North Heidelberg have booked their place in the NFNL Division 3 Women’s Grand Final after outlasting a resilient Whittlesea outfit by 13 points in a hard-fought second semi-final at Tony Sheehan Oval.
After starting off slowly, the Bulldogs slowly got on top as the game wore on, eventually coming away winners 2.8 (20) to 1.1 (7).
It was a contest defined by pressure, contested ball, and defensive grit, with both sides battling fiercely for every possession.
The opening quarter set the tone for the afternoon as North Heidelberg dominated field position, keeping the ball locked in their forward half.
However the Eagles’ defence, led by the composed Alexandra Baker-Murphy, repeatedly turned back the tide.
Baker-Murphy’s ability to intercept and then deliver pinpoint kicks out of defensive 50 was crucial in preventing the Bulldogs from converting their dominance into scoreboard pressure.
At the other end, Sarah Bentley was a towering figure in the ruck for the Dogs, giving her midfielders first use at stoppages.
Despite the Bulldogs’ territorial control, Whittlesea’s own defensive pillar Ashley Fitzpatrick stood tall, cutting off multiple forward thrusts.
The pressure from both sides was immense, and at the first break the Dogs led by two points.
The second quarter followed a similar script, with North Heidelberg again winning clearances and surging forward.
Keeley Parks became a key spark, using her speed and drive on the outside to send the Dogs deep into attack. Yet, their inability to finish in front of goal continued to frustrate them.
Against the run of play, Whittlesea found the breakthrough. After a scrappy passage inside their forward 50, Emma Hancy pounced to slot the first major of the day, putting the Eagles in front.
It was a reward for their defensive resilience, and they carried a slender two-point lead into halftime.
The third term was a congested, bruising battle. Play rarely broke into open space, with the ball living along the wings and half-forward flanks.
Neither side could establish momentum or penetrate deep inside 50, and scoring dried up entirely apart from a solitary behind.
The Eagles maintained their one-point advantage at the final change, setting up a tense last quarter.
It didn’t take long for the game to swing. Just a minute into the final term, Bulldogs captain Teresa Cassar burst through and slotted a running goal from the goal square to put her side back in front.
Cassar’s presence inside 50 proved telling — she was dangerous every time the ball entered her area.
Five minutes later, Rylee Enright extended the lead with a composed finish, giving North Heidelberg an 11-point buffer.
From there, the Bulldogs’ midfield, driven by the relentless running of Parks, controlled the tempo and locked the ball in their half.
Whittlesea battled to the end, but their earlier defensive workload and the Bulldogs’ final-term surge proved decisive.
Parks was very good, combining endurance with clean disposal, while Bentley’s ruck dominance and Cassar’s forward impact gave the Dogs the edge when it mattered most.
The 13-point victory sees the Bulldogs into their first ever senior women’s grand final in only their third season.
For the Eagles a preliminary final with an in-form Heidelberg West outfit at Tony Sheehan Oval next Sunday awaits.
