Kew advance to the Big Dance while the Fields live to fight another day

St Kevins, the minor premiers will have to go the long way around the William Buck Premier Women’s finals campaign if they’re to bring home this year’s title after Kew spoiled their winning streak in the major semi-final. 

The only side to beat St Kevin’s during the home and away season knew they had to start well and be up for the contest all afternoon if they were to be in with a shot at the end. And they started well, a see-sawing entertaining opening term that saw Kew take a four point lead into the opening change. 

The second term on the scoreboard went in favour of the Bears as they extended the lead to 11 points at the main change. In both games Kew have won over St Kevin’s they’ve kept them to 1.2.8 at half-time. 

Sarah Cameron added her second goal of the day for SKOB and cut the margin to four points during the third term. All set for a grandstand finish at the final change, with a spot in the Grand Final on the line it was Kew who reigned supreme in the last quarter to come away winners by 8 points. 

They’ve earned themselves a week off, and a spot in the big dance. Michaela and Isabelle Harding were enormous for Kew, as they have been all season. Stood up when it counted most whilst Elyce Hay and Bree Doyle were named among the best for St Kevins. 

Kew will enjoy the week off and head down to Elsternwick Park on Sunday to find who they’ll face in the Grand Final. Will it be Caulfield Grammarians? Or, will they face SKOB for a fourth time this season? 

Caulfield are into the Preliminary Final after withstanding a spirited Melbourne University Women’s comeback late in the game. 

Courtney Gaze-Persson was the hero for the Fields, standing tall in front of goal late in the game. Before we get to that point of the contest, earlier in the day the sides were split by two points at quarter time. Eight points at both half time and three quarter time. 

It was a frenetic final term as the Mugars got the first goal on the board to cut the deficit to a solitary point before Gaze-Persson delivered the moment. Coming from the famous Gaze family it was almost football’s version of a buzzer beater to send the Fields fans into raptures and through to a Preliminary Final. 

MUWFC season finishes in the minor semi-final. While they’ll be burning inside that it ends here, they’ve had to build into the season. And will be no doubt looking to go two steps further in 2023. They can be proud as a club for what they’ve achieved this year. 

The Fields live to fight another day. Their previous encounters this year against St Kevin’s has seen them go down by 14 points and 17 points. The difference in this upcoming contest is the context of the game. There is no tomorrow, St Kevin’s are the raging favourites. But, Caulfield has momentum on their side and a nothing to lose mentality.