By David Nagel
Upwey-Tecoma and Belgrave have booked places in their respective grand finals and Pakenham and Thornton-Eildon can pack their boots away until next season…that’s the story of week one of finals in Outer East women’s football.
Top-seeded Upwey-Tecoma marched through to the division one decider with a commanding 74-point victory over Healesville.
The Tigers were tested early, but began to find their feet just before quarter time and took control of the contest.
Prime movers Kiana Oates and Madi Walsh did the midfield damage for the Tigers, while Alex Bantock was superb up forward with five goals.
Penelope Dousset, Imogen Rennie and Ella Collard were also effective for Upwey, while Perry Byron, Amy Frazzetto and Milla Potter never stopped trying for the Bloods.
Healesville will now have to draw on its double chance when the Bloods meet Olinda Ferny Creek in this week’s preliminary final.
Olinda Ferny Creek, also the Bloods, proved too strong for Pakenham, winning by 48 points in the division one first semi-final at Upwey.
Pakenham made life difficult for the Bloods in the first term, trailing by just 10 points at quarter time, before the Bloods pulled clear for a hard-fought victory.
Grace Belloni, who starred for Vic Metro in the AFL Under-16 Girls Championships earlier this year, was the star for Olinda Ferny Creek, booting three goals in a class display through the midfield.
The Lions were vastly improved from last week’s heavy loss to Upwey, with Melina Eppel playing a great game in defence and Courtney Stephens and Chloe Nagel leading from the front through the midfield.
Tash Wakenshaw led the backline superbly, while Kayla Menere and Niamh Mooren also finished their seasons in style.
Belgrave is the first team through to the division two grand final after the Magpies defeated Monbulk by 28 points in the second semi-final on Sunday.
The game was still up for grabs at three-quarter time, but the Magpies kicked two last-quarter goals to earn a huge finals win.
Amy Anderson, Serenity Connolly, Melinda Cottrell, Ishleen Lamba and skipper Danielle Weisgerber all kicked goals for the Magpies, while Kathryn Gow slotted the Hawks only goal in the first term.
Monbulk will now take on Seville in the division two preliminary final after the Blues survived a fast finish from Thornton Eildon.
The Blues led by 15 points at the final change, but the Kangaroos surged kicking 1.4 to no score in the final term.
The efforts of Trinity Sullivan and Jess Beraud saw the Blues cling on to victory and keep their season alive.
Preliminary finals for both divisions will take place this Sunday at Yarra Junction.
RESULTS – FINALS – WEEK 1
DIVISION 1
SECOND SEMI-FINAL (1 V 2)
Upwey-Tecoma 12.7.79 v Healesville 0.5.5
FIRST SEMI-FINAL (3 V 4)
Olinda Ferny Creek 9.16.70 v Pakenham 3.4.22
DIVISION 2
SECOND SEMI-FINAL (1 V 2)
Belgrave 5.7.37 v Monbulk 1.3.9
FIRST SEMI-FINAL (3 V 4)
Seville 3.9.27 v Thornton Eildon 2.10.22
FINALS FIXTURE – WEEK 2
SUNDAY, 7 AUGUST
PRELIMINARY FINALS
VENUE: YARRA JUNCTION
DIVISON 1
Healesville (2) v Olinda Ferny Creek (3)
DIVISION 2
Monbulk (2) v Seville (3)
