St Mary’s crowned champions in mouthwatering clash

The Grand Final for the Division 3 Women’s competition saw Ormond host St Mary’s Salesian in a tightly contested match that will be a Grand Final to remember. With Ormond having the week off, St Mary’s headed into the game off the back of a three-point victory over Old Camberwell.

With both teams evenly match throughout the first three quarters in regulation time, it was St Mary’s that found a way in extra time to secure the Division 3 Women’s flag.

The first quarter was a grind, with the Saints kicking two goals for the quarter: St Mary’s holding an eight-point lead.

Ormond opened up their scoring encounter in the second term, with goals from Nellie Smyth and Bo Fox, giving Ormond the lead in the early stages of the second quarter.

St Mary’s hit back on the scoreboard late before half time, shifting momentum back in their favour with a goal by Georgia Crowley to keep the Saints within striking distance, trailing by a single point.

The Saints regained ascendency in the third with a 2-goal to 1 premiership quarter turning a marginal deficit into a five-point advantage at the final change.

In a topsy turret last quarter that provided plenty of nerve-racking moments; Courtney Gaze-Persson got going for Ormond to take back the lead early in the term. Have it known, that would be the last goal of the game and from there on, it was a grind defensively with both teams giving it their all.

Two behinds late in the quarter by St Mary’s drew the game at 35-all, forcing the game into extra time.

Extra time was much the same in the last quarter with both teams giving it their all, grinding it out for every contest.

A behind by Georgia Cropley in the early stages and a late behind in the second half was enough to seal the victory for St Mary’s Salesian.

Georgia Cropley was best on ground for St Mary’s, whilst Lucy Dobbyn, Ella Wallace and Georgia Smith all kicked their goals.

For Ormond, Hannah Foran played her part well kicking two goals. Bo Fox, Courtney Gaze-Persson and Nellie Smyth all played their roles well.

It was a Grand Final spectators could only hope for as these two evenly matched power houses went head-to-head for the fourth time this season.

St Mary’s Salesian fought valiantly all season long, dropping just one home and away match, taking out the minor premiership, fighting back in the Prelim after going down in the Semi, all the claim the 2025 Division 3 Women’s Premiership.