THERE was no particular focus in stepping up on grand final day, other than taking home the premiership cup, but for Oakleigh Chargers defender Sienna Tallariti, it was a performance to remember. Since moving into defence this season after starting in attack and rolling through the midfield at times, Tallariti has produced a number of impressive performances, but none more so than her epic effort at Ikon Park.

“I mean what can I say? I feel great,” Tallariti told Rookie Me Central post-match. “It’s been a hard season, it’s been long but to come out with the win, I feel ecstatic right now.”

Tallariti amassed 32 disposals and 12 marks – season-highs – as well as laying five tackles and having six rebound 50s in the Chargers’ hard-fought seven-point win over Eastern Ranges. She led a defence that was threatened in the last quarter, but alongside the likes of skipper Lara Hausegger, Lucy Cronin, Charlotte Brewer and Chloe Thorn, stood tall.

Despite putting in a best on ground performance with those remarkable numbers, Tallariti said she only had the one goal in mind.

“I just came out here doing my part,” Tallariti said. “I didn’t care about best on or anything, I just wanted that win. Put my best foot forward and the rest of the teammates did too.”

The highs of winning a grand final seem a far cry a week ago from where Tallariti had to come from the field after copping a knee in the back during Oakleigh’s preliminary final. She only played just under a half in that match, but despite needing to go off to get scans, the Chargers’ defender was confident she was never going to miss the grand final.

“No (I didn’t have any fears of missing), I put the padding on, nothing was stopping me from playing,” Tallariti said. “But the strength and conditioning team got me back on and I was good to go.”

One of many contributors in the premiership team, Tallariti said the key was “being hard from the start”.

“I think centre clearances are really important, just being on them, pressure,” she said. “Then just getting the ball to ground if it’s in the air and working it effectively up the ground.”

The performance might have been one out of the box, but the Chargers bottom-ager has been considered among the top-end group of players for next year. She already earned a Vic Metro spot this season – though in her first of two games copped a knock and had to come off – as well as a place in the Under 17s Futures match where she held her own in defence.

“It’s a great experience, I learnt a lot from the coaches there from all the different districts,” Tallariti said. “It’s great to meet all those new people too to just develop myself.”

As for looking ahead to next year – her draft year – Tallariti said she was looking forward to a big preseason to be in the best shape possible for 2024.

“Working on a lot of my fitness, aerobic and anaerobic, and be back in preseason in two month’s time,” she said.

The players will now enjoy a well-earned break, with some of the top-age representatives set to test themselves at upcoming Draft Combines, while the under-age prospects prepare for a big off-season and see whether Oakleigh can go back-to-back next season.