EAST Coast Eagles have earned the right to challenge for a third straight flag and a second crack at Manly Warringah Wolves after putting an end to Sydney University’s fairytale run from fifth spot. The Eagles controlled the game from the outside and had 20 scoring shots to four in a 10.10 (70) to 1.3 (9) win.

The game was different right from the start as the in-form Students’ ruck Kendra Blattman could not easily jump over VFLW-experienced Eagle, Caitlin Reid. It was clear from the first bounce that Summer Hall and Jessica Whelan were much more proactive in their desire to get their hands on the football first, and despite the Eagles racing out to a two-goal lead a the first break, Sydney Uni could be proud of its first quarter effort.

Sydney Uni’s pressure held up really well, and even allowed the Students to have some relatively straightforward set shots that missed which would have put them right beside East Coast in the match. The Eagles had missed a few themselves, but Hall and Amelie Prosser-Shaw were looking dangerous and able to evade the opposition consistently. A highlight in the first term was a superb grab by Jasmine Smith at half-back.

Caitlin Davidson’s snap goal for the Eagles’ second goal handed the home side a buffer at the opening break, before an arm-wrestle ensued on the other side of it. While the ruck duel hitouts between Reid and Blattman was being shared, it was the former who was starting to have an influence around the ground.

Amelia Causley Todd was doing well on Rylee McGartland inside the Students’ defensive 50, using her body well one-on-one and stifling the talented forward’s space. However, Sydney Uni was finding it very hard to create any offensive space at all. It was a scoreless first half of the quarter before a switch in the ruck which sent Reid forward and she immediately had an impact, tapping the ball down to skipper Bryany Parker to slot the side’s third major.

Reid and Parker were combining well in the middle, and when Hall found Davidson on the goalline for the latter to kick her second, the dam wall had burst. The rest of the first half, the ball lived in the Eagles’ forward half with the Students able to grimly defend to stop the flow and keep the half-time margin at 27 points.

Unfortunately for the Eagles, an injury to Reid – who had to be helped off the ground – was a disappointing result from an otherwise promising start. Hall stepped up in the third term to be everywhere, but the pressure from Daisy George and Saskia Johnson was making life a little more tricky for the Eagles.

Despite the defensive intent from the Students being excellent, the Eagles found a way to surge the ball forward multiple times and boot three more goals to one and essentially seal the result with a 38-point margin at three quarter time.

The Eagles were never going to take the foot off the pedal though, and coming out just as hungry in quarter four, they ran an end-to-end play to set up a goal to Prosser-Shaw thanks to a great set up by Abbey Martin. McGartland also pulled out the party tricks with a one-handed take out of the ruck close to goals and only using one hand was able to get boot to ball and put the icing on the cake.

Overall the Eagles had too much experience and were better at offensive football for longer. Hall found the level required for finals football and was clearly the best offensive player on the ground, while Prosser-Shaw and her sister Darcie influenced the game. Emily Hurley did very well in the ruck in Reid’s absence, while Renee Tomkins who controlled everything from behind the ball.

For the Students, Blattman might not have had the same influence as past weeks, but will learn a lot from the experience, while Smith and Causley Todd were consistently impressive throughout the four quarters. Sydney Uni’s season came to an end but could be looked upon fondly for its second half and finals run from fifth spot.

EAST COAST EAGLES 2.2 | 4.5 | 7.5 | 10.10 (70)
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY 0.2 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 1.3 (9)

GOALS:
East Coast: A. Prosser-Shaw 3, C. Davidson 2, C. Arndt, B. Bailey, R. McGartland, N. McMillan, B. Parker
Sydney Uni: J. Smith

BEST:
East Coast: S. Hall, A. Prosser-Shaw, M. Foscarini, R. Tomkins, B. Parker
Sydney Uni: A. Causley Todd, A. Dribbus, N. Waterson, J. Smith, E. Gelsomino