Fields in a thriller as Eagles book grand final spot

Rebecca Carter

Caulfield Grammarians vs West Brunswick

A windy Glen Huntly Oval was the setting for a Semi Final thriller between Caulfield Grammarians and West Brunswick. The Magpies had not registered a single point to half time, but they took advantage of the wind in the third term, and thanks to goals from Laura Holdsworth and Sophie Stewart, scores were level at three-quarter time and the game was up for grabs. Enter, Ruby Edmeades. After a nasty injury to star Fields midfielder Irena Malliaris in the opening minutes of the game, Edmeades had an instant impact taking over from Malliaris in the midfield. But she saved her best effort for the last term, when she put through the only last quarter goal to kick her team into a preliminary final. Chelsea Fisher also stood up for Caulfield, with a blistering display of contested football, and Cheree Peters was the ultimate utility, delivering in both attack and defence. With a 10-point semi-final win for Caulfield, a formidable St Kevin’s side now awaits in what is sure to be a tightly contested preliminary final battle.

Marcellin vs SKOB Saints

For much of the season, it was the big scores from Marcellin that allowed them to put together their undefeated run. However, finals are played much differently, and this time it was the Eagles defence that proved to be the difference, as Marcellin booked their spot in the William Buck Premier Women’s Grand Final with a 10-point victory over a gallant St Kevin’s. Maddie Di Cosmo (Marcellin) led her midfield with a best on ground performance, and she had support from both Lily Pisasale and Eliza Roughead. The Saints failed to find the goals, as Nat Gills, Charlotte Grieve and Anja Marshallay held firm down back for the Eagles all day. Up forward, second quarter goals to star duo Shaylee Taylor and Cecilia Baldassare put Marcellin into the biggest game of the year, and they now find themselves just one win away from the perfect season. For the Saints, a second chance comes in the form of a Preliminary Final against a red-hot Caulfield Grammarians team.

PREVIEW – SKOB Saints vs Caulfield Grammarians

You’d be a brave person to confidently tip a winner in this game, as these two teams haven’t seen each other since Round 1. It was St Kevin’s by 14 points back in April, however, a lot has taken place in William Buck Premier Women’s since then, and both these teams have put together outstanding 2021 campaigns. The likes of Chelsea Fisher and Ruby Edmeades stood tall in the midfield for the Fields last week against West Brunswick, and they will need to do much of the same this week to stop Jessica Joyce, Jennifer Osman and Bree Doyle providing the Saints star-studded forward line with first use of the footy. Preliminary finals are historically some of the closest games of footy, and the toughest test in VAFA women’s footy awaits the winner – an undefeated Marcellin in the big dance.