Chargers make history as the Sharks lock in a Grand Final spot – Premier B Women’s Finals Week 1 Review

The first week of Premier B Women’s finals delivered on the hype, with minor premiers Beaumaris booking their spot in the Grand Final by holding off a determined Old Melburnians, and Port Melbourne Chargers continuing their remarkable late-season surge to end Williamstown CYMS’ season.

Port Melbourne 8.10 (58) def Williamstown CYMS 4.5 (29)

At Coburg City Oval, Port Melbourne Chargers made history with their first finals victory, holding off a fast-finishing Williamstown CYMS outfit to win by 29 points.

The Chargers controlled the play for the first three terms, slowly extending their lead at each break, to see themselves 26 points up heading into the final term. The CYs were yet to find a major.

To their credit, Williamstown refused to go quietly, mounting a spirited fourth-quarter charge. Through goals to Lily Hudson and Sofi Georgas, they whittled the deficit back to 14 points, briefly threatening to make things interesting.

However, Port Melbourne absorbed the pressure and doubled down with two consecutive goals to Tanisha Clark as the Chargers pulled away again late to book their place in the Preliminary Final.

Chargers coach Harriet Cooper said her side’s composure under pressure was the difference.

“The match came down to our ability to manage pressure when the momentum swung. Williamstown have challenged us all year, but our group showed tremendous maturity and composure when they made their surge, absorbing their heat and sticking to our structures to wrestle back control.

“When Williamstown pressed, no one panicked; the group stayed disciplined in our setup and executed our transition plan when it mattered most,” Cooper said.

Cooper refused to highlight any individual performances, instead complimenting each of the lines for their part in the performance.

Praising all areas including the midfield for their adaptability through momentum swings, the backline for withstanding the immense pressure from the Williamstown forwards in that final term, and the forwards for setting the tone and keeping the ball locked in their half.

While the result brings a close to Williamstown’s impressive Premier B campaign – one that saw them bounce back from Premier Women’s relegation to lock in a finals berth – the CYs can hold their heads high after showing great resilience across the year.

Beaumaris 4.3 (27) def Old Melburnians 2.4 (16)

In a fittingly tight Qualifying Final at William St Reserve, Beaumaris did just enough to overcome Old Melburnians, booking a week’s rest and a direct path to the Grand Final.

The two sides could not be separated early. Olivia Smith opened the scoring for the Sharks before Bella Freeman responded for the Omlettes to lock the game up at the first change.

The arm-wrestle continued through the second term, with Rosie Byrne and Emma Harpur trading goals to leave Old Melburnians narrowly in front, 14-13, at the main break.

It was the premiership quarter that made the difference – two unanswered goals to Byrne and Isabel Koster saw the Sharks shoot two goals clear at three-quarter time.

The Omlettes had their chances to respond in the final term but failed to capitalise, managing just two behinds to bring the final margin to 11 points.

Beaumaris coach Damian Farrow was delighted with his side’s performance.

“It was an even game, but we were able to put some pressure on OM in the third quarter and get some scoreboard reward,” Farrow said.

“Our work rate was terrific on the big ground – the players just kept fronting up at each contest.”

For Old Melburnians, coach Nic Stephens was disappointed by the result but heartened by his side’s improvement.

“I was pretty happy with our pressure and thought our structure was much improved from the week before. Those were two things we really worked on during the week, and the girls responded to the challenge with enthusiasm,” Stephens said.

“Ultimately Beaumaris were just a bit cleaner with the footy at times, and that was enough in the end. It’s a testament to the strength of the competition at the moment that we’re getting these tight games.”

It was an exciting battle in the midfield engine room between the Sharks’ dynamic duo of Sophie Crofts and Piper Phelan, against complimentary Omlettes pair, Zari Mildenhall and Georgia Dunlop.

Rosie Byrne and Bella Freeman were lively up forward for their respective teams, while Steph Barnett and Anna Sutcliffe starred in their independent backlines.

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The stage is now set for a blockbuster Preliminary Final, with Old Melburnians and Port Melbourne Chargers to battle it out for a place in the Grand Final.

It shapes as a fascinating clash. The Chargers arrive riding a wave of momentum, having downed both Beaumaris and Old Melburnians in the final rounds of the home-and-away season, while the Omlettes – who know their best can match it with anyone – will be desperate to avenge that recent defeat and keep their premiership dream alive.

Cooper is under no illusions about the task ahead.

“Heading into the Preliminary Final against Old Melburnians, our primary focus is matching their intent at the contest, as we know they will test us physically and strategically around the ground,” she said. “Preliminary finals come down to work rate, belief and executing under pressure.”

Stephens, meanwhile, is backing his Omlettes to trust the foundations that have carried them this far.

“We’re keeping our messaging simple this week and just making sure that we get the basics right,” Stephens said. “We know that our footy DNA is what’s got us here and at our best we’re good enough to win this so we’re not going to try and change too much late in the season.”