From Friday night fireworks to Finals fever: Round 16 delivers

Round 16 of Premier B Women’s marked the end of the home-and-away season, and while the top four sides are locked in for finals, the weekend’s action was anything but predictable.

From a Friday night thriller to last-quarter heroics, teams across the competition showed grit, growth, and glimpses of what’s to come. Whether it was St Bedes/Mentone Tigers and Old Xaverians battling to the final siren, Old Yarra Cobras edging out Westbourne in a two-point nail-biter, or Port Melbourne Chargers and Old Brighton honing their craft ahead of finals, the round delivered high-quality contests and heartfelt moments to close out the regular season.

Under the lights at Mentone Reserve, St Bedes/Mentone Tigers and Old Xaverians delivered one of the most gripping contests of the season, with the Tigers holding on for a nail-biting five-point win, 5.10 (40) to 5.5 (35).

The match had all the hallmarks of finals footy, despite being contested between two sides who won’t feature in finals this year – momentum swings, clutch goals, and fierce tackling pressure. Old Xavs struck first through Chiara Chiarelli, but the Tigers responded with two of their own to take a three-point lead into the first break.

The two sides traded goals in the second term, with the Tigers extending their lead by an additional three points.

Old Xaverians lifted their intensity in the third, winning the territory game and reclaiming the lead. Just before the siren, Tigers’ vice-captain Madeleine Tilley slotted a crucial goal to put St Bedes up by a single point heading into the final term.

Old Xavs came out firing in the fourth, snatching back the lead with an early goal. But the Tigers weren’t done. After struggling with accuracy all day, Isabella Gietzmann, the league’s third-leading goal kicker, stepped up with a composed finish to swing the lead back in her side’s favour. From there, the Tigers’ held their nerve, locking the ball in their forward half until the final siren sounded.

Georgia Ricardo was a standout for the Tigers, combining toughness with clean ball use, while Maddi Wilson and Madeleine Tilley were also instrumental, combining for three goals.

For Old Xaverians, captain MelClarke led by example, kicking a goal and driving her side forward with relentless effort. Molly McCarthy was Old Xavs’ best player in the heartbreaking loss, producing one of her finest performances of the season.

With the win, St Bedes/Mentone Tigers can take confidence into the off-season, having notched six wins and a draw for the season to finish fifth position on the ladder. Unfortunately for Old Xavs, the loss sees them end their season in eighth position on the ladder.

At Andrew Park Pavilion, Old Yarra Cobras capped off their season with a hard-fought two-point win over Westbourne Grammarians, 3.4 (22) to 3.2 (20), in a match that provided a glimpse into the Cobras’ promising future.

With finals already secured for Westbourne, the match served as a valuable tune-up for their campaign, while Old Yarra were determined to finish their season on a high. The Cobras struck early, taking an eight-point lead into quarter time, and despite Westbourne’s making the most of the wind in the second quarter, the visitors fought back in the third to take a two-point lead into the final break.

The final term was a tense arm-wrestle, with Westbourne briefly taking the lead before Old Yarra’s Lara Moussa slotted the match-winning goal at the 14-minute mark, sealing a memorable victory.

Cobras coach Michael Talbot praised his side’s resilience, noting that even with their backs against the wall in the final term, they were still able to find a way to win.

“We defended extremely well in the last quarter to cause a lot of stoppages and take away their space,” he said. “There was a strong wind and being able to have a period in the last quarter against the wind where we controlled field position and play gave us an opportunity to kick the winning goal – with the help of some luck.”

Talbot highlighted the leadership of Clare Moody, who stepped up as captain in the absence of Alannah Murray, and the efforts of Erin Woodford in defence, whose intercept marking and rebound work were crucial. Young midfielders Mia Giannopoulos and Lara Moussa also impressed with their drive and contest work.

For Westbourne, coach Chris Grant commended the Cobras’ performance and reflected on the strategic approach his side took, explaining that with the result unable to affect their final standing, they opted to rest seven senior players and provide an opportunity for less experienced players.

“Our attitude to the game by those that played was terrific, and with Old Yarra playing a great game of footy, it provided a great opportunity to prep for our first final this week,” he said.

The youngest player on Westbourne’s list, Gabby Pejovic, made her seniors debut in a touching moment for the home side, while Chloe Weston-Sirett impressed in her third senior game for the year, kicking two long-range goals.

Usual suspects Gracie Lamers and Eleni Kikidis stood out through the middle, while Kayla Koropeckyj and Hannah McMahon held strong in defence.

While Westbourne now turn their focus to finals, Old Yarra Cobras can take pride in their growth across the season, finishing with five wins and a clear sense of momentum heading into 2026.

Meanwhile at JL Murphy Reserve, Port Melbourne Chargers closed out their home-and-away season with a commanding 57-point win over Melbourne University Women’s FC, 10.7 (67) to 1.4 (10), which saw star forward Georgia Harris put on a clinic.

The Chargers started strong, kicking three goals in the opening quarter, and maintained control throughout the match. Melbourne Uni showed glimpses of fight, particularly in the third quarter, but were ultimately outclassed by a well-drilled Port Melbourne outfit.

Coach Harriet Cooper will be pleased with her side’s ability to build momentum heading into finals, especially with Harris hitting peak form. Providing the key target up forward all day, Harris continuously hit the scoreboard, kicking three final-term goals to finish with seven for the day, and 45 for the season.

Maia Sublet was influential in the ruck, also having an impact as an additional midfielder once the ball hit the ground, which saw her edge out Harris for the best-on-ground honours.

It’s been a challenging season for MUWFC, who were unable to register a win across 16 rounds. Despite the scoreboard, their effort and commitment remained evident, and their young squad showed glimpses of potential that will serve them well as they look to rebuild and regroup heading into next year.

Minor premiers Old Brighton flexed their premiership credentials with a dominant 58-point win over Marcellin, 8.16 (64) to 1.0 (6).

The Tonners burst out of the gates, kicking four goals in the opening term with the aid of a strong breeze, and never looked back. By half-time, they had built a 50-point buffer, effectively putting the game out of reach.

While a different Marcellin outfit showed up in the second half, bringing a much more even contest, Old Brighton’s ability to run and carry, as well as their disciplined pressure, ensured they maintained control throughout.

Tonners coach Andrew Grant was pleased with his side’s fast start.

“We won the game with a very strong first half and were able to put scoreboard pressure on Marcellin, which made it hard for them to come back,” he said. “After that, the game was a real arm wrestle and a really good contest. I was very happy with our discipline and run, as well as the physical pressure we applied.”

Scout Howden was electric up forward, finishing with four goals and proving a constant threat inside 50, while Charley Hodgson and Lucy Mitchell also caught the eye of their coach, competing hard all day. 

Although Marcellin struggled to stop Old Brighton’s quick ball movement, they showed great resilience to arrest Old Brighton’s momentum in the second half, eventually breaking through for a goal via Zoe Glascott in the final term.

Despite the loss, coach Paul Harvey was full of praise for his players. 

“Jennae Wakefield was a rock in defence against a really good forward line. She took mark after mark and stopped many OB forays forward. A terrific game,” said Harvey. “Also, a terrific game by Hayley Carlson at CHB only 6 weeks after giving birth to her third. She is an Amazon.”

Reflecting on the season, Harvey noted the challenges of adapting to the 16-a-side format of Premier B, with managing fair rotations a struggle, but celebrated the progress made by his developing group.

“Despite this, we made some great progress with the girls new to the game and really enjoyed the competition and the camaraderie. I personally enjoyed the chats with rival coaches and the exuberance of our opponents,” he said. “Women’s footy is a joy to be involved with.”

Old Brighton now head into finals as clear flag favourites, having only dropped one game, while Marcellin close out the season in seventh place.

Next week, finals begin at 11:40 am at Elsternwick Park, where Port Melbourne Chargers and Westbourne Grammarians will meet in a do-or-die elimination final. Next up, Old Brighton and Old Melburnians will do battle in what promises to be a scintillating contest, with the winner to earn a ticket to the 2025 Premier B Women’s Grand Final.