After narrowly missing out on last year’s finals race, Taylors Lakes have secured a spot in this year’s grand final following a dominant year of footy.
In just his second year as coach of Taylors Lakes, Joseph Antonetti led his side to a strong 9-5 record with a sky-high percentage of 256 following some dominant wins.
The Lions finished the home and away season in second place, their highest ever in its women’s involvement.
While its result in last week’s qualifying final wasn’t a desired one, a 13-point win in the preliminary final has seen them through to next week’s grand final against Gisborne-Kyneton United.
“We’re very, very excited," said coach Antonetti.
“Throughout the journey there’s times where it doesn’t seem realistic, but like I said to the girls today, they surprise me every now and then, and today they just turned it on.”
A preliminary final is tough, but what Taylors Lakes faced on Saturday was a rematch with a side who had beaten them two out of three times in the regular season.
“The third time we played them we had a really important win over them, and I think prior to that our players had a little self-doubt against them.
“I just felt for our group to get that win in the third game that we played, it gave them the belief that no matter how physical the game got, that our girls were up to it. And today they were up to it.”
Up against Taylors Lakes in next week’s decider is Gisborne-Kyneton United, a team who hasn’t featured in the EDFL competition since 2023, but has gone undefeated in its return.
But this factor isn’t fazing Antonetti the slightest.
“Anyone’s beatable,” he said.
“Next week there’s no pressure on us whatsoever.
“Yeah, they’re (Gisborne) the clear favourite. But our girls have got momentum and they’re excited for the challenge.”
Rebecca Foggie has been one of the standouts for Taylors Lakes this women’s season.
Foggie featured in 15 matches this season, being named the best-on-ground on 14 occasions with 14 goals to her name.
Foggie has also been one to watch in both of Taylors Lakes’ finals matches, a major asset to the club from the last line of defence, to kicking goals under pressure.
“She is an absolute superstar,” Antonetti said in praise.
“She sees a need where we need her and she’ll put herself in that hole every week, and she’s just a great leader.
“We’re rapt and very, very lucky to have her.”
Taylors Lakes will play its maiden women’s grand final on Saturday, and with a coach like Antonetti, they'll have the belief they can go all the way.
