Burnside Heights produced its best but it still wasn’t enough to get over the line against Strathmore in the Essendon District Football League women’s division 1 grand final.
The Bears went in as underdogs against a Mores side looking to complete the perfect season on Saturday.
Burnside Heights had built throughout the season and had produced its best two matches of the year to win through to a second straight decider.
Neither side kicked a goal in the first quarter before the Bears kicked the first two goals of the second quarter.
The Mores got one on the board late, with the margin 12 points at half time.
It increased to 18 points early in the third quarter after skipper Kayla Ravanello converted a 50 metre penalty.
Yasmin Welsford then did the same thing at the other end.
The More took the lead late in the third quarter with the Bears leveling the scores heading into the final break.
The ball spent most of the last quarter in the Mores forward but they struggled to get the all important scores on the board.
Talia Motta, who has been the source of several Bears nightmares in finals before, kicked her third to put her side seven points up.
Tayla Iglesias had a shot late to get it back to the Bears but it fell short and was rushed over the line.
That would be the ball game with the Mores winning, 5.5 (35)-4.5 (29).
Bears coach Michael Davis said he was so proud of his playing group.
“They were the better side on the day,” he said. “I’ve said multiple times we were coming and we couldn’t have planned this any better.
“The buy-in from the girls, they were sensational. It was their best game of footy for the year.”
Davis said while they knew they had a good lead early in the third quarter that it was far from over.
He said a good side like Strathmore wouldn’t give up.
“They were always going to come,” he said. “You don’t finish 15-0 after a final, you’re not going to stop coming.”
Davis said the final quarter they lost structure in the final quarter and the Mores were able to bury the ball and lock it in.
He said they were able to do what good sides do.
While the Bears suffered the same outcome as 12 months ago, losing a close grand final, the side and club were in a much better position this year.
Davis said they think everyone will come back next year with the grand final side having six under-18s in good signs for the future.
He said they would enjoy this year as it had been a really special year.
“We were better this year,” he said. “Last year we were relying on individuals.
“I could name half a dozen girls who were outstanding this year that didn’t get a kick last year.
“Extremely proud of where we’ve come from and the girls.
“It’s been a whole team effort this year and been exceptional to be apart of.
“We will go out and reassess and work out what we need to do and have another crack next year.”
