The year of the Trobers

La Trobe University has recorded one of the greatest victories in the club’s history, edging out Parkside by just three points in a thrilling Division 2 Women’s Grand Final.

They came into the game as underdogs, against a red-hot Parkside team who had won 11 straight games on the bounce. Coach Samantha Greene was stoked with her team’s triumph, taking nothing away from the team’s huge achievement. “I couldn’t be happier for the team, it’s been a long time coming that’s for sure”, Greene said. 

La Trobe have struggled with injuries this year and were pumped to finally get a full team on the park in the Grand Final. Greene was especially proud of Kate Bond who has battled courageously through injury this last month. “KB picked up a knee injury before the first final and actually didn’t train for the month, just getting herself up for the games. It’s a huge effort, especially if you look at the coaches votes for all 4 finals,” Greene exclaimed.

The Trobers matched up extremely well on Parkside throughout the contest, with Greene conceding they went to work on their game plan during the week. “They’re a super well-balanced team and we learnt a lot from our first match against them. The club films all our games, so we spent a lot of time analysing that last game and working on match ups”, Greene said.

La Trobe were just able to nullify the damaging ball movement that we have come accustomed to with Parkside over the last few months, winning the game on pressure and defence. The last thing you want to do against a side like Parkside is let them get on a roll and score with ease. La Trobe were able to take the game up to the Devils and cover their spread immensely. 

In what was an extremely frustrating and shattering day for Parkside, it doesn’t take away their incredible performance in the back half of this year. Winning 11 in a row and in convincing fashion is an incredible feat, something that we may never see again in this division.

What was often their greatest strength also becoming a weakness for the Devils, as the depth of their playing list made consistent team selection a challenge. As the Grand Final is the premier game of the season, the club faced the difficult challenge of not only selecting the best possible side but also balancing the desire to reward players for their contributions throughout the year.

What stood out most on the day, however, was the belief and resilience of the Trobers. Despite Parkside mounting several surges in the second half, La Trobe refused to give in, with their defensive structures holding firm under relentless pressure. Every contest was fiercely fought, with players throwing themselves into tackles and putting their bodies on the line. When the siren sounded the ground erupted in jubilation. The premiership not only capped off a remarkable season but also represented a defining moment in the club’s history – one that players, coaches and supporters will remember forever.

As the year draws to a close, it’s worth reflecting on what has been a truly outstanding season of Division 2 Women’s football. A huge thank you goes out to all clubs, coaches, and participants for their effort, insight, and dedication across the year, their contributions have been much appreciated.

Congratulations once again to La Trobe University on securing the 2025 premiership in dramatic fashion. With such quality across the competition this year, the future of Division 2 Women’s football looks incredibly bright heading into next season.