VAFA Wilson Women’s Division 1 -3 Grand Final Previews

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Alisha Min

Division 1 Grand Final

Hawthorn AFC and Ivanhoe AFC will kick-off proceedings at Elsternwick Park on Sunday morning, hunting for the coveted premiership flag in Division 1. Although they exited the home & away season as minor premiers, Ivanhoe stumbled in the semi-final, falling short to the Hawks by 15 points at Ivanhoe Park. On neutral territory this time round, the Ivies will be keen to exact revenge while Hawthorn’s week off will have them primed and ready to repeat the fall outs from two weeks passed.

Head-To-Head

In the Hawks v Ivanhoe match ups during the home & away season, both teams managed a win against each other taking it to a 1-1 tally prior to the finals. Mere points separated these two great sides during the season, two points in favour of the Hawks in Round 2 and three points to the Ivies advantage more recently in Round 12, so it would be somewhat surprising if either team were able to take this, the most definitive match for the season, by more than two goals. In the Round 2 battle, it was a low-scoring affair with the first goal of the match kicked late in the third term. For the winning hawks, Georgia Du Plessis polled the most votes for the victorious Hawks, while Hannah Slaughter and Georgia Aanensen were instrumental for the Ivies, for whom this was just their first of two losses which they would sustain for the entire season. 11 weeks later, and it was Hawthorn who hosted the top of the table Ivanhoe at Rathmines Road Reserve. It was a see-sawing contest, with the lead going narrowly the Ivies way at the end of the first, before the Hawks took a 4-point advantage at the half. Though scoreboard inaccuracy was prevalent in the Ivanhoe camp (1.14 at 3QT), a 2.1 final term gifted them the four premiership points. For the Hawks, Emma Peel (1) was relentless, but the on-field leadership of Sarah Kerr and Frederica Frew proved too strong.

Current Form

Hawthorn AFC: WLWWW

Ivanhoe AFC: WWWLW

Ivanhoe did boast a significant percentage advantage over the Hawks at the end of the minor rounds, with a 60 point superiority in points-against and 46 point betterment in points-for, but their match-ups prove that hardly anything divides these two teams. Hawthorn have had the week’s break to assess the situation, and have had a taste of premiership glory from their Development Division 4 victory, while Ivanhoe’s commanding win to knock out St Bedes/Mentone Tigers in the Preliminary final could see their confidence soar in this show-stopping outing.

Players to Watch

Hawthorn AFC: Penny Brown, Sarah Delbosc

Penny Brown took the triple crown in the Development Division 4 Grand Final in 2017: Premiership player, BOG in the Grand Final, and the Best & Fairest winner for the season. With an affinity for the big stage, and an acute read of play, look for Penny to win plenty of centre clearances here. Polling a very respectable 11 votes in the Division 1 best & fairest vote tally, Sarah’s influence across half-back is fundamental in the Hawks game-plan. If Sarah is at her peak on Sunday, it’ll be exceptionally difficult for the Ivies to move the ball up forward.

Ivanhoe AFC:  Georgia Scarce & Tahlia Day

Fresh off her announcement as the Division 1 best & fairest winner, Georgia will undoubtedly be a key focus for the Hawks around stoppages with her quick ball skills and ability to shrug tackles. Named Ivanhoe’s BOG for the last three weeks consecutively, and booting the team’s most goals for the season to date with 17 majors, Tahlia’s strong hands and finesse around goals and through the ruck cannot be underestimated.

Division 2 Grand Final

Playing for premiership bragging rights at Trevor Barker Oval on Sunday afternoon, Old Melburnians and Whitefriars will go head-to-head in the final decider of the Women’s Division 2 2018 season. OM’s credentials as minor premiers at the end of the home & away season was blatantly clear in the semi finals when they dismantled Old Ivanhoe by 38 points, keeping the 2nd placed side to a solitary point for the duration of the match. Comparatively, Whitefriars (3rd) have showed utter determination in their journey to finals. This begun with a five-point victory over Williamstown CYMS (4th) in the semis, a applaudable comeback despite trailing by two points at the major break, which was followed by an 11-point victory over Old Ivanhoe, a margin which was inflated thanks to a compelling, and accurate, final term.

Head To Head

The two home and away games between these two sides have been thrillers with a Round 3 draw followed up by an eight-point OM’s win. OMs led by 12 points at half time of their Round 3 clash until the Friars clawed their way back with three goals to one in the second half. Georgia Dunlop and Sophie Fraser kicked two goals each for OM’s, while Clare Fernandes and Jayne Blakemore were standouts for the Friars. In their Round 10 return match, OMs came from two points down at the main break as they kept the Friars scoreless for the final two terms. Kiara Chapman starred in front of goals with three for the winners while Division 2 leading goal kicker Eilish Boyd kicked a season-high four goals for the Friars.

Current Form

Old Melburnians: WWWWW

Whitefriars: LWWWW

Both Old Melburnians and Whitefriars have had ideal runs heading into finals, that being, a run without many blemishes. OM’s last seven victories, which were consecutive, were by an average margin of 26 points with a game high score of 52 points, and two occasions where they held their opponents to just one point (Old Ivanhoe – SF, Oakleigh – Rd 13). On the other hand, Whitefriars’ have lost two of their last six matches (Aquinas – Rd 12, Bulleen Temp – Rd 11), but their inspired wins over the last fortnight to claw their way into the Division 2 Grand Final encounter can’t be ignored.

Players to Watch

Old Melburnians: Issy Smith and Monique Tarrant

Smith has a real knack of going big as shown when she polled four BOG’s among her 15 votes in Monday night’s vote count. She’s a born leader and will relish the opportunity to command her troops on Sunday. Tarrant is another standout after being named in the best eight times from her 10 games and polling nine votes.

Whitefriars: Clare Fernandes & Ilaria Akers

These two Whitefriars stars have been incredible through 2018, finishing second and third in the Division 2 vote count, respectively. 33 votes between them and a whole heap of disposals means if they can continually feed Boyd up forward, the Friars are every chance.

Division 3 Grand Final Preview

Minor premiers Preston Bullants take on the in-form Westbourne Grammarians at Trevor Barker Oval on Sunday morning. The Bullants have sat atop the Division 3 ladder for the most part of the season, collecting 11 wins during the home and away season before earning the week off with a 2nd semi victory over MCC. The Warriors, after the half way mark registering 2 wins with a percentage of 43%, have turned their season around remarkably to storm into the finals. Winning 6 straight games and have carried on this amazing run outclassing Power House & MCC in the 1st Semi & Preliminary Final respectively.

Head-To-Head

Round 13 – W.R Ruthven Reserve

Preston Bullants 4.2.26 lost to Westbourne Grammarians 11.7.73

Round 7 – Westbourne School Ground

Westbourne Grammarians 2.2.14 lost to Preston Bullants 9.13.67

Head to Head form is difficult to gauge with the Warriors having 9 different players taking the field in Round 13 to when the Bullants got the chocolates in Round 7. After both sides gaining victories away from home, meeting on neutral territory adds another facet to this intriguing clash. In the first encounter Preston kept Westbourne scoreless in the first quarter, and in the latest match the Warriors returned the favour. No doubt the start to Sunday’s Grand Final will be high on both coaches’ priority list to get the ascendency early.

Current Form

Preston Bullants: LWLWW

Westbourne Grammarians: WWWWW

Preston only dropped 3 games for the season, however 2 of those have been in the last five games. A commanding fortnight in Round 14 and the 2nd Semi Final will be sure to have Preston confident that they are back to the form that saw them be the ladder leaders throughout 2018. Westbourne are simply flying. Since the half way mark of the season with an influx of great local talent, the Warriors have taken all before them.

KEY FACTORS:

Preston Bullants; The Bullants were the highest scoring side in 2018, averaging 57 points a game and with their avenues to goal in Melissa Halton, Jacara Thomas and when Anita Ovenden hits the scoreboard, the Warriors will have their hands full.

Anita Ovenden has been exceptional in 2018, polling 21 votes in the League Best & Fairest and influential in all of the Bullants wins. She has also been named in the best by the club a team high 12 times.

Westbourne Grammarians; The last 5 weeks, the Warriors have conceded a miserly 15.6 points per game on average, and with the class of Rennae Robinson, Samantha Radlof & Victoria Petitt it is no wonder that the ball is not often in the defensive half for Westbourne, and when it is in this area it is rebounded just as quick as it goes in. Westbourne are magnificently coached and set up well behind the football and if they keep as organised as they were in the Preliminary Final, it could well see them continue their winning ways.

Lauren Spark has kicked multiple goals in the last four matches and if is not contained will provide Preston with some headaches, especially with goals looking to be hard to come by with the expected weather forecast of Showers.