Annelise aces 50-game tally

Playing in her milestone 50th game for the Jackettes, Annelise Caplan was hoisted on the shoulders of teammates in triumph after her team earned a comeback 2.8 (20) to 1.5 (11) win over archrivals Glen Eira last Saturday at Gary Smorgon Oval.

The win kept AJAX in fourth spot on the VAFA women’s division 3 ladder after 12 rounds, while their opponents fell from equal first to second position, losing for only the second time this season.

Glen Eira scored the opening goal and led by five points at half-time.

But brilliant defence by the Jackettes backline – particularly by their Best on Ground Sally Payne-Gill and by Lydia Rainer in only her second senior game – ensured that Glen Eira would score no further goals.

The AJAX women took the lead in the third quarter when Brooke Tuszynski gathered, took three bounces while running towards an open forward line and booted a goal.

The Jackettes sealed the impressive win through a late Jessica Shustin goal and proved they can more than match it against the top sides in the competition.

They have a bye this Saturday, before the last four regular season rounds.

In men’s round 12 footy, AJAX’s ninth-placed Premier B side lost 3.7 (25) to sixth-placed St Bedes Mentone 13.12 (90), but a green shoot from the match was Aaron Ostilly’s performance, in his senior footy debut.

Ostilly embraced the occasion and showed he belongs at this level and was named AJAX’s Best on Ground, while Dov Paltiel was runner-up for that honour, also having a strong game.

The team will travel to Fitzroy this Saturday.

Meanwhile in the VFLW, Ally Bild’s Carlton Blues won the first elimination final last weekend, upsetting Williamstown by 3.4 (22) to 2.6 (18) in a low-scoring thriller at DSV Stadium.

Bild came off the bench for the Blues and made five kicks, five handballs, a mark and a tackle.

Carlton will face Port Melbourne in the VFLW semis this Sunday from midday at ETU Stadium.

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