A REPEAT of last year’s Coates Talent League Girls Grand Final will take place next weekend after reigning premiers Oakleigh Chargers, and the team they beat in the 2023 decider Eastern Ranges, both won their respective preliminary finals.

Oakleigh Chargers 4.8 (32) defeated Dandenong Stingrays 3.0 (18)

MATCH SUMMARY:

In tough weather conditions, Oakleigh Chargers ground out a 14-point win over Dandenong Stingrays to keep their hopes of back-to-back flags alive. After trailing by four points at quarter time, the Chargers kicked 3.3 to 0.0 in the second term to take a 17-point lead into the main break. Though it looked like they had it under control, the Stingrays did manage to peg back the margin to a straight kick, before Oakleigh booted the last goal and held sway in a dour last term with the weather at its worst.

THE MOMENT:

A crucial 50m penalty to Abbey Vicino came against the tide with five minutes left in the match. The talented top-ager who has plied her trade as a forward this season, went to point blank range and nailed the goal to stretch the lead back out to two goals with her side to have the breeze in the final term.

KEY STATS:

Disposals: 254-219
Marks: 23-29
Inside 50s: 43-20
Rebound 50s: 17-36
Tackles: 111-94
Hitouts: 39-42

INDIVIDUAL STATS:

Chloe Bown (Oakleigh Chargers) 26 disposals, 5 tackles, 4 inside 50s
Zoe Curry (Oakleigh Chargers) 22 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 4 inside 50s
Maggie Mahony (Oakleigh Chargers) 18 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 3 inside 50s
Sarah Poustie (Oakleigh Chargers) 18 disposals, 17 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s
Abbey Vicino (Oakleigh Chargers) 18 disposals, 8 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 1 goal
Tahlia Sanger (Dandenong Stingrays) 19 disposals, 4 tackles, 3 rebound 50s
Lillian Snow (Dandenong Stingrays) 16 disposals, 6 tackles
Jemma Reynolds (Dandenong Stingrays) 16 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s
Elli Symonds (Dandenong Stingrays) 14 disposals, 9 tackles, 12 hitouts
Zoe Besanko (Dandenong Stingrays) 9 disposals, 6 tackles, 19 hitouts, 3 inside 50s

Geelong Falcons 2.3 (15) lost to Eastern Ranges 5.5 (35)

MATCH SUMMARY:

In some of the worst conditions of the season – right up there with Eastern’s hard-fought win over the Stingrays in Frankston – the Ranges came away with a 20-point victory thanks to a fast start. Though pelted by rain and small hail at times, the Ranges raced out of the blocks to pile on 4.2 (26) to 0.0 (0) at quarter time and looked likely to defy conditions and storm to a huge win. But alas, the conditions, and the fierce Falcons defensive efforts caught up with them. Geelong incredibly kicked back-to-back goals early in the fourth term to give them the slimmest of chances, before Eastern booted the sealer midway through the quarter.

THE MOMENT:

Eastern’s first quarter as a whole, but to be specific the first 3:35 which saw the Ranges pile on a goal per minute and not look like missing despite the horrid conditions. Scout Semple booted the first two – including one ripping snap before a set shot – then Georgia Knight got in on the fun with an equally brilliant finish under pressure. Every goal is worth a few in the conditions, so when Mackenzie Bourne kicked her side’s fourth late in the quarter, the deficit was already a mountain for Geelong to climb.

KEY STATS:

Disposals: 220-216
Marks: 26-18
Inside 50s: 24-26
Rebound 50s: 19-22
Tackles: 100-93
Hitouts: 40-40

INDIVIDUAL STATS:

Grace Belloni (Eastern Ranges) 27 disposals, 3 marks, 7 tackles, 5 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s
Tayla McMillan (Eastern Ranges) 27 disposals, 14 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s
Jordyn Allen (Eastern Ranges) 16 disposals, 10 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s
Josephine Bamford (Eastern Ranges) 6 disposals, 7 tackles, 28 hitouts, 2 inside 50s
Scout Semple (Eastern Ranges) 7 disposals, 2 goals
Ava Bilyk (Geelong Falcons) 24 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles, 5 rebound 50s
Filomena Iannuzzi (Geelong Falcons) 21 disposals, 9 tackles, 5 inside 50s
Hayley Peck (Geelong Falcons) 19 disposals, 3 marks, 9 tackles, 35 hitouts, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s
Sara Howley (Geelong Falcons) 17 disposals, 2 marks, 8 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s
Rebecca Clottey (Geelong Falcons) 13 disposals, 3 marks, 14 tackles, 1 goal