By: Matt Fotia
MOUNT Evelyn has bounced straight back up from its shock loss to Vermont in last weekend’s second semi-final to book its spot in the Deakin Uni Eastern Region Women’s Division 1 grand final, after it put reigning premier Bayswater to the sword, winning by 59 points on Saturday.
Isobel Urqhart will look fondly back on her time at Silvan Recreation Reserve after she completely tore Bayswater apart in an incredible performance. The Rovers star finished best afield, kicking five goals along the way to lead her Mount Evelyn side to victory, 13.6.84 to 2.3.15.
The Rovers won every quarter in a complete performance, kicking four goals to none in both the first and second quarters. Bayswater’s Julia Austin was able to hit the scoreboard twice in the third term, before the Rovers clicked back into gear, completing yet another ruthless shutout in the final quarter keeping the Waters goalless once again, whilst adding three more goals of their own for good measure.
Nolene Kingi, Ysabelle Price and Katelyn Betts also kicked multiple goals for the Rovers, all finishing with two majors, whilst Isabella Rennick appeared in the best players for a ninth time this season, including three times in the past month. Zoe Alston, Carly De Kort, Brenda Lay and the aforementioned Julia Austin all battled gamely for Bayswater, albeit in vain.
Mount Evelyn will now renew acquaintances with Vermont one last time, when they meet at Lilydale Sports Oval this Sunday Afternoon at 12:15pm to play-off for this season’s premiership.
Vermont and Mount Evelyn will lock horns again in the Division 1 grand final. PICTURE: Garry Sparke
In Division 2, Blackburn added more impetus to the well-worn cliche of the ‘premiership quarter’ as its strong third quarter performance against Upwey-Tecoma handed it one last chance at knocking off the Donvale Football Club, defeating the Tigers by 23 points at Silvan Recreation Reserve on Saturday Morning.
With just one point between the sides at quarter time and five points the difference at the main break, the Burners’ four-goal-to-none third term saw them shoot out to a 32-point lead at the final change and a clear change in tact was evident in the last quarter as Blackburn failed to score, but shut the game down successfully keeping Upwey to just 1.3 in the process.
Ellie Cleland kicked her 32nd goal for the season as she slammed home four majors in a strong performance, whilst Amber Thorn, Eliana Parrot and Jacqueline Turner all kicked singles for Blackburn. Upwey had no multiple goal kickers with Sandra Diciero, Jess Kirkmore, Kiana Oates and Alex Bantock their scorers, with Kirkmore and Diciero amongst the Tigers’ best players.
Blackburn’s Kimberley Lo stood out from the crowd with her game finishing best afield. This sees Lo enter the final in somewhat of a purple patch after she kicked four goals against Boronia in the last home and away game and was one of the Burners’ best in last week’s loss to Donvale, whilst her teammate Shae Denny has also carried on from where she left off, finishing amongst the top three Blackburn players on the weekend, after her best on ground performance last time out.
Blackburn will take on Donvale in the Division 2 grand final this Sunday morning, with the first bounce at 10am, the first match of a bumper double header at the Lilydale Sports Oval.