Keilor has completed a perfect season by claiming the inaugural Western District and Essendon District Women’s Football League premiership.
The Blues, in their debut season, have clearly been the team to beat – and on Sunday they showed exactly why against Manor Lakes in the grand final.
After a slow start to the match, the Blues broke open the game in the second quarter and led by 50 points at half-time.
While the game looked all but over, the Blues weren’t finished – they kicked six goals to two in the second half for a 15.8 (98)-3.4 (22) win.
A very proud Blues coach Emma Kerry said after the game she couldn’t have asked for anything more from the side.
“It’s been a pretty special season,” she said. “The way we played the grand final was amazing. The last game of the season and the first final [both against Manor Lakes], they had a really defensive structure to shut down our run and carry.
“It was never going to win a game, but was more about trying to reduce our scoring.
“We worked on a structure to break through that and it worked.”
After a seven-goal second quarter and with a 50 point lead at half-time, the Blues could have been forgiven if they’d started celebrating, considering they’d conceded just eight goals for the season.
But they stuck with the game and ran themselves into the ground to seal a massive win.
“In the fourth quarter, we had a couple of girls who were cramping and we lost some structure in the back line,” Kerry said.
“We had rolled the dice to get in that position and we let them get a couple of goals late.
“We were able to rest the Wright sisters and a couple of others who had done a lot of work and give some players who don’t get as much of an opportunity a good go in the final quarter. “
Tenille Cann and Jess Atta both kicked four goals each in the win, while Tanay Barbuto chipped in with two.
Kallyn Gent, who was also among the goal-scorers, was named best on ground in what Kerry said was a special performance.
She didn’t play in the first final through injury and the coach said she probably shouldn’t have played in the grand final.
“She went out and had a blinder,” Kerry said.
Sarah Wright, Atta and Ellie McLean were others named in the best for the Blues.
For more photos of the game and celebrations, go to starweekly.com.au.
