With everything on the line, the four teams stepped out for the Northpark NFLW preliminary finals and produced high-intensity matches at Preston City Oval.
In Division 1, Bendigo bounced back from two consecutive losses to progress through to the grand final after defeating the VU Western Spurs 4.8 (32) to 2.1 (13).
After kicking the opening goal of the match, the Thunder took a seven-point lead as well as the momentum into the quarter time break.
A great mark in the goal square by Amanda Carrod extended the Thunder’s lead in the second quarter, but a late goal by Elizabeth Skinner kept the Spurs within 10 points at half-time.
With both sides holding strong defensively, no goals were added to the scoreboard in the third quarter and the Thunder took a two-goal lead into the final term.
Back-to-back goals to Bendigo, which included a superb running finish from Leah French, gave the Thunder an unassailable 25-point lead.
The Spurs were unable to track down the deficit, despite responding with a goal of their own.
Bendigo will now face Diamond Creek Women’s in the grand final at Preston City Oval on Sunday and will be looking to avenge its 11-point second semi final loss.
The Creekers will be fresh off the break after earning a week’s rest following that win in the second semi final.
In Division 2, West Preston-Lakeside defeated Darebin 2.1 (13) to 1.2 (8) to progress to the grand final.
In an even first quarter, Natarsha Bamblett scored the all-important first goal for the Roosters and her side took a six-point lead into quarter time.
With the match a low-scoring affair due to its contested nature, the Roosters held strong to take a lead of a single goal into the final quarter.
A fantastic set-shot from the pocket by Catherine Pasceri extended the Roosters lead to 12-points midway through the term.
But the Falcons continued to press, with Sophie Boyden snapping through a major to keep the match alive.
With the Falcons carrying the momentum, a brilliant pack mark by West Preston-Lakeside’s Natarsha Bamblett deep in her side’s defensive 50 looked to be the match sealer.
However, the Falcons continued to fight in a bid to tie the match and send it into extra time.
They were able to send in one final roll of the dice with a few seconds before the siren that resulted in a creative snap that only narrowly missed.
West Preston-Lakeside will meet the VU Western Spurs in the premiership decider, who they lost the second semi final to by 20 points.
Both grand finals will be hosted at Preston City Oval on Sunday August 27.
All grand finals will be filmed exclusively by the NFL’s official match vision partner Sportscast Australia.
Digital copies of each game will be available for purchase one week after the matches are played.
The games can be purchased for $22.00, with a rebate of all purchases going directly to the competing clubs from each grand final.
A live video stream of the Division 1 grand final will be available on the NFL Facebook page, while a radio broadcast of both games can be heard on 88.6 Plenty Valley FM.
