By David Nagel
The stage is set for a bumper two weeks of finals in Outer East Women’s football after the home-and-away season came to an end on Saturday.
Healesville, Upwey-Tecoma, Pakenham and Olinda Ferny Creek will battle it out for division one glory, while Belgrave, Wandin, Seville and Yarra Junction will hit the Healesville footy ground on Sunday to begin their quest for the division two title.
It’s all cut-throat from here, with first taking on fourth, and second playing third, with the two winners to play in the grand final at Healesville on Sunday 13 August.
Pakenham will head in as underdogs against Upwey-Tecoma this week after the Lions succumbed to the Tigers for the third time this year in a Saturday night showdown at Upwey.
The Tigers just made the most of their chances, winning by 26 points – 10.2.62 to 5.6.36 – despite having just one more scoring shot at goal.
Alex Bantock kicked three for the winners, while Haylee Deichsel and Bec Thompson snagged a couple each.
Bianca Moody, Emily Devine and Tayla Sbisa were rock-solid for the Lions, who will need to be at their defensive best to turn things around on the weekend.
Healesville has remained undefeated during the home-and-away season after an 8.4.52 to 5.3.33 victory over Olinda Ferny Creek.
Healesville dominated early, but Olinda kicked four goals to one after half time to give it some confidence heading into this weekend’s rematch.
Scarlett Potter slotted three goals for Healesville, and Perry Byron two, while star midfielder Grace Belloni kicked two goals for Olinda.
And Berwick Springs has signed off its maiden season in style, thumping Monbulk by 99 points at Mick Morland Reserve.
Kim Emile kicked five for the Titans, and Sheridan Holland three, while Filiz Lang, Zara Strang, Chloe Romanoff and Danielle Shedden were others to hit the scoreboard.
Outer East Women’s
Results
Division One
Round 15: Berwick Springs 14.15.99 def Monbulk 0.0.0, Olinda Ferny Creek 5.3.33 def by Healesville 8.4.52, Upwey-Tecoma 10.2.62 def Pakenham 5.6.36.
Final Ladder: Healesville 60, Upwey-Tecoma 40, Pakenham 29, Olinda Ferny Creek 28, Berwick Springs 24, Monbulk 0.
Division Two
Round 15: Yarra Junction 3.4.22 def by Belgrave 7.5.47, Hallam 4.9.33 def by Seville 7.4.46, Wandin 3.7.25 def Thornton Eildon 2.2.14.
Final Ladder: Belgrave 60, Wandin 32, Seville 28, Yarra Junction 28, Hallam 24, Thornton-Eildon 8.
Finals Fixture – Week One
Sunday 6 August at Healesville
9.30am Div 2 – Wandin (2) v Seville (3)
11.15am Div 2 – Belgrave (1) v Yarra Junction (4)
1.10pm Div 1 – Upwey-Tecoma (2) v Pakenham (3)
2.55pm Div 1 – Healesville (1) v Olinda Ferny Creek (4)
