Tara Murray
Caroline Springs is through to a fifth straight Western Football League women’s grand final.
The Lakers became the first team through to the grand final with a good win against minor premiers Werribee Centrals on Saturday.
The Lakers jumped out to an 11 point lead at the first break and the margin was still seven points at the break.
Three goals to one in the third quarter increased the lead to 19 points at the final break.
The Lakers managed to hold the momentum in the final quarter to win, 8.6 (54)-5.9 (39).
Lakers coach Alex O’Shea said it was pretty exciting to be through to another grand final.
“We’re rapt and we’re still letting it sink in,” she said on Sunday. “The girls did well.
“Werribee was on top and we knew it would be a challenge and we played some really good footy.
“We weren’t expecting anything coming into the game.”
O’Shea said going into the finals they knew every team in the top four could beat each other in what had been a really competitive season.
Against the Centurions, she said the playing group stuck to the task at hand all day.
“I thought the girls played a great team game,” she said. “They played as a team and played their role for the team and did it for the four quarters.
“Werribee came at us at different times and we had the ability to stay composed and regrouped and that ability got us the win.”
O’Shea said the experience of the past few years in finals had really helped in some of those pressure moments.
She said you don’t know what to expect in finals, but there are key moments you have to take and they took them.
“We focused on what we want to work on as a team and we know in those moments what to do,” O’Shea said.
Jacinta Kondis continued her good form with five goals up front for the Lakers.
Alana Ellis, Jordin Williamson and Hannah Herring were named the best.
O’Shea said she didn’t think there were any standouts and that it was a real team effort.
The Lakers now have the week off before the grand final.
They will face the winner of Werribee Centrals and Parkside Spurs preliminary final in the grand final.
O’Shea said the grand final would be a whole different ball game and they will forget about what has happened in the past.
It will be a different preparation for the Lakers heading into this grand final.
“We’ve never had the week off and gone straight into the grand final,” O’Shea said. “We’ve played in the one versus two game on a number of occasions but always played the following week.
“It’s a bit of a different feeling. We’ll look to manage training and emotions for the next two weeks.
“We’re grateful to be there and we’ve worked hard all season. We’ll recover well and prepare for whoever we face.”
