It was third time lucky for Greenvale as it finally claimed the Airport Toyota Women's Division One premiership.
After winning the minor premiership the past two years before falling short in the grand final, the Jets were hoping history wouldn’t repeat itself this year.
Like the last two years, the Jets were the first team through to the grand final and had a week off before the game.
Their opponent in the grand final this time round, was minor premiers Burnside Heights, which was also aiming for its first ever women’s premiership.
Check out the full match centre here.
It was a high scoring women’s grand final with both teams having some really good patches of play in a tough contested game.
The Bears led by a goal at quarter time before the Jets kicked the first four goals of the second quarter.
A goal after the siren to the Bears made the margin 13 points at half time.
It was goal for goal in the third quarter.
Both teams missed shots early in the last quarter before the Bears kicked a goal after a 50 metre penalty nearly 11 minutes into the quarter to reduce the margin to a goal.
The Bears tried everything to get a goal to leave the scores, but with no success.
A point with a minute to go for the Jets was enough to seal an 8.4 (52) - 7.3 (45) win and the premiership.
Jets coach Troy Newton said he couldn’t be prouder of the group.
“We had to work for it,” he told Star Weekly. “It was a tough game, a hard game and the players just never stopped.
“One of our mantras during the week was playing every contest and every second and that is what it took, couldn’t be prouder and happier for the players the way they played and they played out the full game.”
The game was set up in the second quarter when the Jets kicked four goals to one.
Newton said it was the type of football they want to be playing on a consistent basis.
“An awesome quarter and I think I said to the side that it’s probably the best quarter we’ve played all year,” he said.
“That’s the sort of brand of football that you know, we want to play and we know we can play at times.
“It’s very hard to play it against such a good side in Burnside but it was the difference and it was awesome to watch.”
Newton said there were a few nerves in the last quarter as the Bears came hard, but he had the confidence in his group to get it done.
“We trained a lot, we trained for this situation,” he said. “I had confidence we could do what we needed to.
“It probably got a bit close for my liking, but again the players are just so good and they deserve all the credit.”
Talia Motta and Alisa Magri kicked three goals each for the Jets. Magri took several big hits in the game, but continued to fight on until the end.
“Sometimes she just gets judged on goals, but she has a lot more than that for our side,” Newton said.
Kiara Delia had a strong game in the middle of the ground and set up a lot of the Jets forays forward and was one of the standouts on the ground.
Having been an emergency for North Melbourne’s Victorian Football League women’s premiership team, she’s had a big few weeks.
“She’s an awesome player,” Newton said. She’s had a bit of a tough season with North Melbourne.
“She comes back down to Greenvale when she needs to and she’s just awesome around the group and she puts in like that every game.
“You can never question her effort and desperation, she was inspirational.”
Teaghan Brand had a number of good marks late in the game, Sophie Pettman provided plenty of run forward, while Grace Matser had a good battle with Holly McGregor in the ruck.
Bears coach Michael Davis said they didn’t take their chances when they were there.
“In the last quarter we had enough inside 50s and we didn’t take our chances,” he told Star Weekly.
“I’m extremely proud of them. To get within seven points of winning the whole competition, is something to be proud of.
“That second group of players have gotten better and the stars have been phenomenal.”
Davis said when he took over at the start of the year they were hopeful of getting into the grand final after going out in straight sets last season.
He said the grand final was a higher level of football from what they’d faced throughout the season.
“One of the under-18s who played said to me she’d never played a game like that before,” he said.
“I said welcome to senior footy.”
Kayla Ravanello kicked three goals for the Bears, while Bella Negri.
Krissy Trang, Holly McGregor and Payton-Ani Ozols were named the best.
Trang was awarded the best on ground medal after getting her side going in the middle of the ground in the second half.
Davis said Trang, who has won two league best and fairest awards, keeps getting better.
“She is an inspirational leader and person,” he said. “She started the season slowly before getting into her groove.
“She works harder than everyone else from her team and the opposition.”
Davis said once the disappointment settles they will focus on going one step further next year.
The club has a number of under-18s who will come into the senior program.
“We had four of them play at various times to get a feel of what it is about,” he said. “There’s seven who are ready to play senior football.
“Hopefully the older ones will stick around as well.”
The win means the Jets will be promoted into premier division for next season.
Newton said they weren’t worried about that at the moment.
“I just want to celebrate it with the players because some of them have been through the heartbreaks with the losses and that’s why this one is so special.”
