Two finals combine for 5-point margin – Division 4 Women’s Finals Week 1 Review

Week 1 of the Division 4 Women’s finals has kicked off, with two thrilling matches played out across the weekend.

Wattle Park and Aquinas will meet in this weekend’s Preliminary Final, with a spot in the Grand Final on the line. Meanwhile, Mazenod have booked their ticket into the Grand Final in two weeks’ time after securing their place with a strong finals victory.

With everything now on the line, Wattle Park and Aquinas will battle it out for the final spot in the Division 4 Women’s Grand Final.

Wattle Park 5.6 (36) def Old Xaverians 5.3 (33)

Wattle Park have booked their place in the Preliminary Final after defeating Old Xaverians by three points at Whitefriars College Oval.

The Animals had the perfect start, kicking three goals to Old Xavs one in the opening term to establish an early lead.

Old Xaverians fought their way back into the contest in the second quarter, kicking two goals to reduce Wattle Park’s advantage to just two points at half time.

Wattle Park wrestled back momentum in the third term, adding two goals to extend their lead to 18 points at the three-quarter-time break.

Both sides had patches of momentum throughout the final quarter, but the Animals were able to withstand a late surge from Old Xavs to hold on for a thrilling three-point victory and secure their place in the Preliminary Final.

Hannah Pear was on song in front of goal, finishing with three goals, while Georgie Dillon and Grace Ambrosini added one major each.

Wattle Park coach Mel Dell’Olio was delighted with his side’s performance.

“It was a thrilling final. We started strong but Old Xavs really lifted and controlled the second quarter.

“To our team’s credit, we swung momentum in the third quarter and were able to withstand some late Old Xavs surges.

“Congratulations to Jemima Clancy who celebrated their 50^th game in style and a big shoutout to our smallest defender Morgan ‘Big Dog’ Biggar who got a desperate touch on the last line to thwart a likely goal in the final moments.”

Best

Wattle Park: Hannah Pear, Georgie Dillon, Lucy Eales, Charlotte Norton, Emily Severin, Rani Knight

Old Xaverians: Chloe Behrens, Charli Wapshott, India Harries, Emma Sheedy, Adele Nucara, Molly Blood

Aquinas 1.12 (18) def by Mazenod 3.2 (20)

Mazenod are the first team to book their place in the Grand Final after defeating Aquinas by two points at Whitefriars College Oval.

Mazenod started strong, kicking the only goal of the opening quarter. Zoe Spicer opened the scoring in the second term before Emily Box got Aquinas on the board late in the quarter, giving the Bloods a one-point lead at half time.

The Nodders kicked the only goal of the third quarter in the early stages, as the intensity lifted with both sides refusing to give each other any easy passages of play. The tight contest saw Mazenod take a six-point lead into the final change.

Despite neither side managing to find the goals in the final quarter, the game remained a thrilling contest, with both teams going coast-to-coast for much of the term. Mazenod lifted when it mattered most, applying pressure late to hold on for a two-point victory and secure their place in the Grand Final.

Erin Hopkins was instrumental in front of goal, finishing with two majors, while Stephanie Smith added one goal.

Mazenod coach Matt Foale was thrilled with his side’s victory, recognising the hard work the club has put in over recent years to grow and develop the standard of its women’s program.

Foale said reaching the Grand Final was recognition of the effort and energy invested across the program, while emphasising that the job is not yet done.

“It was a tough hard game, what you’d expect in a final. It was pretty neck and neck all day.

“The only difference was inside 50 efficiency with the breeze. Our pressure was elite and it ultimately gave us the edge in getting over the line. Emily Skrzyniarz was strong down back, Shelby Vicic and Stephanie Smith were influential through the middle and Iliana Skantzos was in and under every stoppage.

“So much to celebrate, however this story isn’t written yet.”

Best

Aquinas: Dianna Haines, Tia Steen, Hannah Jones, Hannah Virgona, Emily Box, Millie Edwards

Mazenod: Iliana Skantzos, Erin Hopkins, Emily Skrzyniarz, Zoe Hayden, Shelby Vicic, Laura Gartland