IT FELT like redemption for Western Australia. The Sandgropers – who had performed well without securing the ‘W’ in the first two games – finally grabbed their first win, defeating Vic Metro in a nail-biting four-point result at The Good Grocer Park.

There were storylines everywhere, with the potential for it to be a sequel to that of their loss to Queensland when bottom-age Vic Metro gun Bailee Martin lined up for a kick after the siren in the pocket. Fortunately for the home side – and unfortunately for the visitors – the kick would just go the wrong side of the post, guaranteeing Western Australia would secure a well deserved victory.

If that was not a redemption story, then the final goal of the day was equally as deserving. In game one after being in the final controversial ruck contest which saw her opponent kick the winning goal, this time it was Cara Dziegielewski who out of nowhere threw it on the right boot snapping around her body as she was thrown to the ground.

She and the large amount of players in the forward pocket all watched in unison as the ball kept bending in the strong four-to-five goal breeze. It snuck inside the post, signaling jubilation for the bottom-ager who has had a really impressive national carnival. It was that kind of a day, where a half chance could be the difference between a win and a loss, and it certainly was in the 4.4 (28) to 3.6 (24) result.

Both sides had their chances in the final term with two shots on goal – one each – spraying out on the full. The last two minutes features Vic Metro peppering the forward 50 but the work of West Australian defenders such as Maya Louvel-Finn, Mia Carlshausen and Heidi Ireland refused to yield. When Ava Stewart‘s desperate attempt to clear went out on the full in the dying seconds, the emotion on the West Australian faces was clear.

However when Martin went to collect the ball with a few seconds left, then was told not to run off her line from the tightest of angles, it was always going to be a tough task to put it through the big sticks. Indeed, while a gallant effort, it just went the wrong side and the two polar opposite emotions overflowed on the field.

West Perth’s trio of talents did all the damage on the scoreboard with Mia Russo striking on the edge of half-time and then again in the third term off a great team play, while Lexi Strachan and Dziegielewski created chances out of nothing. The weather made the first half a tough watch and more of a slog and battle of attrition. However as the clouds opened up, so did the game, resulting in a four-goal third term.

Anyone’s game until the final siren, it took up until that point to decide the winner, and in the end, after a mixture of heartbreak and disappointment the first two rounds, Western Australia got to taste the sweet relief of victory.

Russo (17 disposals, six marks, five clearances, three inside 50s and two goals) was huge, sharing it around with a host of others who impressed. Renee Morgan (15 disposals, eight tackles, six clearances, three inside 50s and three rebound 50s), Carys D’Addario (17 disposals, nine tackles and four clearances) and Juliet Kelly (16 disposals, 14 tackles, two clearances, five inside 50s and three rebound 50s) were all contributors through the middle.

However just about everyone contributed with Charli Bassett and Mel Grage getting to work at gground level when it was difficult for the talls to amrk. The defenders held up strong, and the Sandgropers ended up having 11 more inside 50s (37-26) despite losing the clearances (26-31). Laying 109 tackles to 85, Western Australia left no stone unturned in its determination to get across the line.

Vic Metro had plenty of standouts too with Chloe Bown (23 disposals, three tackles and eight clearances) and Marlo Graham (23 disposals, 10 tackles, three clearances and three rebound 50s) both terrific, though Metro’s best was arguably Tayla McMillan whose clean hands and class all around the ground shone through. She finished with 20 disposals, three marks, nine tackles, five clearances, five inside 50s and four rebound 50s.

The likes of Knights pair Olivia Gorman and Scarlett Johnson, and defensive trio Chloe Thorn, Jordyn Allen and Alex McBride-Loane were also consistent throughout the game. Metro also had to overcome losing Chloe Baker-West who hit the turf hard in the very first tackle of the day and watched on for the rest of the match in heartbreaking fashion. But in the end, much like Western Australia, Metro had plenty of positives to take away from the game as well.

Vic Metro will dust itself off for a date with the Allies up at Brighton Homes Arena next Sunday before wrapping up its national campaign against Vic Country on April 20. Western Australia finish the day before at Blacktown International Sportspark when they also take on the Allies.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA 0.0 | 1.2 | 3.3 | 4.4 (28)
VIC METRO 1.3 | 1.3 | 3.4 | 3.6 (24)

GOALS:
Western Australia: M. Russo 2, L. Strachan, C. Dziegielewski
Vic Metro: B. Martin, J. Bamford, O. Jesser

RMC BEST:
Western Australia: M. Russo, R. Morgan, C. Dziegielewski, J. Kelly, C. D’Addario
Vic Metro: T. McMillan. M. Graham, C. Bown, O. Gorman, C. Thorn