Epping Recreation Reserve plays host to some enormous semi-finals in the NFNL women’s competition this weekend.
HEIDELBERG GOLF CLUB DIVISION 1
Second Semi-Final: Montmorency 1 v Banyule
Montmorency 1
Ladder: 1st (14-1, 301.5%)
Leading goalkicker: Madison Bayes (19 goals in 15 matches)
Most times in best: Emily Beanland (nine), Jessica Nursey (eight), Madeline Ellis (seven)
Banyule
Ladder: 2nd (11-4, 108.31%)
Leading goalkicker: Chloe Sheean (12 goals in 11 matches)
Most times in best: Annabel Goodison (eight), Drew Barnes (seven), Rebekah Watson (six)
It’s been a near flawless season for the Magpies, who’s only loss in the regular season came in Round 4. They have since been involved in just two matches where their final margin has been less than three goals.
Their rise to the top has been rivalled by Banyule, who after starting the season in Division 2, have just tasted defeat only four times since their move to the top flight.
Two of those losses came at the hands of Montmorency, with their most recent meeting at Beverley Road Oval seeing the minor premiers win by 27 points under lights.
It sets up an enthralling second semi-final this weekend, and with the opportunity to book the first spot in the Grand Final, expect both sides to be at their best.
First Semi-Final: Eltham v Darebin 1
Eltham
Ladder: 3rd (8-7, 127.09%)
Leading goalkicker: Angelique Reibelt (19 goals in 15 matches)
Most times in best: Sienna Gunning (12), Alannah Murray (nine), Jacki White, Michaela Molenberg, Rhiannon Burleigh & Shannyn Ashby (seven)
Darebin 1
Ladder: 4th (7-8, 88.57%)
Leading goalkicker: Rikki Ryan (16 goals in 12 matches)
Most times in best: Dallas Rowland (11), Claire Hardi (10), Laura Griss (eight)
It was clear Eltham could hold their own in Division 1 throughout the early stages of the 2023 season, and despite coming into this clash winning just one of their previous four games, some of their performances throughout the season have illustrated their ability to challenge the best sides.
Their semi-final opponents in Darebin 1, have won two straight games, and produced an impressive victory over the Panthers last weekend to solidify their spot in the top four.
That 19-point win in the final round of the home and away campaign was the Falcons only triumph in three meetings this season, with Eltham claiming triumphs earlier in 2023.
While the Falcons are still on a high following their brilliant performance, the Panthers will be determined to extend their finals run into another week in what looks to be a terrific battle.
CLEANING MELBOURNE DIVISION 2
Second Semi-Final: St Mary’s v Heidelberg
St Mary’s
Ladder: 1st (11-1, 746.51%)
Leading goalkicker: Meg Girolami (32 goals in 12 matches)
Most times in best: Jessica Hardy (10), Jessica Ryan, Meg Girolami & Taylor Harvy (seven)
Heidelberg
Ladder: 2nd (9-3, 308.96%)
Leading goalkicker: Emma Rowe (24 goals in seven matches)
Most times in best: Emily De Sando (eight), Mia Tascone, Nikki Watts & Tessa Hankinson (seven)
No current side in the Division 2 competition have been able to stop the Burra’s dominance this season, having won 10 consecutive games coming into this clash.
The side that has come closest to them is their opponents in Heidelberg, who are full of confidence following a comfortable 12-goal win over Mernda in last weekend’s qualifying final.
St Mary’s have won both meetings against Heidelberg this year, but only 19 points separated to the two sides in their last clash which was only three weeks ago.
While the Burra look favoured to make it back-to-back Grand Final appearances, if the Tigers can maintain the same level of competitiveness as they did in their prior meeting during tomorrow’s battle, they will be every chance to head to their first women’s decider since 2019.
First Semi-Final: Mernda v Fitzroy Stars
Mernda
Ladder: 3rd (7-5, 52.19%)
Leading goalkicker: Brooke Gibson (8 goals in nine matches)
Most times in best: Gulia Ceravolo (eight), Brianne Keogh (seven), Brooke Gibson, Taylah Liberatore & Ruby Sommerville (four)
Fitzroy Stars
Ladder: 5th (6-6, 137.76%)
Leading goalkicker: Jessica Bamblett (16 goals in 12 matches)
Most times in best: Kristen Atkinson (nine), Medika Bonney (eight), Atelini Seeto (seven)
The Demons were unable to match it with the Tigers in their first final last weekend, going down by 72 points to suffer their fifth loss in the previous six matches.
Meanwhile the Fitzroy Stars produced a brilliant final term in their elimination final against Greensborough on the same weekend, coming from behind to win by 12 points to claim their first ever finals win in the NFNL women’s competition.
Both sides have claimed a victory against one another in their two games this year, with Mernda finishing as 11-point winners in Round 5 and the Stars claiming a 29-point triumph in Round 12.
With a spot in the preliminary final on the line, we could see an incredibly competitive game against two sides who have matched up well against each other throughout the season.
NFNL DIVISION 3 WOMEN’S
Second Semi-Final: Wallan v Heidelberg West
Wallan
Ladder: 1st (13-1, 1026.27%)
Leading goalkicker: Kelly Lennox & Kristy Nunn (eight goals in 14 matches each)
Most times in best: Nicole Evans & Kia Montgomery (six), Chelsea Paton, Kelly Lennox & Shazi Cappello (5)
Heidelberg West
Ladder: 2nd (11-3, 393.81%)
Leading goalkicker: Ashleigh Riley (16 goals in 4 matches)
Most times in best: Molly Reinke (11), Chloe Rowan (nine), Adelle Missen, Emily O’Keefe, Jessica Morris & Jasmine Taylor (seven)
Wallan’s rapid improvement in the women’s competition has been one of the highlights of the 2023 campaign, having tasted defeat just once and producing an average winning margin of 36 points.
And while they’ve been dominant, their one loss this year has come at the hands of their Saturday opponents in Heidelberg West, who come into this clash on a six-game winning streak following a 28-point victory over Montmorency 2 in last week’s qualifying final.
That Round 13 meeting saw the Magpies kept to just one behind, as the Hawks prevailed by seven points at Heidelberg Park.
A similar result this weekend would continue Heidelberg West’s fairytale inaugural season, but it will be a tough task to overcome the minor premiers, who in their first finals campaign, will look to be the first side to book their place in the Grand Final.
First Semi-Final: Montmorency 2 v Darebin 2
Montmorency 2
Ladder: 3rd (10-4, 196.6%)
Leading goalkicker: Sian Capito (14 goals in 15 matches)
Most times in best: Maddi-Taylor Wilde (11), Caitlyn McLeod (seven), Madison Boyle, Sian Capito, Ella Peatling & Jasmin Voykovic (five)
Darebin 2
Ladder: 4th (6-8, 139.55%)
Leading goalkicker: Cassie Willcocks (eight goals in 10 matches)
Most times in best: Alisha Priestly & Campbel Rowland (six), Mia Krasenstein & Riley Magee (five)
Montmorency will be hoping to respond on Sundat, having suffered losses to Heidelberg West for two straight weeks, including last Saturday’s qualifying final.
They’ll face a Darebin 2 outfit who outlasted their rivals in Diamond Creek Women’s 2 during their elimination final on the weekend, winning by four points in a tight contest.
What works in the Magpies favour is their ability to defeat teams who finished below them on the ladder, including the Falcons, who they prevailed by 11 points over in their only meeting of the season in Round 8.
On the flipside, Darebin 2 are yet to defeat any side who finished above them following their move to Division 3 in Round 5, and while they may be considered an underdog in this match, their stirring finals performance last week could motivate them to compete well with Montmorency on Sunday.
