The penultimate day of the 2024 Senior Women’s competition takes place this Saturday as five more teams will earn a right to play off in this year’s Grand Finals. Media Manager Ryan Long and Josh Ward take a look at all five head-to-head finals match-up’s this weekend.
Premier Division Preliminary Final – South Croydon v South Belgrave @ H.E Parker Reserve
Head to Head:
Round 2: South Croydon 7.5 47 def. South Belgrave 3.7 25 @ Belgrave South Recreation Reserve
Round 10: South Croydon 10.9 69 def. South Belgrave 2.2 14 @ Cheong Park
No second chances now, it’s all on the line in Preliminary Final weekend.
The first of five Preliminary Finals remains as one of the most intriguing, South Croydon taking on South Belgrave at HE Parker Reserve. Both sides met one another at Quambee Reserve last year in the Preliminary with South Belgrave advancing through to a Grand Final.
This year feels a little different, South Croydon are entering this Preliminary Final with a better form line, a healthier list and coming off a tight contest with the Eastern Devils.
The last time these two sides met, South Croydon ran out nine goal winners, breaking the game open in the second half. That day in tough conditions, it was Taylah Black and Tanikka Martin combining for ten goals, working superbly between each other.
Black is coming off another four-goal performance on the weekend while Nicole Garner continuing her impressive season, listed as the side’s best in the Semi Final.
Their opposition breathed a sigh of relief after their thrilling Semi Final finish with the Pioneers late fightback falling one-point short. Olivia Flanagan was outstanding with three goals while Jemma Mason’s run of great form continued into the weekend, finding a lot of the footy and even getting a goal on the board.
They’ll enter this contest with the belief from their finals run last season, almost pinching the flag. However, they’re yet to put a four-quarter performance in against the Dogs this season so that needs to change.
The Saints can certainly make this an arm wrestle but how long they can they prevent the Dogs from hitting the scoreboard? Think South Croydon are going to have the answers on Saturday and the ability to run away with it in the second-half.
– By Ryan Long
Tip: South Croydon by 23 points.
Division One Preliminary Final – Donvale v Park Orchards @ H.E Parker Reserve
Head to Head:
Round 3: Donvale 4.10 34 def. Park Orchards 1.1 7 @ Donvale Reserve
Round 7: Donvale 6.6 42 def. Park Orchards 3.9 27 @ Domeney Reserve
Round 11: Park Orchards 7.3 45 def. Donvale 4.4 28 @ Donvale Reserve
Earning the double chance this year, the Magpies get their second chance on the weekend, back at H.E Parker Reserve. This time they’re set to meet the Sharks who were ultra impressive on the weekend.
Park Orchards defeated East Ringwood by 37 points out at Silvan Recreation Reserve. They piled on the goals in the second and third terms, seven goals to two. Daisy Cooper and Molly Heymanson combined for six majors.
Jorja Livingstone stood out and has been a massive boost to the side ever since she returned to the Sharks line-up in Round 13.
They had struggled to defeat the Magpies in 2024 until the July Match of the Round where they knocked off Donvale by 17 points. On that occasion, there wasn’t much separating the two sides apart from a dominant four goal to zero second term from the Sharks. Elly Hartnett proved a tough match-up for the Magpies, she kicked two goals, while both Hannah and Jasmine Taylor both had great impact on the contest.
Both sides were missing key players on that day. For a Magpies perspective, one of those stars were Amelia Van Oosterwijck, a fast-running ball magnet that was one of the Magpies players keeping the side in the contest in last week’s Semi Final.
The likes of Monica Latino playing in different roles on Sunday and Nekaela Butler, were also important in last week’s Semi Final.
A strong first half will be ideal for both teams after what North Ringwood was able to do in their first term last Sunday. If a side can break away early, they’ll be hard to chase down. If it’s close at the main break, expect this to go down to the wire.
Could see this going either way, sticking with Donvale on this occasion though.
-By Ryan Long
Tip: Donvale by 6 points.
Division 2: Waverley Blues v Montrose @ Quambee Reserve
Head to Head:
Round 2: Waverley Blues 8.10 58 def. Montrose 5.5 35 @ Central Reserve
Round 9: Montrose 9.6 60 def. Waverley Blues 7.12 54 @ Montrose Rec Reserve
Two sides who’ve had some close battles over the past few years in the Waverley Blues and Montrose will meet again, this time with a Grand Final spot on the line.
Clint Martin’s side come into this game off a 99-point defeat to minor premiers Surrey Park in the second semi at the same venue they’re playing on this Saturday.
The Blues still boasted one of their strongest lineups last weekend, with key players such as Abbey Russell, Claudia Walsh, Stephanie Peacock and Emma White all having strong outings last weekend.
They go into this weekend on much more level terms against a Montrose side who continue to pass every challenge presented to them.
Last weekend saw them come from eight points down at the final break to defeat Berwick in the first semi by 17 points, making it seven wins from their last eight matches.
Rachel Hardy starred in ruck once again while Tiana Witnish played a key role on star forward Alari Georgia Malkoun. The Dees also found many different avenues to goal, led by Jaclyn Healy.
They’ve won three out of four meetings against the Blues since 2023, including most recently by six points in their Girls Day Out game at Montrose Recreation Reserve.
The Blues won their Round 2 meeting at Central Reserve by 23 points with a similar lineup to the one that took to the park last weekend.
With Waverley looking to rebound and the Dees on the rise, this weekend’s prelim is set up to be a cracking contest.
-By Josh Ward
Tip: Waverley Blues by 7 points
Division 3: Coldstream v Heathmont @ Quambee Reserve
Head to Head:
Round 2: Heathmont 5.5 35 def. Coldstream 1.3 9 @ HE Parker Reserve
Round 8: Coldstream 10.4 64 def. Heathmont 3.6 24 @ Coldstream Reserve
The Cougars and the Jets will renew acquaintances Saturday afternoon as they look to advance to the big dance for the first time with a women’s side.
Despite having eight scoring shots, Coldstream only kicked one goal as they went down in convincing fashion to minor premiers Mooroolbark in their second semi.
Georgia Byrne returned to form while Nyomie Lagerwey-Allen put in another terrific outing alongside Maddy Stark and Nicole Moate.
Despite heading into this game as favourites, Coldstream will be wary of what Heathmont can produce when they’re playing their best footy.
This was the case last weekend for the Jets as they knocked off an in form South Croydon Red lineup in their elimination final at Silvan Recreation Reserve.
Alannah Browne and Rachel McPherson had some strong outings while the side was also boosted by the return of key players Bronte Arnott and Miranda Marshall.
Heathmont split the ledger this year with the Cougars, knocking them off by 26 points in a Round 2 twilight game at H.E. Parker Reserve.
Six rounds later saw the Cougars comfortably defeat the Jets at Coldstream Reserve by 40 points, kicking their second-highest score of the season that day (64 points).
Finals is a different game though, and Heathmont will certainly head into this game confident of booking another date with Mooroolbark on the biggest stage of them all.
-By Josh Ward
Tip: Coldstream by 10 points
Division Four Preliminary Final – Wantirna South v Bayswater @ H.E Parker Reserve
Head to Head:
Round 1: Wantirna South 6.0 36 def. Bayswater 1.3 9 @ Bayswater Oval
Round 13: Wantirna South 5.5 35 def. Bayswater 1.5 11 @ Bayswater Oval
Another great story of the weekend, Wantirna South in their second season of the competition will meet Bayswater in the Prelim, their first season back in the comp.
Both sides spent time in the top two throughout the year, Wantirna South ending up taking the double chance. It’s come in handy after their loss to Ferntree Gully. It was a reasonably tight contest throughout the day, the Devils even going into the Half Time break in front.
Sarah Port was a clear standout, kicking a couple of goals in the side’s first-ever finals match.
Their opposition enter the clash after a four-goal win over Fairpark. A great celebration for the young Bayswater side in their first season back in the competition.
The two times the sides have met this season, the Devils have come out on top. Round One is such a long time ago but their more recent meeting in Round 13 was a great sign for Wantirna South, keeping Bayswater to just a goal.
It will be better conditions than the last meeting at Bayswater Oval, if even if we get a bit of rain.
This final will be broadcasted live on EFNL Facebook and YouTube channels this Saturday, from 9:30am.
– By Ryan Long
Tip: Wantirna South by 16 points.
