TWELVE months after suffering a shock loss to Geelong in the 2021/22 M-League Premier Mixed Grand Final, Parkville Panthers have returned the favour with a commanding victory over Geelong in the 2022/23 decider.

From the opening centre pass, the match looked to be a blowout, and while Geelong to its credit worked back into the game, it was always going to be a match of catch up, and the Panthers stormed to a 69-45 victory.

Geelong had to overcome a stack of additional challenges, with star shooter Cameron Allum ruled out with concussion early in the first quarter after a knock in the prior Premier Men’s decider. On top of that setback, the second placed side also fielded a trio of others who played in the City Heat premiership right before the match.

For Parkville, a shock loss for St Therese – who field plenty of Panthers – to the Netblacks in the Mixed Premier semi-final proved to be a blessing in disguise, as the fresh lineup completely outran a tired Geelong.

At one point, the scoreboard read 16-4 such was the control Parkville had in the match, and by half-time, it had ballooned out to 37-20. Incredibly, Geelong did put up a fight in the third and even managed to half the deficit back into single digits, but a late couple of goals – and a three-second violation against Geelong shooter Zanna Woods – proved too much for the underdogs.

Sensing they needed to lift again, the Panthers slammed on 21 goals to eight in the final term to run out emphatic 24-goal winners. Amy Starzer shot 13 goals in the first three quarters for the Panthers, as international goal attack Brodie Roberts was simply unstoppable.

He put up 27 goals in the first half, and by the end of the game, he had 47 to his name. Kaylia Stanton – who rested the first three quarters – joined Roberts in attack for the last 15 minutes and added nine goals herself. The star of the show was wing attack Elli Leydin who won Most Valuable Player (MVP) for her role in feeding those shooters.

Credit must also go to the defence, with Tristan Comans and the combination of Bridget Aughton and Georgette Paatsch able to nullify the Geelong attack. Without Allum, it was left to last year’s MVP Woods who shot 14 goals including 10 in that high-scoring third term, as well as Josh Byron who switched ends at half-time. Jake Noonan tried hard in centre playing three quarters after a full game for City Heat, but had to face fellow Australian midcourter Riley Richardson.

In the end, the fresher team won and after the heartbreak of last season, Parkville Panthers were able to lift the trophy aloft and end the competition on a high having gone undefeated throughout the season.