By Dylan Smith.
Another huge week of women’s footy with a host of teams, booking their place in a grand final, while others said goodbye for 2023.
For the rest, still alive, they’ll have one chance now to qualify for a spot in the grand final!
Premier Division:Teams
South Croydon
vSBL Wolves
Ladder 2nd (8, 4)3rd (7,5)Form LWLLPrevious meetings 202313.8 – 86R14.2-266.3-39R64.7 -31
It’s astonishing to think way back in round one, South Croydon defeated the Wolves by a mammoth 60 points. They followed that up with a round six meeting where they won again, this time by just 8 points, leaving them as the biggest challenger to the Eastern Devils however, that dominant early season form seems so far away for the dogs who have only beaten the bottom placed Donvale since round 8.
The contrast between their first and second half of the season is stark.
Removing their two wins against Donvale, they’ve only averaged 23 points per game in the back half of the year, and conceded 55 points per game, a far cry from their first 8 rounds where they scored 46 points a game and conceded 25.
The problem for the dogs has been continuity, one of their biggest early season stars, Katie Prendergast has been uncited since early July, sidelined with an injury and they’ve had to replace a number of first team players with players from their division 3 side such as Brooke Stephenson-Fus in the ruck and Danielle Zeniou up forward, testing the depth of the depleted bulldogs.
The Wolves trajectory is in the other direction, starting the season at 2 and 3 before finding form at the half-way mark and only losing 2 of their last 7 games.
Coming off an elimination final win against Mt Evelyn the SBL Wolves hit this contest on the back of some really promising form to end the home and away season.
I think the Wolves have hit South Croydon at the right time and the momentum they carry will be super important in this contest.
SBL Wolves – 12 points
Division 1:
TeamsBoronia
vPark Orchards
Ladder2nd (12, 2)3rd (11,3)FormLWWWWWWLPrevious meetings 20235.11-41R78.8-568.7-55R103.8-26
Coming off a hard fought Elimination final win against North Ringwood, Park Orchards hit this one in great form coming up against a Boronia side that has looked invincible at times this year.
The Sharks will take pride from their round 7 clash where they took the Hawks to Domeney Reserve and gave them a lesson. Winning that clash by 15 points.
It was the Sharks stars that fired that day, Jorja Livingstone kicked 2 goals Alannah Boell chipped in and the Hawks weren’t able to shut down their scoring avenues. Fast forward to round 10 and the Hawks got their revenge, defeating the Sharks by 29 points, Rachel Slater kicking 3 goals as well as performances from Tamlynn Collins April Glare and Alexandra Mckaige setting Boronia alight!
That day however, Park Orchards were without their full squad, only having 14 listed players, missing the likes of Kristen Bertoldi, Isabelle Pollock and Brianna Clark. They did welcome a mid season wildcard that day, blooding Elly Hartnett into their line up who has now kicked 14 goals in just 6 games to finish the season.
The more I look into this contest, the more I give Park Orchards a chance but I will have to stick with Hawks who impressed me so much last week.
Boronia – 6 points
Division 2TeamsSurrey Park
vWaverley Blues
Ladder2nd (11, 3)3rd (9,5)FormLWWWWLLWPrevious meetings 20233.3-21R66.6-429.8.62R112.4-16
It was a huge misdemeanour by yours truly, tipping against East Ringwood last week who showed me why they are undefeated and boast a percentage over 1000%.
Having said that, it doesn’t take away from the season that Surrey Park have had, 11 wins and 3 losses and certainly pushed the Roos closer than a lot of other teams.
Waverley Blues are a great story in themselves, coming back to senior women’s football after a hiatus. They won 8 of their first 9 and looked like a top 2 side before stuttering towards premiership runway, dropping back to back games twice against Montrose, Surrey & Montrose, East Ringwood.
Abby Cerovac looms as Waverley’s most important player. They’ve struggled for goals in recent weeks and will need a big day from her! Felicity Neligan will likely compete in the ruck but for Waverley to gain an advantage forward of centre, she will need to hit the scoreboard and be everywhere one would think.
Surrey Park have so much leg speed and will likely test the Blues in this area.
Sophie Bradshaw and Hannah Bahn will be crucial for the Panthers with their run and Emily Cumming and Kalarni Kearns will likely be more influential as Surrey get more inside 50’s this week. Given what’s on the line, I expect a closer, more contested game than their round 11 clash but I have to tip the momentum of the Panthers.
Surrey Park – 16 points
Division 3TeamsEastern Devils
vSBL Wolves
Ladder2nd (9, 2)4th (5,6)FormLWWLWLWWPrevious meetings 20234.8-32R82.0-123.4-22R112.2-14
A great week for the club, SBL Wolves have managed to progress to the second round of the finals in both division 3 and premier division. For the SBL Wolves teal however, they’ll come up against an Eastern Devils side that were favourites for the flag earlier in the year. The dominance of Kilsyth in division 3 has meant the Devils have had to park that premiership favouritism somewhat and perhaps it will make them stronger in the long run.
They started the season at 5-0 but a loss to South Croydon in round 6 started a shaky period for the Devils who went 4 wins and two losses in their last 6, with two narrow wins over SBL included in that.
The teams met in round 8 with the Devils running out 20-point winners. That day, it was the Devils midfield that fired them home. Brooke fox, Wiki Yu and Fahey were all immense, but they only led by 7 points in 3qtr time showing the Wolves can compete with them.
They met again in round 11, this time the Devils came home strong, overturning a 3qtr time deficit to win by 8 points but the Wolves had a stronger team that day, one that more closely resembles what they’ll have on Saturday.
This is a really tough one to tip and I expect a similar game to their round 11 nail biter! I’m tipping the Devils to get home in a close one.
Eastern Devils – 4 points
Division 4: TeamsColdstream
vMitcham
Ladder2nd (9, 2)3rd (9,2)FormLWWWWLWWPrevious meetings 20231.3-9R55.10-40
Division 4 had three teams finish with 2 losses or less and poetically, they are the three teams who remain alive. Moorolbark have already booked their place in the grand final and they’ll meet one of Coldstream or Mitcham who have both had impressive seasons.
Only the one meeting between these two sides all season, way back in round 5.
On that day, at Walker Park, the tigers put the squeeze on Coldstream, holding them to just 9 points, including 0 goals in the last 3 qtrs., while kicking 40 points of their own.
Catherine Roscioli was a big presence in the midfield, earning best on ground honours while their star forward Georgia Fairbairn kicked two goals.
Coldstream will have to get a foothold in the midfield, through the likes of Holly Duke and Eleanor Bowden, something they were unable to do against the Mustangs last week.
I think the Mustangs will be watching on more worried about the defence of the tigers and for that reason I’m tipping Mitcham in a cagey tight affair.
Mitcham – 2 points