After 1063 days, finals have arrived in our senior women’s competition, with six intriguing fixtures to kick off this year’s series.
WINNING EDGE DIVISION 1 WOMEN’S
Qualifying Final: Montmorency 1 vs West Preston-Lakeside 1
Montmorency
Ladder: 2nd (10-4; 389.94%)
Leading goalkicker (post-grading): Jemma Laffey (32 goals)
Most times in best (post-grading): Ashleigh Bayes (7), Shae Collinson (5), Taylor Langford (5)
West Preston-Lakeside
Ladder: 3rd (9-4; 206.48%)
Leading goalkicker (post-grading): Tallia Pulcino (9 goals)
Most times in best (post-grading): Ashleigh Snow (8), Tallia Pulcino (7), Kasey Lennox (6)
The Magpies have had yet another strong season, finishing in second spot for the third consecutive year and having finished the season with five straight wins, they’ll have plenty of momentum coming into this clash.
Meanwhile the Roosters lost two of their last three regular season games, but a comfortable final round victory over Heidelberg 1 will give them a lot more confidence ahead of Saturday’s encounter.
These two teams have already met twice this season, once in grading at Montmorency Park where the hosts were 24-point winners, and then again on a Friday night at JC Donath Reserve where West Preston-Lakeside prevailed by 16 points.
A win for the Magpies will be their first finals triumph since 2018 after going out in straight sets in 2019 while for the Roosters, victory will set up a huge semi-final with the minor premiers in Diamond Creek Women’s 1 next week. West Preston-Lakeside are still the only team to beat the Creekers this season.
Elimination Final: Darebin 1 vs Greensborough
Darebin
Ladder: 4th (8-4; 125.83%)
Leading goalkicker (post-grading): Chloe Williams (16 goals)
Most times in best (post-grading): Julia Phung (6), Nikita Magriplis (5), Chloe Williams (4), Karly O’Malley (4)
Greensborough
Ladder: 5th (5-8; 67.15%)
Leading goalkicker (post-grading): Jessie Hulett (10 goals)
Most times in best (post-grading): Bree Unthank (8), Emmison Zealley (8), Sarah Huber (5)
The Falcons have had a great year, remaining competitive throughout the entire campaign, finishing only four points away from a double chance spot.
Despite only having five wins by season’s end, the Boro still boast a very talented outfit and will look to push Darebin to their limits on Sunday.
What does go against Stew Lewis’ side heading into the clash is their recent record against their opponents, with the Falcons winning both home fixtures comfortably throughout the season.
Darebin will be the heavy favourites in this match as a result, with a win setting up a clash against either the Magpies or the Roosters, two sides the Falcons have beaten before in 2022.
But, if Greensborough can turn the tables and defeat the Falcons, it will be the club’s first victory against Darebin in the women’s competition and it could set up a fairy tale run for the Boro.
SG PRINT & PAPER DIVISION 2 WOMEN’S
Qualifying Final: Eltham vs Banyule
Eltham
Ladder: 2nd (11-3; 461.94%)
Leading goalkicker (post-grading): Jack White (24 goals)
Most times in best (post-grading): Sarah Huntington (8), Alannah Murray (6), Shanny Ashby (5)
Banyule
Ladder: 3rd (11-3; 383.09%)
Leading goalkicker (post-grading): Rebekah Di Paola (20 goals)
Most times in best (post-grading): Hayley Moxon (8), Drew Barnes (7), Jane Cahir (6)
Eltham have enjoyed life in the competition since going down from Division 1 football last season, going on a 10-game winning streak before falling in the penultimate round to finish second behind the Burra.
Banyule on the other hand have had a remarkable rise following a strong campaign in Division 3 last year, staying in the top three for the majority of the 2022 season to establish themselves as a contender.
Both sides have met twice this year in two entertaining Friday night clashes. In the second round of grading at Beverley Road Oval, the Bears finished the game 14-point winners but when they next met at Eltham Central Park three weeks ago, the Panthers produced a convincing 27-point victory.
The winner of this final will be a worthy semi-final opponent for St Mary’s next week but don’t expect the loser to be out of the picture for too long.
Elimination Final: Fitzroy Stars vs Whittlesea
Fitzroy Stars
Ladder: 4th (6-7; 70.92%)
Leading goalkicker (post-grading): Bonnie Kairouz (5 goals)
Most times in best (post-grading): Renae McKeown (6), Stephanie Briggs (6), Leah Seeto (5)
Whittlesea
Ladder: 5th (6-8; 56.12%)
Leading goalkicker (post-grading): Luka Kennedy (6 goals)
Most times in best (post-grading): Jessica Vilinskis (7), Tahlia Brander (7), Annette Carle (6)
Much like Banyule, the Stars have improved rapidly since their inaugural women’s campaign last season and after some promising signs, will now compete in their first ever final series.
So too will Whittlesea who after gaining some Division 1 experience last year, produced a solid campaign to earn a top five spot.
This will be just the second meeting between the two sides, with their battle in the opening round of grading this season going down to the wire as the Stars held on to win by three points at Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval.
On top of the fact that these two teams finished on the same points at the end of the season, it’s a toss of the decision to pick a winner but with a semi-final spot on the line, expect the contest to be very entertaining.
CLEANING MELBOURNE DIVISION 3 WOMEN’S
Qualifying Final: Hurstbridge vs West Preston-Lakeside 2
Hurstbridge
Ladder: 2nd (10-4; 563.53%)
Leading goalkicker (post-grading): Belinda Harris (17 goals)
Most times in best (post-grading): Belinda Harris (9), Sheridan Bennett (8), Melissa Martini (7)
West Preston-Lakeside 2:
Ladder: 3rd (7-7; 48.62%)
Leading goalkicker (post-grading): Ashlee Marston (8 goals)
Most times in best (post-grading): Alyssa Delos (6), Helena Katsios (6), Marsa Arob (4)
Following their four-season campaign in Division 2 last year, the Bridges have had a fantastic 2022 season, not only losing just twice for the year but also being the only team to defeat the minor premiers in Mernda this year.
It’s the first time the Roosters have managed to put a second team in the competition and so far, it’s been a success, with the side producing a 7-7 season to finish comfortably in third spot.
In the two meetings between both sides this year, Hurstbridge were too strong on each occasion, winning by a combined total of 115 points.
The Bridges will enter the match as favourites, setting up a potential blockbuster semi-final with the Demons but the Roosters have proven this year that their best can stand up against the top sides of the competition.
Elimination Final: Laurimar vs Heidelberg 2
Laurimar
Ladder: 4th (5-8; 55.24%)
Leading goalkicker (post-grading): Georgia Smith (6 goals)
Most times in best (post-grading): Stephanie Crook (6), Tess Keogh (6), Vicki Tsoulias (6)
Heidelberg 2
Ladder: 5th (3-10; 33.85%)
Leading goalkicker (post-grading): Ashleigh Riley (4 goals)
Most times in best (post-grading): Jessica Morris (7), Hannah Anderson (5), Ashleigh Riley (4)
Laurimar improved on their three-win campaign last year to finish just two games outside the top three while Heidelberg 2 surprised the competition after turning around an 0-9 start to sneak into the final five.
This will be the fourth meeting between the Power and Tigers and the second consecutive clash after both sides played out the final round of the regular season.
In that game, the Tigers continued their good form to finish 21-point winners but in the previous two battles, it was Laurimar who secured 35-point and 13-point wins away from home.
A win for the Power will be their first in a final since the 2019 Division 3 qualifying final but a triumph for Heidelberg will be the club’s first finals win since the 2019 Division 2 preliminary final.
