Taylors Lakes is embracing the opportunity after winning through to its first Essendon District Football League women’s division 2 grand final.
In just their second season in having a standalone side, the Lions have won through to the final day of the season.
After a first up finals loss to Gisborne-Kyneton United, the Lions faced the Sunbury Kangaroos on Saturday in the preliminary final.
Like the Lions, the Kangaroos were aiming for their first grand final.
It was a fast start for the Lions and it was what would be the difference in the end.
They led all day and were able to hold off the Kangaroos in the last quarter, winning 6.5 (41)-4.4 (28).
Lions coach Joseph Antonetti said it was an amazing feeling.
“It’s unbelievable,” he said. “I said to them at the start of the pre-season it’s about being in the last game of the year.
“Throughout the season it might seem further away than other times. We were able to put it all together and it was our best all-round performance.
“We set it up in the first half and were able to hold on.”
Antonetti said they had learned a number of valuable lessons throughout the season and had put them all together when it counted.
The Lions kicked the opening three goals of the game as they used the wind to their advantage.
A goal just before half time gave the side even more momentum heading into the main break.
“Our tackling pressure was really good and we didn’t let them have time with the ball,” Antonetti said.
“We wanted to come out in the first really strong and not think about what has come before.
“We have some really young kids and they stepped up and didn’t take a backwards step.
“It was awesome.”
Having increased the margin to 28 points at the last break, Antonetti said they knew that the Kangaroos would still come hard at them in the final quarter.
He said they had to stay focused until the end.
“We knew they would come and needed to put the same effort in for the full game,” he said.
“We thought we had done enough but there was still time for them to get back into the game.
“We were able to hold them off.”
Stefania Valerio kicked two goals for the Lions and was named amongst the best with Emma Villani and Rebecca Foggie.
The Lions now face Gisborne-Kyneton United in the grand final on Saturday.
Antonetti said they were not trying to think about the grand final too much and wanted to enjoy the experience.
“Making a grand final doesn’t come around every week,” he said. “We are going out to win it.
“It’s about putting four quarters together.
“We need to bring the same tackling pressure and sustain it for as long as we can.
“They are the best team in the competition.”
