IT went right down to the final day of the Victorian Football League (VFL) Women’s season, but the Southern Saints clinched the sixth spot in the finals series after winning against North Melbourne, grabbing back their place which was temporarily lost after the Western Bulldogs upset Casey Demons on Saturday. Geelong almost slipped up a double chance when it lost to Collingwood, but the Hawks came to the rescue to send off veteran and football legend Meg Hutchins in style, defeating third placed Port Melbourne in a huge result.

DAREBIN 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 (2)
ESSENDON 3.3 | 5.3 | 7.9 | 7.10 (52)

Essendon finished its regular season off on a high, running away with a 50-point victory over wooden spooners Darebin. Despite the Falcons restricting the inaccurate Bombers to only the two goals in the second half, Essendon proved too strong overall, claiming a big 7.10 (52) to 0.2 (2) win at Bill Lawry Oval. Jessie Davies slotted three goals from seven disposals, whilst the midfield of the bombers dominated with 12 more clearances. Lead by Georgia Nanscawen (23 disposals, seven clearances, nine tackles and four inside 50s), second gamer and potential top AFLW Draft selection Georgie Prespakis (24 disposals, seven clearances, nine tackles and three inside 50s) and the reliable Alana Barba (23 disposals, six clearances, 11 tackles and three inside 50s), Essendon proved too strong for their opponent. Bombers debutant Tahlia Gillard also looked comfortable with nine disposals, two marks and 13 hitouts, whilst Calder teammate Emelia Yassir was amongst the best with 18 touches, four inside 50s  and three tackles. For the Falcons, Alyssa Mifsud had 15 touches, seven clearances, six hitouts and four rebound 50s in a huge effort, whilst Kathleen Roe and Nicole Callinan (both 12 disposals, five tackles and three rebound 50s) were strong in defence. Sidney Cubasch (32 hitouts, four tackles and eight disposals) was busy in the ruck.

GOALS:

Darebin: Nil.
Essendon: J. Davies 3, M. Clifford, G. Nanscawen, T. Crook, S. Nalder.

BEST:

Darebin: K. Roe, S. Cubasch, K. Hazlett, S. David, S. Padovano, E. Buckley
Essendon: A. Barba, E. Yassir, T. Gillard, G. Prespakis, S. Nalder, C. Ugle

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COLLINGWOOD 0.1 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 3.5 (23)
GEELONG 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.4 (4)

Collingwood completed an undefeated season in the VFL Women’s competition, knocking off second placed Geelong by 19 points at Victoria Park in a curtain raiser to this weekend’s qualifying final. The Magpies won off the back of staunch defence, restricting the Cats to just four behinds for the game, whilst kicking three majors from eight scoring chances themselves. Mikala Cann was a clear best on ground performer, putting up 30 disposals, eight clearances, 11 tackles, five inside 50s, three rebound 50s and a goal in the win. Matilda Zander (20 disposals, six tackles, three marks and five rebound 50s), Georgia Ricardo (16 disposals, four tackles, three clearances and a goal), Ebony O’Dea (15 disposals, three marks, four tackles, three inside 50s and two clearances) and youngster Eliza James (13 disposals, five marks, three tackles, three inside 50s, two clearances and a goal) all impressed in the win. Olivia Fuller was named best-on for the Cats in her role through the ruck with 12 disposals, 27 hitouts, six tackles, three clearances and three inside 50s. Sophie Van De Heuvel (18 disposals, four tackles, six clearances and seven inside 50s), Renee Garing (19 disposals, 12 tackles) and Paige Sheppard (15 disposals, six marks, seven tackles and three clearances) all impressed as well, with Maddie Boyd trying hard on her way to 11 touches, three marks, five hitouts, five tackles and four rebound 50s.

GOALS:

Collingwood: M. Cann, E. James, G. Ricardo.
Geelong: Nil.

BEST:

Collingwood: I. Purcell, A. Newman, E. James, M. Zander, M. Cann, E. O’Dea
Geelong: O. Fuller, S. Van De Heuvel, M. Boyd, P. Sheppard, R. Garing, C. Leonard

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WESTERN BULLDOGS 1.2 | 3.6 | 3.9 | 5.10 (40)
CASEY DEMONS 0.1 | 3.1 | 4.1 | 4.4 (28)

Whilst in hindsight the win was not enough for the Western Bulldogs to secure a finals spot, they did end their season on a high with a two-goal win over Casey Demons. The Bulldogs had a fight on their hands for the most part, with inaccuracy again plaguing the home team, but two last quarter goals saw them kick away and grab the 5.10 (40) to 4.4 (28) victory. Elisabeth Georgostathis was best-on with 24 disposals, nine clearances, five marks, five tackles and six inside 50s, whilst Britney Gutknecht had the 25 touches, five tackles, two clearances, two marks and three rebound 50s, and Gemma Lagioia booted two goals from 20 touches and four inside 50s. Danielle Marshall (18 disposals, four marks and five rebound 50s) and Brooke Hards (seven disposals, six tackles, two inside 50s and three rebounds) teamed up well in defence, and Nicole McMahon (12 disposals, two marks, 25 hitouts, three clearances and three rebound 50s) covered the field well. Eliza West topped the Demons’ disposal count with 24 touches, nine tackles, six clearances, four inside 50s and two rebounds, whilst Nicole Hales (20 disposals, seven rebound 50s) and Alison Brown (20 disposals, six rebound 50s) were both impressive in defence. up the other end, Casey Sherriff had 19 touches, eight marks, six inside 50s and a goal, whilst Jacqueline Parry snagged two goals from 17 touches and five marks.

GOALS:

Western Bulldogs: G. Lagioia 2, S. Ruedin, M. Sandral, T. Skenderis.
Casey Demons: J. Parry 2, C. Sherriff, A. Bannan.

BEST:

Western Bulldogs: E. Georgostathis, G. Lagioia, N. McMahon, D. Marshall, T. Skenderis, T. Meier
Casey Demons: C. Sherriff, N. Hales, S. Heath, E. West, G. Matser, E. Horne

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HAWTHORN 1.1 | 2.2 | 6.4 | 8.4 (52)
PORT MELBOURNE 3.0 | 4.5 | 5.7 | 6.8 (44)

In one of the upsets of the season and a phenomenal performance from Hawthorn, the Hawks stepped up in Hutchins’ last game to secure a memorable eight-point victory over the third placed Port Melbourne. The stakes could not have been higher for the Borough with a double-chance on the line, but Hawthorn brought its A-game to the match and booted six goals to two in the second half to run over the visitors at Box Hill and claim an 8.4 (52) to 6.8 (44) win. Jessie Williams was the key player up forward, slotting three goals from 12 disposals, two marks and three inside 50s. Tamara Luke had 20 touches, 33 hitouts, nine clearances, six marks, five tackles, two inside 50s, three rebound 50s and a goal in a huge all-round effort, with Hutchins named best on in her final game thanks to 12 disposals, two marks and a goal. Grace McRae (13 disposals, five clearances and six tackles) and Isabelle Khoury (nine disposals, six clearances, seven tackles, three inside 50s and a goal) were among the youngsters who stepped up and had an impact around the stoppages. For the Borough, Aurora Smith made her debut and had the nine disposals, two clearances, three inside 50s and three tackles, whilst fellow NAB League Girls talents Amanda Ling (11 disposals, three marks, 10 tackles and four inside 50s) and Brooke Vickers (15 disposals, two tackles and two rebound 50s) were also impressive. Sophie Locke slotted two goals from 13 touches, as Cleo Saxon-Jones impressed in defence with five rebound 50s from 11 touches.

GOALS:

Hawthorn: J. Williams 3, I. Khoury, D. Carbone, M. Hutchins, T. Luke, S. Perkins.
Port Melbourne: S. Locke 2, C. Dyett, E. Harley, M. Kuys, A. Edmonds.

BEST:

Hawthorn: M. Hutchins, K. Sherar, I. Khoury, J. Williams, J. Richardson, T. Luke
Port Melbourne: A. Ling, C. Dyett, E. Harley, A. Edmonds, O. Barton, L. McClelland

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SOUTHERN SAINTS 2.3 | 3.4 | 4.9 | 8.12 (60)
NORTH MELBOURNE 1.2 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.4 (22)

After a tight first half, Southern Saints kicked away to defeat North Melbourne by 38 points and book a VFL Women’s finals spot. The Saints lead by just a point at quarter time, but 5.8 to 0.1 after the main break – including four goals in the final term – resulted in the home team celebrating with an 8.12 (60) to 3.4 (22) win and securing sixth place on the table. Tara Bohanna slotted three goals from 25 disposals, eight marks, seven hitouts and three inside 50s, teaming up well with the dangerous Gabi De Angelis (24 disposals, nine marks, three tackles, eight inside 50s and two goals) for the bulk of the scoring. Tyanna Smith (23 disposals, six marks, six tackles and four inside 50s) and Hannah Stewart (22 disposals, three marks, six clearances and four inside 50s) were also busy, as Rebecca Neaves and Francesca Hocking both had 12 disposals and combined for nine rebound 50s. Capping off a simply remarkable season, North skipper Meagan Kiely might have saved her best to last. Racking up 36 disposals, 11 marks, three clearances, four inside 50s and six rebounds, Kiely was simply unstoppable around the ground. She teamed up well with Airlie Runnalls (33 disposals, nine marks, five clearances, four tackles, five inside 50s and a goal), whilst Sarah Skinner also slotted two goals returning to the team, along with 17 disposals, seven marks and four inside 50s. Jess Mourney was steadfast in defence with 17 touches, six marks and four rebound 50s.

GOALS:

Southern Saints: T. Bohanna 3, G. De Angelis 2, A. Peck, J. Matin, T. Kearns
North Melbourne: S. Skinner 2, A. Runnalls

BEST:

Southern Saints: T. Smith, H. Stuart, G. De Angelis, T. Kearns, R. Neaves, T. Bohanna
North Melbourne: A. Runnalls, M. Kiely, J. Mourney, S. Skinner, R. Hicks, A. Hamilton