Deakin University Grand Final Preview

It’s finally here, it’s officially Grand Final Week for the Deakin University Senior Women’s Competition! With five massive games set to take place, we’ve taken a look at each match-up and who comes in as favourites this weekend.

By Dylan Smith.

Premier Division Grand Final: Eastern Devils vs SBL Wolves

After finishing last in the premier A division season in 2022, It’s been quite the  ride for the SBL Wolves who have surprised a lot, taking down last year’s prelim finalists Mt Evelyn and then grand finalists South Croydon in consecutive weeks of the finals series, but they’ll really have their work cut out this week against an Eastern Devils side that hasn’t lost a game of competitive football for almost 2 years.

With stars on all lines, it’s the forward line that stands out for the Devils, boasting three of the top 5 goal kickers in the division. Nichole Price (27), Chloe Hunt (24) and Shelley Beggs (22) have helped score an enormous 835 points, almost twice the score of most of the competition.

The silver lining for the SBL Wolves is their performances against the Devils this season. In round 3, not in great form themselves, the Wolves pushed the Devils to a nineteen-point margin, the rematch in round eleven, they lost by just twelve points, meaning the SBL Wolves have the competition’s closest cumulative margin against the Eastern Devils juggernaut. Over the two matchups, the Wolves led at crucial stages and were eventually overrun by the more experienced Devils.

To take it to the Devils, they’ll have to find a way to arrest those momentum swings when they inevitably come, The Wolves are equipped with some match winners themselves, Georgia Grimmer has been the best for her team in the two matches against the Devils this year and Bailey Withers continues to go from strength to strength, up forward, top goal scorer Olivia Flanagan will need to go close to her season high 5 goals for the Wolves to win this one.

The Devils have been particularly apt with their game awareness and management this year and even when they start poorly, they find a way to open the game up and work it on their terms. For that reason, I can’t tip against the highly fancied Devils who I think are destined for back-to-back premierships.

Eastern Devils – 22 points

Division One Grand Final: The Basin vs Boronia

This game could go in as the most highly anticipated grand final across the entire EFNL competition. A fortnight ago, the two teams fought out an exhilarating Semi Final with the Basin triumphing and booking a grand final spot, that particular game was the third instalment for the season, but even then, it seemed likely that these two teams would find each other again in the finale to decide it all.

Early season form saw the Basin win the round 6 clash by 10 points before Boronia were able to turn their season around, winning their last seven games on the spin including a 47 point win over the Basin. Heading into their Semi Final clash it seemed everything was pointing in the direction of Boronia. They’d come off a string of victories and their top players were in peak form, they’d become the number one scoring side as well as the best defending side in the division but the Basin were ready for them that day, welcoming back some important figures in the team, they rallied to their best performance of the year.

One of the fascinations of this contest is the contrasting styles. The Basin’s quality lies in their ability to win contest around the ground, particularly their aerial strength, through players such as Jaimee Monk, Cassandra Stringer and Julia Baker who spend time across various positions, leaving the forward line vacant for the mercurial Danielle Brotto and Lily Grace Murrel. Boronia stand out through their leg speed behind the ball and at the source, Ali Gottliebsen off half back and Rachel Quirk give them drive and power going forward but it was the winger/forward in Delta Greenhaulgh that was able to turn her opponent and generate numerous inside 50’s in the semi final, she’ll be a huge in determining the result.

Mark Eisenvise wasn’t afraid to move the magnets in the semi final though strengthening the defensive half at times with midfielder Zoe Alston floating back and Julia Baker marshalling the defence. Scott Nicholas’ Boronia are more plug and play, they back in their system and it usually works! They certainly had opportunities to win the game two weeks ago and I don’t think they’ll be making any major changes.

To tip, this game is just as much a quandary as it has been in each of the previous three meetings they’ve had this year. Both teams have the ability to score and score heavily but I believe they have equally good defences will keep this game close.

The Basin – 1 point

Division Two Grand Final: Surrey Park vs East Ringwood

Surrey Park did what they needed to do last week and rather impressively piled on eight goals in the final three quarters against the Waverley Blues to run out thirty-five point winners. Expectedly for a final, it was a cagey first quarter but the quality of the panthers shone through.

They’ll face a much more daunting task this week though against a team that demolished them two weeks ago by ten goals. The Roos have answered every challenge this year, an undefeated season, qualification into a grand final in style and there’s one more test remaining against an opponent they’ve had the better of all year.

In some ways, it’s free hit for Surrey Park but grand finals are hard to come by and to avoid wasting the opportunity they’ll need to find a way to compete in the midfield, they hold one of the strongest and most versatile forward lines in the competition with Emily Cumming, Jemma Wright and Kalarni Kearns but those players were largely ineffectual against the Roos,  isolated deep inside forward fifty.

I got this one terribly wrong last time and tipping against the heavily favoured Roos is not something I’m keen to repeat!

East Ringwood – 25 points

Division Three Grand Final: Kilsyth vs Eastern Devils

The Eastern Devils Black entered the season with a chip on their shoulder, keen to go one better after their grand final defeat last year. They started on fire, winning their first five, including a dominant round two win against Kilsyth but a trip to Cheong Park in round six saw the chip fade as well as their unbeaten run, going down to South Croydon. The loss coincided with the Kilsyth Cougars hitting form and going to the top of the division three table. Since then, Kilsyth have owned the number one mantle and enter this grand final as heavy favourites.

The Devil’s experience in the midfield is crucial with the likes of Brooke Fox, Holly Johnston and Kathleen Fahey. If the Devil’s can get first use in this area, they’ll take pressure off their defenders who were asked to do too much in the Semi Final loss to Kilsyth.

Kilsyth also have a lot of weapons, Shae Dale 27 goals, Kayla Villarreal 16 goals and Brooke Slaney’s consistency make this Cougars team a force. I think this one will be a lot closer than the Semi Final but Kilsyth will be too strong.

Kilsyth – 12 points

Division Four Grand Final: Moorolbark vs Mitcham

Coming off a grinding two point preliminary final win against Coldstream, The Tigers will have to pick themselves up fast and believe  that they can beat the Mustangs, something they haven’t managed all year.

Mooroolbark have been a force in division four, especially in the back half of the year.  After a round two slip up to Coldstream they went on a rampage, winning their next ten in a row and booking in early to the grand final.

Mitcham are well credentialed themselves, finishing third on the ladder and only losing to Mooroolbark twice across the entire season.

One of Mitcham’s strengths is their outside wingers, the likes of Natalie Squillace and Depradines. In that particular clash, they weren’t able to utilise the runners as Mooroolbark won centre clearance after centre clearance to put Mitcham’s defence under extreme pressure.

Prelim final hero Nichole Akers wasn’t her usual self that game and got caught out a few times in defence. Mitcham were without their ruck Ruby Jory Wright who looms as vital for the tigers to get assistance in the midfield.

To see Mitcham getting anything from this game it will need to find a way to get some more muscle around the ball to permit so many defensive entries. I can only see this one going one-way however.

Mooroolbark – 32 points