Westmeadows or Burnside Heights will make history in the Airport Toyota Division One grand final as one club walks away with its first senior women’s premiership.
Inaugural female clubs in the competition, the two sides have been on different journeys since that first season, when they met in a preliminary final.
Both spent many years in the top flight, before dropping back down into Division One.
The Bears played in a preliminary final their first season back in Division One, before narrowly missing out on glory the past two years having made the grand final.
Westmeadows set about rebuilding its culture last year after dropping down and getting back to getting some wins on the board.
This served as a launchpad for an unbeaten season.
The Tigers entered this year as one of the favourites and the side was keen to taste success.
The core group from last year returned and they added a couple of other players.
Sarah Wright was the big signing for the Tigers and the division, while Ella Guest has slotted in nicely.
Mackenzie and Jameson Best returned to the club from Roxburgh Park.
Of the squad that lost the elimination final 12 months ago, 16 of those players played in the qualifying final this year showing the buy-in from the playing group.
Guest and the two Best sisters were also part of the qualifying final side this year.
The other three inclusions were inaugural captain Jacinta Scott, Taylor Jones, and Courteney Munn.
All three key players for the Tigers.
Munn has been a revelation this season.
The former AFLW player has made multiple teams of the year previously, but her and Jones had a big off season and it’s shown.
She’s kicked 47 goals to claim the goalkicking award. It hasn’t been a lone hand down forward with three other Tigers players in the top 10 for goals this season.
The likes of Ruby Smith and Courtney Bligh have taken extra steps, while three-time league best and fairest winner and Tigers coach Gemma Wright keeps doing what she’s always done.
While the Tigers were favourites, the Bears were one of the unknowns in the new combined division.
After having a core group in previous years, the Bears lost some of their biggest names.
Captain Kayla Ravanello, three-time league best and fairest winner Krissy Trang, Holly McGregor, and Sina Mason all departed the club.
The question was whether the next generation of Bears could step up.
They suffered a 45-1 loss to Westmeadows in Round 1, but the answer to the question quickly followed.
Burnside’s next loss came in the final round, yet again to Westmeadows, having already secured second spot.
For the Bears, the process and system stayed the same this year despite the different line up.
Those who had been in the shadows in the past stepped up and showed they could take the lead.
Youth continued to be a focus for the Bears as players from their under 19s got their opportunities.
Two made their debuts in this year’s preliminary final win against Keilor Park and are set to play in the grand final.
Just eight players from last year’s grand final loss played in the side’s preliminary final last weekend, which shows the growth in this side and how different they are.
While the Tigers have had the wood over the Bears, having beaten them three times, the qualifying final showed that the Bears could take it to them.
For three and a half quarters, the Bears led that contest.
They felt had they managed one more goal in the third quarter they would have got the job done.
Tonja Davis had shut down Gemma Wright.
The Tigers on the other hand, felt they were still in control with the wind at their disposal in the final quarter.
They had different players stand up when they needed to get over the line.
While it seems like a battle between experience and youth, grand finals present different challenges.
More Bears players have played in senior football grand finals than Tigers players, but the Tigers have several players who have come up big in finals in different competitions and sports.
Three of the five Airport Toyota Division One grand finals have been decided by less than 10 points, so expect a close one.
Will it be the fairytale of the perfect season for the Tigers, or will it be third time lucky for the Bears?
