Tara Murray
The pressure level was raised and Keilor was able to respond to win through to the Essendon District Football League women’s premier division grand final.
The minor premiers and premiership favourites were pushed all the way by Oak Park at Windy Hill in their semi final on Saturday.
The Blues were able to do enough to come away with the 5.4 (34)-3.10 (28) win and the week off ahead of the grand final on August 20.
Blues coach Brooke Surgeon said it was the type of game of football you expect at this time of the year.
“It’s really good and everyone is super excited,” she said.
“Oak Park played really well and this type of game was really good for the girls. To get that pressure in a semi final, we know what a grand final will be like.”
Surgeon said both sides brought the pressure as they made the most of the open spaces at Windy Hill.
She said while the Kangaroos had plenty of opportunities to score, her side made it tough.
“A lot of the shots were under pressure,” she said.
“They had some unfortunate misses, but other shots, our pressure to stop them scoring was really good.”
Surgeon said throughout there was the thought in the back of the mind that the Kangaroos could get in front and take control, but said she didn’t look at it as a bad thing.
“You see how they respond to that and this group is really coachable win or loss,” she said.
Megan Neill kicked two goals for the Blues.
Surgeon said Neill was one of their best, playing well in the ruck and then unstoppable when she rested down forward.
It was Lauren Caruso that Surgeon said was best on ground. Surgeon said their experienced players were able to stand up and settle nerves all over the ground.
“Through the mid, she was the powerhouse in the last quarter,” she said of Caruso. “Jessie Cameron in her 100th game was really good down back as well.”
The Blues are no stranger to success and grand finals.
Since forming a women’s side in 2017, the Blues have made a grand final every year across multiple competitions.
Last year they were on top when the season was called off due to COVID-19, and were later awarded the premiership, their second.
Surgeon said it was a credit to the core group of players and club overall to ensure the group was well supported and stuck together.
The Blues will play either Oak Park or Westmeadows in the grand final.
Surgeon said they would continue to work on things the next couple of weeks in preparation.
“We’ll go through some vision and pick up on the thing we didn’t do well.
“There will be a lot of pressure style training from here on in.”
Meanwhile in the men’s premier division, Keilor had a day out against Glenroy, winning 31.18 (204)-5.4 (34).
Matthew Clark kicked 13 goals in a best on ground performance.
The win sealed the Blues finals spot with two rounds remaining. The Blues sit in second.
For more women’s finals results:
-Greenvale through to its first grand final- ow.ly/lHQ850KehzH
-The future is bright for Gisborne- ow.ly/VGBP50KehB7
