Tara Murray
Burnside Heights was left to rue missed chances as it fell just short of its first ever Essendon District Football League women’s premiership.
The division 1 grand final on Saturday was the Bears first grand final since their inaugural year in 2018.
Having finished on top, the Bears made the grand final the hard way after losing to Greenvale in the first week of finals.
They won the preliminary to set up another clash with Greenvale in the grand final.
The Bears led by a goal at quarter time on Saturday 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 before 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.
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 said. “A few calls didn’t go our way either.
“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.”
