Everything finally clicked for Burnside Heights as it produced its best performance of the Essendon District Football League women’s division 1 competition, beating Westmeadows on Saturday.
Last season’s runners-up had a number of changes in the off season, leaving coach Michael Davis knowing they would get better as things went along.
Slowly the confidence has been growing in the group and on Saturday, they upset the Tigers in a 7.14 (56)-1.1 (7) win.
Davis said it was nice to see the group get some reward in the battle between third and fourth.
“It has been coming for a fair while,’ he said. “We’ve had some injuries and some people away and we lost some experience at the end of last year.
“It’s taken the girls a little time to gel.”
The Bears received a massive boost on Saturday when captain Kayla Ravanello returned to the side for her first match of the year.
Ravanello gave birth just six weeks ago.
“She was medically cleared on Friday,” Davis said of his captain. “She tried to get cleared at four weeks to train, but they said no.
“She is a focal point up forward and it gives us a whole new direction and it lifts the other girls as she plays that leadership role.”
Ravanello was named in the best along with Krissy Trang, who has played the past three games after starting the season in the Victorian Football League Women’s.
The Bears have also picked up Isabelle Young who has crossed from Hillside, who was named in the best in her first game for the club.
Davis said they had been able to take some positives out of the start to the season.
“It’s been a long process,” he said. “We’ve had a whole new midfield besides Holly McGregor.
“They’ve been learning. Some have really come on.
“Abbey [O’Mara] bas been outstanding on the wing and there has been so much development and growth.
“Payton-Ani Ozols just runs all day. We’ve have four under-18s playing and I can’t speak highly enough about them.”
Davis said they always felt about round 10 was when they would hit their straps.
He said Saturday’s win reinforces what he’s been saying.
“We should be at full strength from round 10,” he said. “We wanted to win the matches we needed to and maybe pinch one before that.”
The Bears face an undefeated Strathmore side this Saturday.
Davis said they were looking forward to the challenge and were hoping they could continue their strong form.
Meanwhile in premier division, Hillside continued its run as it defeated Keilor, 5.14 (44)-2.5 (17).
Lisa Parisi, Makaylah Brne and Brittney Bonner were named the Sharks best.
