By: Matt Fotia
DIVISION 1 reigning premier of the Deakin Uni Eastern Region Women’s, Bayswater, has lived to fight another day after putting the Waverley Blues to the sword, despite leading goal-kicker Caitlyn Wilson failing to hit the scoreboard.
The Blues started strongly, having three scoring shots to just one in the first term, but couldn’t find the big sticks, heading into quarter time three points behind the Waters who were 1.0.6. It was the story of the day, as the Blues fell well short of their opponents.
The second quarter ended up deciding the match more or less, as Bayswater kicked two goals, to the Waverley Blues’ solitary behind. The Blues couldn’t quite find the elusive major across the whole game, finishing on 0.6.6 whilst Bayswater managed 4.1.25.
Leesa McShane finished with two goals, bringing her season tally to nine, whilst Zoe Alston returned to form, finishing best on ground, her first time back in the best players since the 23rd of June against Norwood.
The Waters will have to get past Mount Evelyn who will be kicking itself after it went down to Vermont in a high-scoring affair, despite having four more scoring shots. The Rovers kicked 3.8 across the second and third term, whilst Vermont remained accurate kicking 5.4 in that same time.
Nicola Junaginger continued her own little purple patch, following on from her strong showing against Norwood last time out, finishing best a field. The Eagles have been the highest scoring team all year, and this has been led by Hayley O’Neill who has featured in the best players on nine occasions, and after her three goals on the weekend she also has 24 majors.
Alannah Gordon continued her goal kicking form for Mount Evelyn, slotting two goals, to make it five goals in three games, whilst star player Katelyn Betts did her part, kicking her 22nd goal for the season as she appeared in the best for a fifth time, her third as the Rovers best on ground.
After finishing atop the ladder with just one loss, the Rovers will be expected to bounce back quickly, but will have no tougher opponent than the reigning premiers to deal with.
The Deakin Uni Women’s Division 2 will see Upwey Tecoma take on Blackburn in the preliminary final after the Tigers just held on against a surging East Ringwood, and Donvale kept its cool against a wasteful Burners outfit.
14 goals were scored in the elimination final, as the fourth-placed Upwey Tecoma, missed numerous opportunities in the last quarter to put the game to bed, after the game see-sawed throughout the first half.
The sides went into halftime with just two points separating them as they went goal for goal, 4.3 to 4.5, Upwey the leaders. The Tigers extended their lead in the third quarter, kicking 2.4 to the Roos 1.2 to lead by 10 at the final change, before a Sarah Farmer led East Ringwood came right back into the contest.
Farmer, who finished with two goals and the best on ground honours, has been in red hot form kicking 10 goals and appearing in the East Ringwood best every week over the last month, meaning she was no doubt a player of interest for the Tigers prior to the game.
Alongside the likes of Katie Shanahan and Tayla Murphy, Farmer and the Roos outscored Upwey in the final term, kicking 2.1 to Upwey’s 1.3, however those behinds would be enough as the Roos fell six points short.
Upwey Tecoma is in a fair bit of form at the moment, having won four of its last five and its only loss was by just five points against the top of the table Donvale Magpies. Upwey Tecoma also finished just one game behind its preliminary final opponent Blackburn, meaning the Tigers will be brimming with confidence.
Blackburn was equally as wasteful in front of goal as the Tigers, but unlike Upwey Tecoma, they were made to pay as they went down by seven points to Donvale in the qualifying final.
The inaccurate trend was set early in the piece, as Blackburn headed into quarter time leading by just four points, despite have four more scoring shots. By three quarter time the Burners were just two points behind the favourites, despite having six scoring shots to Donvale’s two since half time.
Blackburn was finally able to convert a chance in the final term, but it finished in vain as the Magpies kicked two goals to one in the last finish the victors, despite having eight less scoring shots.
Noted goal-kicker Eliana Parratt kicked one of the two Blackburn majors to bring her season tally to 33 whilst Shae Denny appeared in the Blackburn best players for the first time all year, finishing as her side’s best.
Taylah Di Staso was best afield for the Magpies, as Emma Hoole and Monica Latino kicked two goals apiece, Latino bringing up her half century of majors in the process, whilst Alex Blackburn appeared in the best players as well.
The Magpies finished the season three games clear atop of the ladder as the number one ranked defensive and offensive unit, so they are undoubtedly favourites. Whilst Blackburn will have to take confidence from its ability to create scoring opportunities against the top side, before it switches attention to the do or die clash with Upwey this week.