Harper Sercombe
Darley are premiers of the Ballarat Football League women’s competition.
After losing in last season’s grand final the Devils were determined to do this year what they couldn’t last year.
The Devils were dominant all season, losing just one game and boasting a percentage of 921.16.
Their dominance grew as the season wore on, cruising through the first two games of the finals, with respective 78 and 63 point wins.
In the grand final it was more of the same against Redan, the side that broke their hearts just twelve months ago.
It was a dream start for the Devils on Saturday, taking a 20 point lead into the first break.
The lead only grew from there with the Devils booting three unanswered goals to three quarter time, giving them a 44 point lead and a stressless last quarter.
In the last the Devils added another two to Redan’s one, giving them the 9.11 (65)-2.3 (15) win.
“From where women’s football has evolved from and to now have a premiership cup in the trophy cabinet is phenomenal,” president Mark Shelly said.
“We played Redan a number of times throughout the season and I think both home and away matches there was a point of difference, one game went one way and one game the other way.
“The qualifying final when we were at full strength and beat them convincingly, so without getting ahead of ourselves we were thinking the same thing was on the cards yesterday.”
Goal kicking superstar Kim Bessell booted three of the nine majors, stretching her goal kicking tally to 122 for the season.
Star skipper Lilli Condon continued her incredible season, with three goals in a best on ground performance, which has her as one of Darley’s best in all but one game this season. She finished in the top three of the competition best and fairest medal too.
Tamara Henry, Alyssa Humphries, Ella Tyson were all single goal scorers for the Devils.
“Phenomenal Lilli, really just exceptional, exceptional skills and her leadership is obviously first class,” Shelly said.
“The other major standout alongside Lilli was Madison Lister, they were clearly the two standouts for sure.”
Lister kicked 28 goals from her 16 outings, in 14 of which she was named as one of the best players.
Redan’s Jess Bokma and Jenna Burke kicked two each, making up their four goals.
Darley has one of the strongest women’s footballing programs in the BFL and it is something the whole community is proud of said Shelly.
“At this level the women’s league is still evolving, but we’d like to think that our women’s football program can only get better and better,” he said.
“We’ve only had a couple of junior teams involved, our under-14 girls played in the grand final on Saturday, and unfortunately didn’t come away with a prize.
“But there’s certainly a lot to look forward to going forward and hopefully this type of success helps to foster that growth from the young girls coming through.”
Earlier in the season, Shelly thought the Devils could face Redan in the big dance, and that the side were capable of doing what they did.
“The coaches and support staff around the women have been fantastic this year,” Shelly said.
“Redan has been the benchmark for women’s footy for a period of time now, but we think our best is well and truly up with them.”
The success of the women’s side has been a whole club achievement, and will continue to be so.
“The credit goes to the people around the women’s team itself,” Shelly said after their qualifying final win.
“In particular our senior coaches here… but there’s also people around the team, and I think there’s one guy that deserves a special mention is Ben Skinner, who has stepped up to become the team manager.
“I think that sort of stuff goes a bit unrecognised at this level of football.
“One thing that we’ve noticed as a club this year is that there’s been a massive buy-in from this group of girls.”
