St Kilda forward Moana Hope has written her name in the history books by becoming the first player in the Swisse VFL Women’s competition – and in senior women’s football in Victoria - to kick 100 goals.
Left stranded on 99 goals at the end of Round 17 after a 10-goal haul versus Cranbourne, the 28-year-old was forced to wait another week after converting just two of seven last quarter scoring shots. It took just 11 minutes for Hope to kick the milestone goal in the final round against Seaford, on her way to five for the game.
She finished the home and away season on 104 goals, with her century including five hauls of 10 or more goals, including a season high 16 against Knox in Round 7.
The only blemish in an otherwise flawless individual season, she was kept goalless by Melbourne University in Round 8.
A three-time winner of the Victorian Women’s Football League leading goal-kicker award, Hope has controlled the forward line for over ten years. With loads of 68, 71 and 74 to her name, her previous season best of 87 came in 2014.
Touted as one of the competition’s best players, the gun goaler averaged 5.8 majors a game in 2016, and earned top plaudits last month when she was signed as a marquee player for the Collingwood Football Club Women’s Team in the inaugural AFL Women’s season for 2017.
Hope’s 100 comes as the third placed Sharks have secured a finals berth and prepare to take on either Melbourne Uni (if Uni is defeated by Darebin) or Eastern Devils (if Melb Uni defeats Darebin) in next week’s semi final.
By Kate Withers
Photo: Cameron Grimes
Last Modified on 21/08/2016 16:58
