Tara Murray
Burnside Heights is primed for a big Essendon District Football League women’s division 1 finals series.
Having been knocked out in straight sets 12 months ago, the Bears are determined not to allow it to happen again.
The Bears enter the finals as the team to beat, with just one loss for the regular season.
Coach Michael Davis said the season had been better than what he had been expecting.
“I’m stoked with the way it has come together,” he said. “I thought we would be up there but I didn’t think we would be as dominant as we have been in parts of the season.
“Everyone has come together as one team and one voice.
“Our leaders have stood up.”
The Bears finished the regular season on Saturday with a big win against Airport West.
Davis said they were wary of the Eagles, who recently shocked everyone and knocked off Greenvale.
The scoreboard showed the Bears had control all game, but Davis said it didn’t feel like that on the ground.
“It looked like it would be us and Greenvale that would be thereabouts,” he said. “Airport West threw a spanner in the works.
“It was tough for three quarters. It was physically tough but we had a little bit of class and were able to kick away.”
Bella Negri and Kayla Ravanello kicked three goals each for the Bears.
Davis said Jorgia Redmond, Krissy Trang and Brodie Stevens were the standouts in the win.
The Bears will face Greenvale for a spot in the grand final this week, with both sides having the double chance.
The two teams have known for a number of weeks they would face each other in the first week of finals.
Davis said the playing group had been driving the motivation to keep everyone switched on. The Jets won the corresponding match 12 months ago with a goal in the dying seconds.
“They are driving the standards,” Davis said. “They are into each other and making sure they’re working hard and everyone has brought into the standards.
“They’ve coached themselves the last two weeks. We don’t want to go down the same patch as last year.
“It was horrendous to go out in straight sets. The point has been made that we want to finish the job this year.”
In women’s premier division, Hillside suffered its first loss of the season.
The match was a thriller with Aberfeldie kicking a goal in the last minute to get the 3.3 (21)-2.5 (17) win.
Annie Gray was the Sharks best.
The Sharks will remain on top no matter the result in the final round.
In division 1 men’s Hillside came from behind to beat Tullamarine, 11.23 (89)-10.5 (65), while in division 2 men’s, Burnside Heights beat East Sunbury, 19.14 (128)-1.4 (10).
