ESSENDON Doutta Stars has taken the 2019 EDFL Women’s - Division 1 premiership cup home to Cooper Street.
Five points was the margin at the end of Saturday’s Grand Final after Mia Heanly kicked a goal for Maribyrnong Park at the 19-minute mark of final term to bridge the gap within a kick late, before time ran out.
The result was indicative of the competition for the year, with the Stars ultimately proving too good.
Chandra Abrahams set the tone early for the Stars, following up her starring Semi Final performance to win the medal for best-on-ground.
However, neither team could get a goal on the board in a tight first half, with both teams’ defensive lines standing up under pressure.
Sade Rice, Megan Aherne and Megan Runting were able to rebound the Lions’ forays into their attacking half.
Up the other end it was Jade Gunther who was best for the Lions, playing an outstanding sweeping role and saving a number of promising Stars attempts on goal.
Amelia Beardmore was also rarely out-pointed and was significant in limiting the Stars’ forward surges.
A low half time score was representative of the unwillingness of both teams to give the other an inch and the scene was set for a nail-biting second half.
The third quarter, often recognised as the premiership quarter, lived up to its name.
Sophie Fazzolari made the quarter her own, capped off by an accurate snap on goal to open the account for the Stars, which got the Douttas crowd on their feet.
The midfield battle was also being won by the Stars with Stacey Williams important in the ruck.
She was able to set up Caesha Langborne, Lauren Sims and Candice Petersen with first hands on the ball.
Abrahams also dominated in the air, taking a series of contested marks.
Jessa Baluyot and Kate Arnold did their best to stop the momentum of the Stars.
The Lions were able to limit the efficiency of the Stars’ forward movements, but were unable to make their opportunities count, holding the margin to just nine points at three-quarter time.
It was the Stars that got on the board in the last quarter first, through a 30-metre set shot to Abrahams from a free kick, giving her side a sense they had almost done enough.
Yet, the Lions held their heads high and importantly, were able to get the ball into Gabrielle Mahoney’s hands.
Fantastic running play along the outer wing by Chantelle Warren set up a Lions forward entry, however the Stars were able to get back in numbers and force an ineffective shot.
Mahoney, the key playmaker for the Lions for the majority of the season, was able to turn momentum, finally getting on the end of a chip pass 20 metres directly in front and finishing truly.
The Lions kicked the last goal of the day, but with no time-on played in the competition, it was to no avail as the Stars completed a stunning first year of senior women’s footy.
ESSENDON DOUTTA STARS | 0.4-4 | 0.5-5 | 1.5-11 | 2.7.19
Goal Kickers: S. Fazzolari, C. Abrahams
Best Players: C. Abrahams, E. Fasham, M. Runting, S. Williams, M. Aherne, S. Fazzolari
Best-on-ground medal: Chandra Abrahams
MARIBYRNONG PARK | 0.0-0 | 0.1-1 | 0.2-2 | 2.2.14
Goal Kickers: G. Mahoney, M. Heanly
Best Players: J. Gunther, C. Warren, K. Arnold, A. Beardmore, A. Horan, I. Barker
