This weekend the inaugural Swisse VFL Women’s Finals Series begins, with a Semi Final and Elimination Final to be held at Box Hill City Oval on Sunday.
Callum O’Connor dissects the teams involved, with Darebin and St Kilda (2:30pm) to face off in a Semi Final for a spot in the Grand Final on Sunday September 18 at Piranha Park (Coburg), while Melbourne Uni and the Eastern Devils (12pm) will attempt to progress to a Preliminary Final with a win in the Elimination Final.
DAREBIN
Season Summary: Looking for a fourth straight premiership (after three in the VWFL), Darebin are now past measuring themselves by their peers’ standards. Instead they redefine the barometers for success each season. The Falcons are determined to be the best they can be and ‘complacency’ is a dirty word for the team from AH Capp. The hallmark of the Falcons’ game is to play the match on their terms and then rupture it in short bursts of skilful football. The challenge of the inaugural VFL Women’s season was one they were ready for and they completed their third clean sweep of a home-and-away season in four years. Only Diamond Creek (17 points in Round 7) and Melbourne Uni (12 points, Round 8) pushed the Falcons all the way.
Players to Watch: It was hard to see how many of the Falcons’ champions could improve on their games but several had their best seasons yet. Karen Paxman set a new benchmark for sheer endurance running through all lines, while ruckman Norieul Kinross seized the opportunity presented in the absence of the injured Aasta O’Connor. Power forward Katie Brennan was in world-beating touch in 2016. Although she came second in the goalkicking with 76 majors, Brennan wasn’t necessarily limited to the forward line, often running on the ball when needed.
ST KILDA
Season Summary: The Sharks started over with a new coach, Shaun Smith, in 2016. The Sharks pride themselves on playing smart footy and there’s been plenty to like in their ability to wrestle contests back their way. Clutch victories against the Devils and Melbourne Uni are a testament to the maturity of Smith’s playing group, who have developed a strong core of experienced players boosted by the emergence of young stars half-back/midfielder Tilly Lucas-Rodd, ruck Rachel Achampong and midfielder Brianna Davey.
Players to Watch: All the attention will be on centurion Moana Hope, and the Sharks will probably want it to stay that way. It allows forward Jasmine Garner (41 goals) to fly under the radar for the Sharks, which will be a great weapon in the finals. St Kilda will also be looking towards a player who’ll be giving attention instead of receiving it, tagger Ellie George. All three of the Sharks’ finals opponents boast strong midfields so George –coming into her own as a tagger – will be an important player over the next few weeks.
MELBOURNE UNI
Season Summary: Melbourne Uni love to get numbers around contests and once they’ve won it they spread and switch as skilfully as anyone. All season their midfield has provided a mix of brute strength, excellent ball movement and pace... and it isn’t even their best line. The Mugars’ defence was not merely the stingiest this season, they were the best on the counter-attack, turning half-back into a launching pad. However, a question mark does hang over their ability to adjust against their finals opponents, producing just one win and a draw from six matches.
Players to Watch: The combined brilliance of midfielders Ellie Blackburn and Emma Kearney is well documented, but in the second half of the season, the Mugars unveiled a key forward to capitalise on that midfield dominance in Jess Anderson. Anderson’s straight-line, no-frills attack on the ball has seen her kick 27 goals and force opposition defenders to build their strategy around her. Moreover, Melbourne Uni have been practitioners of the belief that a side is only as strong as their bottom six, so players like Deanna Berry, Gabriella Pound, Maddie Keryk and Hannah Ibrahim could play vital roles come finals.
EASTERN DEVILS
Season Summary: The Devils were 2016’s big improvers, recording six extra wins than last year. The midfield unit grew into a cohesive, fast, slick-moving group as the season progressed, intelligently coached by Brendan Major. Sophie Casey, Hannah Scott and Jaimee Lambert all rank among the very toughest of ball-winners, typifying the attack on the ball which is a primary focus of the Devils. Over the last five matches, their defence conceded the second-least points of all finals sides – an impressive stat when you consider veteran defender Meg Hutchins missed over two months with a knee injury but returns for finals.
Players to Watch: The Devils’ strength is their team focus. Much of their defensive rebound comes from Jess Sibley and Bec Privitelli, who would have as many intercept possessions as any player going around. Elsewhere, bullocking Lauren Tesoriero plays every position like it’s her best. And if a match looks like it will be decided by X-factor, don’t take your eyes off Pepa Randall.
Both games will be broadcast live on Grils Play Footy Radio
Photo: Cameron Grimes
Last Modified on 27/08/2016 17:19
