MELBOURNE Demons are the 2021/22 Victorian Women’s Premier Firsts champions, after they defeated Carlton Blues in the Grand Final over the weekend.

The win caps off a great season for the Dees, who almost went undefeated for the entire season and were the team to beat all year. They also create a bit of history with this win, as Melbourne is now the first club to win all three Women’s Premier grades in the one season.

In the Grand Final, Melbourne sent Carlton into bat and that proved a smart decision when Sophie Reid was dismissed for three to leave the Blues at 1/3. Unfortunately for the Blues, that early dismissal was a sign of the innings to come.

They just kept losing wickets too regularly, and only managed one partnership of more then 30 runs. The Melbourne bowlers were on song, and dismissed Carlton for 135 in the 48th over. Nipuni Hansika was the top scorer for the Blues with 42, but was the only Blue to make a score above 20.

Meanwhile for the Dees, Hayleigh Brennan was the best of the bowlers with three wickets, while Ella Hayward and Anna O’Donnell took two each.

In reply, the Dees’ innings got off to a bit of a rocky start when Rhiann O’Donnell was dismissed for one with the score only at two. It proved to be only a minor bump though, as Melbourne recovered and began to put some solid partnerships on the board. The target of 136 proved to be not a very difficult one for Melbourne in the end, as they were able to reach it in just over 31 overs.

Stephanie Townsend was the star with the bat for the Dees. She was the linchpin of the innings, and made 41 before being run out.

Meanwhile for Carlton, Madison Albers was the only one to take any wickets, and she took two.