Tara Murray
Burnside Heights will come again after a heartbreaking semi final loss in the Essendon District Football League division 1 women’s competition.
The Bears seemed destined for the first grand final spot for much of the match against Greenvale, having taken a lead early on.
The Bears held strong as the Jets came hard in the second half and remained in front of most of the last quarter.
A free kick to Talia Motta in the Jets forward line gave her the chance to win the game with four seconds to go.
She did exactly that and caused a 3.6 (24)-3.4 (22) loss for the Bears.
Bears president Justin Peagram said the girls were disappointed but were keen to make the most of their second chance in the preliminary final this Saturday.
“The girls were disappointed as they couldn’t hold on,” he said. “In the last quarter there were a few things which fortunately didn’t go our way.
“We got the double chance and we have another crack at it next week and I think if we can get through next week we will come at them hard.
“They know they have their [Greenvale’s] measure, they just have to put it together.”
With the last two games between the two sides decided by less than two goals, the final was always set to be a close one.
Peagram said they were happy with the first half, but the third quarter proved to be the difference in the game.
“The third quarter led them down unfortunately,” he said. “The first quarter they came out firing, held on in the second quarter and the third quarter we just didn’t make the most of the opportunities.
“Then in the last quarter, Greenvale was always going to come home hard with the wind and down hill.
“We just couldn’t hold them.”
Peagram said the message from coach Jeff Stevens after the game was to make the most of opportunities when they arise.
“We had a couple of opportunities deep in the forward line [in the third quarter] but didn’t make the most of them,” he said.
“Jeff just instructed the girls that it was just that third quarter. It is close, you have to make the most of the opportunities and that was the message, when we get a chance you have to take them, it’s too close these heartbreakers.
“They earned the right for a double chance and they have the chance to exercise that next week.”
Peagram said Holly McGregor in the ruck, Payton-Ani Ozols, Ebony Stevens, Kayla Ravanello, Krissy Trang, Holly Taylor and Caitlin Murphy were the standouts for the side.
The Bears this week face the Essendon Doutta Stars in the preliminary final on Saturday afternoon at Monk Oval.
The Stars had a big win in their semi final against Gisborne.
“It will be a pretty tough ask as they are back to full strength [with Victorian Football League Women’s players] and we don’t have that luxury,” Peagram said.
“The girls will give a good count of themselves, they will want another crack at Greenvale so they will come out firing.”
