The scoreboard may have been lop-sided but both teams still had something to celebrate after the historic AFL Darling Downs Women's Grand-Final at Rockville Oval.
South Toowoomba took out the inaugural Grand-Final 8.15 (63) to 1.0 (6) over Lockyer Valley.
Bombers were erratic in-front of goal and dominated possession but the Demons didn't shy away from the contest and fought every possession to provide a great contest for the decider.
It was an intriguing opening term as South's took a narrow one goal lead into the first break, as Lockyer went one on one and provided a physical up first quarter. Bombers were inconsistent in the first quarter booting only one of their seven shots on goal.
Paige Buzza and Carmen Paia were the standouts for the Demons, while Georgie Seaniger and Tia Scorgie dominated through the midfielder for South Toowoomba.
Quarter time score: South Toowoomba 1.6 (12) to Lockyer Valley 1.0 (6)
Hard hitting and skilful was the theme for the second quarter, as both sides wouldn't give an inch. Both teams were missing a key forward option and it was South Toowoomba who pounced first, which proved to be a game changer. Ruck Anne Carroll was moved forward and made an immediate impact, taking a much needed contested mark kicking truly. Carroll followed shortly after booting her second for the term and the Bombers took an handy 27-point lead into the main break.
Key ball mover Danielle Wall sent a scare through the Bombers camp when she went down and was stretched off with a serious ankle injury just before the long interval.
Half-time score: South Toowoomba 4.9 (33) to Lockyer Valley 1.0 (6)
Demons Paige Buzza started the third term on fire but was lacking support, as Georgie Seaniger, Rebecca McInnes and Jess Harvey of South Toowoomba stepped up the intensity in a physical term. Kylie Edmonstone was instrumental across half-back repelling the Bombers forward raids.
But two late goals to South Toowoomba saw the Bombers ladies up by 39-points going into the final quarter. Seaniger continued in superb form dominating throughout the "premiership quarter", she was influential in both of the red and black goals.
Three Quarter time score: South Toowoomba 6.9 (45) to Lockyer Valley 1.0 (6)
The final quarter was a mirror of the first quarter with both teams intensity first class but it was the Bombers who were able to score, kicking inaccurately once again - 2.6 for the term. Paige Buzza was again a warrior for the Demons and was supported well with young-gun Chelsea-Lee Rose, Natalee Thompson and Carmen Paia all stepping up.
South Toowoomba proved too classy for Lockyer Valley in the end.
To cap off a year to remember, Georgie Seaniger added to her growing list of accolades adjudged best on ground in the inaugural Women's Grand Final. South Toowoomba finished victorious and will go down in history as the first AFL Darling Downs Women's champions, defeating Lockyer Valley by 57-points.
Final Score: South Toowoomba 8.15 (63) def. Lockyer Valley 1.0 (6)
Click here for match details
South Toowoomba Bombers Women capped off a perfect season but credit goes to both sides in how far they have come since the competition was launched at the start of this year.
Souths coach Sophie Smith hoped this year would be the start of big things for women's football on the Darling Downs.
"Bring on next season", Smith told the Chronicle's Trent Slatter
"They've really stepped up and come together as a team...they enjoyed themselves, that's for sure", Coach Smith said on her premiership team.
With Female footy the number 1 growth area across Australian Football, Smith wants more to teams to jump on board.
"Hopefully there's more clubs (that) take on the initiative to add more teams (next season),"
PHOTO BY: Kevin Scorgie - South Toowoomba celebrating the Women's League premiership
Last Modified on 19/08/2013 09:53
