Burnside Heights hot finals form continued on Saturday as it won through to a second straight Essendon District Football League women’s division 1 grand final.
The Bears slowly built throughout the season and have produced their best two performances of the season come finals.
After a flawless first half in the elimination final, the Bears produced their best team performance of the season to knock off Keilor Park in the preliminary final.
Bears coach Michael Davis couldn’t be happier with his side.
“I thought we could win and believed that we would win, but I didn’t expect to get 53 points on them,” he said.
“Everyone played their role and they were led by Kayla [Ravanello] with her leadership skills.
“Kiara Asani-Davis controlled the ruck and we controlled up forward.
“It was the best team performance we’ve had.”
The Devils, who hadn’t lost to the Bears entering the preliminary final, kicked with the wind in the first quarter and led by eight points at quarter time.
The Bears used the wind well in the second quarter to open up a 21 point lead heading into the main break.
After half time it was all the Bears.
They kicked two goals in the third quarter to increase the lead before finishing off with three final quarter goals to seal a 9.7 (61)-1.2 (8) win.
The Devils didn’t score after quarter time as the Bears defence locked in.
Isabelle Young was the only multiple goal kicker for the Bears with two goals.
Davis was full of praise for his whole squad.
He said Abbey O’Mara was strong in the middle, while Nikkita Asani-Davis controlled the backline and laid a big tackle that got them going.
Holly McGregor, Krissy Trang and Ravanello did what they normally do.
Davis said the biggest thing for the side was the growth that they’ve had this year.
“The kids are coming up,” he said.
“Taylia Iglesia, Hannah Seward. They are stepping up and filling holes which is what we’ve been talking about for two years.
“There’s that next player up mentality and it gives us more run and availability to do different things.”
Antonietta Parisi, Talisa Bartolo and Taylor Evans were named the Devils best. Parisi was the goalkicker for the Devils.
The Bears now face Strathmore in the grand final on Saturday.
The Mores are looking to complete the perfect season.
Davis said this was the one they’d been looking for all season.
“We lost people at the end of last season and people said they didn’t know what to expect,’ he said.
“That is what we used and round 10 was the focus on playing better footy and we started to do that.
“Sina [Mason] and Kayla really started leading the way.”
Davis said they were hoping to get Sarah Poni back for the grand final, while Jorja Brink was a wait and see.
