-Cooper (21, five clearances, 10 tackles), Lauren Caruso (14, nine tackles) and Belinda Woolcock (13, seven tackles, one goal) were others to shine through the Sunday afternoon gloom for the Borough.
Saints teenager Ahlee Penry (10, 25 hitouts) impressed in the ruck against premiership tall Beth Wilson (nine, 26) in just her second game, with best-and-fairest Winnie Laing (24, eight tackles) and Deanna Jolliffe (17, seven tackles, eight rebounds) firing to keep their team in the game and Ali Hynes (seven tackles) leading a defensive unit that held Emily Harley to just three touches.
SOUTHERN SAINTS 0.1 0.2 0.4 1.5 (11)
PORT MELBOURNE 1.0 2.0 2.1 2.3 (15)