Darley’s hopes of a third straight premiership in the Ballarat Football League women’s competition remain, with the Devils through to the grand final.
After an interesting few weeks for the competition, the Devils finally took to the field in a preliminary final with East Point on Sunday.
The Devils worked their way into the game and were able to come away with a 6.12 (48)-2.1 (13) win.
Devils co-coach Brett Faulkhead said a lot of hard work had gone into getting to this spot again.
“There’s a bit of excitement,” he said.
“There’s a few new girls, some who have not played in grand finals. We’ll get on the track on Tuesday and regroup with one more to go.
“What we have created this year, we’re really proud of. The bond that they have captured and it’s credit to the players that have stuck around the last couple of years.
“There’s been lots of tears and laughs, but the bond has delivered.”
After losing to Bacchus Marsh in the first week of finals, the Devils then had a week off as the Cobras withdrew their team from finals due to a lack of numbers.
It meant instead of playing a knockout semi final against East Point, it became a preliminary final just a week later.
It also meant Redan went straight through to the grand final without playing a final.
Faulkhead said it was disappointing for the competition and women’s football, but his group was just focused on what they could control.
“East Point, that was our focus,” he said. “Nothing was guaranteed that we would face Redan in the grand final.
“We had to get on with playing. The week off was nice for a few niggles.”
Faulkhead said with a number of new players this season, there were a few nerves early in Sunday’s preliminary final.
He said they looked to regroup at quarter time which showed as the game went along.
“We have a dozen new layers and they were pretty nervous,” he said.
“It was about settling as quickly as possible and having that leadership on the field.
“Slowly but surely the game comes together and the scoreboard tells the story.”
Charli Parsons-Jones kicked two goals for the Devils.
Faulkhead said the youngster had been sick leading into the game and they had an under-16 player on standby in case she didn’t get up. The decision for her to play paid off.
Eliza Wilson-Macdonald, Macy Le Huray and Jenna Burke were among the other standouts for the Devils.
The Devils will now face Redan in a fourth straight grand final.
Redan won the first of the four grand finals with the Devils winning the past two including a low scoring affair last year.
This season they’ve played four times, with both sides having two wins.
