By Tara Murray
Hillside’s remarkable season will continue for at least another week after the side won its first ever final.
The surprise packet of the Essendon District Football League Women’s premier division, the Sharks again showed on Saturday that they cannot be discounted in the finals.
The elimination game was the second successive week they had played Burnside Heights and it was a lot closer match.
It was an even first quarter before the Sharks opened up a two-goal lead in the second.
At the final change it was a seven-point lead to the Sharks and they held their nerve to run out winners 7.6 (48)-4.5 (29).
Sharks coach Justin Fairservice said he was proud of the playing group.
“It’s just a little exciting,” he said.
“It’s an unknown to win a final.
“They came out hard and we were able to weather the storm. I was really happy.”
Fairservice said despite being the least experienced of the two sides, the Sharks were confident they could go on with the job at three-quarter time.
He said the understrength Bears side started to tire in the third quarter.
“We’ve worked hard on our fitness this year and the girls are able to run out the game well.
“I said stick to the structures and stick to our brand. I didn’t think they had anything left for us.”
Ebony Wilkie was the star up forward for the Sharks with four goals.
Fairservice said Rachael Jackson at half-back and Annalise Wilkie were the other two standouts in the win.
In one downside for Hillside, Rachel Burton will face the tribunal during the week.
Burton and Burnside’s Brodie Stevens have been reported for striking in the third quarter.
Both were sent from the field after receiving yellow cards in the incident.
Fairservice said they got through unscathed injury-wise.
Hillside plays the Sunbury Kangaroos in a semi-final this week.
The two teams have faced each other twice during the season. The Kangaroos won the first game, while the second was called off just before quarter-time when an ambulance was called for Ebony Wilkie.
Fairservice, who was an interested spectator as the Kangaroos lost to Keilor on Saturday in their qualifying final, said it would be an interesting match-up.
The Kangaroos lost to Keilor 8.5 (53)-5.4 (34).
“It was disappointing last time not to play a whole game,” he said of their match against the Kangaroos.
“They controlled the first five minutes and then we got into the game.”
In the other semi-final, Aberfeldie will play Keilor for a spot in the grand final.
