Chargers win thriller to make club history – Premier B Women’s Preliminary Final Review

In a heart-stopping Preliminary Final at the Kennedy Community Centre, Port Melbourne Chargers held off a gallant Old Melburnians by a single point to earn their place in the Grand Final, in a game that lived up to every bit of finals hype.

Old Melburnians 4.3 (27) def by Port Melbourne Chargers 3.10 (28)

The Chargers, riding a wave of momentum after downing both Beaumaris and Old Melburnians late in the home-and-away season, once again proved composed under pressure – but only just, in a contest that went right down to the final siren.

Old Melburnians looked the more dangerous side early, owning the contest and executing the game plan.

 Against the flow of play, Georgia Harris took a strong mark and converted to open the scoring for the Chargers, but Old Melburnians were quick to respond through Sophie Fraser, who was rewarded for a tackle inside forward 50.

Olive Mclean followed up with a strong mark in the pocket, kicking truly to earn the Omlettes the early advantage.

However, the complexion of the game shifted from quarter time onwards. Port Melbourne wrestled back momentum, owning territory by locking the ball in their forward half for large stretches.

Their defensive structure has been a hallmark of their late-season surge and it strangled the Omlettes’ ability to move the ball into attack.

Maegan Harrison’s clever stoppage goal early in the second term saw the Chargers reclaim the lead, and they continued to pepper away at the scoreboard until Maia Sublet found the big sticks halfway through the third term.

Pia Juricic provided some relief for the Omlettes with a running goal late in the third to see them trail 3.0 (18) to 3.7 (25) at the final change.

The final quarter was pure finals theatre.

The Chargers protected a narrow buffer as Old Melburnians threw everything at them, but wave after wave of attack was repelled by a resolute Port Melbourne backline.

Sophie Fraser conjured her second major of the day at the 17-minute mark, bringing the Omlettes back within a point, but despite a frantic final few minutes, Old Melburnians could not find the single behind required to force extra time.

Port Melbourne coach Harriet Cooper said her side’s composure in the dying minutes was the difference.

“The game ultimately came down to our backline’s absolute composure under pressure during that tense final quarter,” Cooper said.

“When Old Melburnians threw everything at us late, our group stayed disciplined, held structure, and executed crucial defensive efforts in the dying minutes to protect our one-point lead.”

Cooper was full of praise for her group’s belief in the system when the game was on the line.

“I was most pleased by the team’s resilience and total trust in our system when the match was on the line. It was a complete whole-of-ground defensive effort, driven by a mature group that refused to panic under immense heat.”

The Chargers’ entire back six earned a special mention from Cooper, who described them as “absolute rocks all day” for their aerial composure, intercept marking and organised rebound work under severe pressure.

For Old Melburnians, coach Nic Stephens was gracious in a gut-wrenching defeat.

“Definitely not how we had hoped the season would finish up, but that’s just footy sometimes,” Stephens said.

“As much as the result hurt, it was a really good game. I thought we came out of the gates really well, with our girls really crashing the contests and playing to the game plan, and then from quarter time onwards Port responded strongly and really strangled our ability to get the ball deep into our forward 50.”

Stephens acknowledged the Chargers’ hard-earned defensive method proved the difference.

“Port’s defensive structure and pressure is something we know they’ve worked on, and they executed it really well, so I think that was probably what gave them the win in the end.”

Captain Amelia Kogler produced what Stephens described as “one of the best captain’s games I’ve seen in a while”, lifting both her own game and the team’s intensity when moved back into the midfield in the second half. Sophie Fraser and Olive McLean were dangerous up forward, Steph Barnett and Clare Fraser made impacts at both ends, and Harriet Kogler and Sally Peers were superb off the half-back flanks.

Co-captain Georgia Dunlop also showed immense courage, suffering a brutal injury early in the game, yet continuing to urge her teammates on from the sidelines.

Reflecting on the season, Stephens was full of pride despite the campaign ending one game short of the decider.

“I’m still processing it all to be honest, but overall, I’m so bloody proud of this group. We overcame so many obstacles this year with girls getting injured and being unavailable, to finish a game clear in second and then lose both finals in really tight, well-fought games – it hurts, but it doesn’t take away from all the time and effort the girls put in.”

The final stage is set. Port Melbourne Chargers, the form side of the competition, will take on minor premiers and reigning benchmark Beaumaris in the Grand Final.

The Chargers are the only side to have toppled the Sharks this season, earning the premiership points back in Round 15, but Beaumaris have enjoyed the week’s rest that comes with a Qualifying Final win and will start as favourites in their bid to cap a remarkable 2026 campaign with the ultimate prize.

For the Chargers, they have already ticked off one huge accomplishment by making a Grand Final in just their second season as a club, but the celebration doesn’t have to end there.

“We aren’t changing what has worked all season, so our main priority is keeping our routines as consistent and structured as possible,” Cooper said.

“We are incredibly proud of the squad for earning their place in the Grand Final and can’t wait for the opportunity this weekend.”