A dominant season from the Eastern Devils Premier Division side see the back-to-back reigning premiers make a third consecutive Grand Final, this time finishing as the Runner Up.
Senior Women’s (Premier Division)
Ladder Position: 1st (13-1, 413.25%)
Best and Fairest: Ashleigh Allsopp
Leading Goalkicker: Shelley Beggs (47 Goals)
Summary:
The Devils' quest for a historic three-peat came to an end on Grand Final Day with a loss to South Croydon at H.E. Parker Reserve.
Despite the Grand Final loss, it was still a highly successful year for the club as they continued setting new records and being one of the benchmark sides of the Senior Women’s competition.
Winning the first 12 games of the season followed last year’s undefeated season, the team going on a 33-game winning streak, a historic record in the Senior Women’s competition. Their one loss in the Home and Away season came at Cheong Park in Round 13 against South Croydon.
The overall view of the season, the Minor Premiership and ladder finish reflected their dominance across the year. An average of 73 points per game, while conceding an average of just 17 points per game.
There were two finals for the Devils in 2024. The first was the Semi-Final against the Dogs, where they held on for a ten-point victory, having an answer each time they were challenged. Two weeks later, the two sides met in the Grand Final, the second Grand Final in three years that consisted of both the Devils and Dogs.
On that occasion, it was South Croydon coming out on top with a twelve-point win and the 2024 Premier Division Premiership.
Key Players:
Another successful season on the field saw five members of the Devils side make the Premier Division Team of the Year, Jas Harrison, Ellie Macdonald, Ashleigh Allsopp, Shelley Beggs and Olivia Aing.
Shelley Beggs was key up forward, the leading goalkicker in the division with 46 goals for the season. In the final round of the season, Beggs kicked a bag of seven goals against Boronia to finish atop the leaderboard. Ashleigh Allsopp was just as important in the side’s forward line, with 26 goals from her 15 games. Allsopp took out the senior best and fairest after yet another fantastic season for the club.
The Runner Up in the best and fairest was Shaneece Stratton, one of the Devils' most reliable players, her form continuing across the finals series.
Best Win: Semi Final – Eastern Devils 6.7 43 def. South Croydon 5.3 33 @H.E Parker Reserve
The growing rivalry between the two great clubs saw the two sides feature heavily in the finals series. In the Semi-Final, it was the Devils booking their place in the Premier Division Grand Final first.
The Devils led by nine points at every change. They were constantly challenged but each time they were, the side found an answer and were able to keep a comfortable lead over the Dogs.
Riley Cridland was a standout on the day with her work rate across the ground while Paige Price was influential through her work in the forward line, kicking two of their six goals.
A ten-point victory set up a third-consecutive Grand Final appearance for the Eastern Devils.
Off-Season Focus:
After this year’s Grand Final, Jason Cridland stepped down as senior coach, leaving an incredible legacy at the club and in the Eastern Football Netball League. Across the 56 games he coached, Cridland led the side to back-to-back premierships in 2022 and 2023, was named Head Coach of the Silver Jubilee Eastern Devils team and has left the club in a fantastic position.
Division Three Development side
Ladder Position: 5th (7-7, 100.24%)
Best and Fairest: Georgina Beach
Leading Goalkicker: Hayley Thompson (10 Goals)
Summary:
With strong numbers once again in season 2024, the Eastern Devils managed to field two teams once again.
Coming off back-to-back Grand Final appearances in the Reserves competition, the Devils finished this year in fifth place winning seven games.
A perfect start to the season saw the group win four games straight before their first loss of the season in Round Five to the Mustangs.
With injuries and the rise of a few other sides, the Devils fell away in the second half of the season, missing the finals.
Key Players:
Georgina Beach was a key member of the Devils' side, taking out the club's best and fairest for the development squad. Her season in defence was acknowledged with a Team of the Year spot for Divisions Three and Four.
The runner-up in the club's best and fairest was Louise Spindler. From her 12 games this season, Spindler was in the best a total of seven times.
The leading goalkicker for the side was Hayley Thompson, kicking ten goals in just three games with the reserves side. Thompson joined the Devils this year, moving from East Ringwood, she played the majority of the season in the Premier Division side.
Best Win: Round Four – Eastern Devils 3.11 29 def. South Croydon 1.3 9 @Mulgrave Reserve
The Round Four clash marked the side’s fourth straight win to start the year.
Despite some inaccuracy in front of goal, the Devils controlled the game, finishing with ten more scoring shots than South Croydon.
All individual goal kickers on the day with Louise Grant, Rhiannon Hines and Bethany Nichols all hitting the scoreboard.
Off-Season Focus:
Katherine McBride has been announced as the 2025 Reserves Head Coach. A club legend and a very respective figure amongst the Eastern Devils, the development squad is in good hands.