Blue skies greeted patrons, players and officials at Mahoney which was a change from the usual rain-filled skies of last year's grand final. Both teams came early to taste the anticipation and savour the grand final atmosphere. Wests were tight in their warmup and went to the center circle as a team to link arms and pledge that all their efforts were not to be in vain. In contrast Newtown looked pretty relaxed. As the time grow closer, both teams went back to the change rooms to get the last minute instructions of their coaches before charging out to the field to the shouts of their spectators, families and friends who had constructed elaborate banners for the team to run through.
Central Umpire Victoria Rawlings took the toss of the coin in front of Western Wolves Captain Christine Macdonald and Newtown Breakaways captain Natalie Redford, which Wests won and opted to run with the breeze towards the golf course end of the field. With the toss of the Sherrin, the 2009 Grand Final was underway!
Newtown as they have done all season started the game with a furious pace with the Sherrin transferred to the forward line with Bec Burridge goaling within the first minute. Newtown 1st goal. Wests replied through Baccara Griffiths to square up the score. Wests 1st Goal. The matchups throughout the field were perfectly attuned by both coaches desperate to negate the other’s superstars and promote their own playing stars.
1st
Quarter Wests 1.3.9 Newtown 1.0.6
In the 2nd quarter Newtown started brightly with setting up play out of the center to the pockets who set up a lead to Verna Iles straight in the goal square who goaled truly. Newtown 2nd
goal then followed by Laura Holdsworth's brilliant goal running along the right hand wing and kicking it 30m for the ball to bounce truly between the big sticks. Newtown 3rd goal. Tricia Muller, one of Wests engine room components in the midfield was hit hard in the head and had to go off to recuperate. Jorja Jones took a nice mark in their forward 50m circle but her kick from 35m out hit the goal post pretty solidly for one of the Wolves three behinds in the quarter. Talei Owen scored two goals, with one being on the run and the other the mark in the goal square. Wests 2nd and 3rd
goals. Newtown hit back just before half time with another goal on the run through Laura Holdsworth. Newtown 4th goal.
Half time Wests 3.6.24 Newtown 4.0.24
In the 3rd quarter Newtown had forward possession but was unable to translate it into points. Wests were able to score their goal (anyone want to email me who it was?). Wests 4th
goal Georgia Woodyard took a great mark on the literally goal line to prevent a goal as each side went up and down the field without scoring any points. However the pressure had to break and Natasha Devlin was the circuit breaker dobbing a goal on the run with a gentle lob that bounced between the big sticks. Newtown 5th goal. Verna Iles then kicked a goal that dribbled through the sticks as a result of Breakaways forward pressure on the Wests backs. Newtown 6th goal
3rd
Quarter Newtown 6.0.36 Wests 4.6.30
In the final quarter both sets of supporters were encouraging their teams to perform the extra-ordinary efforts to get them over the line. Talei Owen kicked the ball off the ground for a goal Wests 5th goal that got the scores level and the blood pressure rising. Christine Macdonald then had the ball and kicked from about 30m out and everyone’s eyes watched the Sherrin bounce just before the goal line and back into play which was then cleared by the Breakaways. Maybe that was the moment that decided the game - a goal and the Wolves would have had the momentum. Bec Burridge then running on the right hand side kicks the ball which bounces acutely for a goal to the screams of delight from the Breakaway supporters and players. Newtown 7th
goal. With 5 minutes to go, Newtown score their first behind which was indeed remarkable showing the Breakaways accuracy at goal. Verna Iles receiving a free kick on an acute angle near the behind posts converts truly to seal the game. Newtown 8th goal The final two minutes are played to the end. With the siren sounding (and yes the Umpires heard it!), the Grand Final ends with the Breakaways winners by 13 points. A truly epic game played in good spirit by both teams. Contrasting emotions were evident on both sides, the happy smiles and jubilation on the team in red, utter desolation for the team in black.
Why did the Breakaways win? A simple question with many answers but I thought the Breakaways had a great gameplan to negate the Wolves engine rooms of Melissa Bibby, Tricia Muller and Georgia Woodyard. Talei Owen was the best of the Wolves followed by Kaya Lyons and Cynthia Dufaut in her last game before retirement. The Breakaways had a few retirees in Amanda Jennings and Tarsha Gale to name some. I thought Nicole Roach was the best of the Breakaways followed by Laura Holdsworth and Natasha Devlin.
Presentations were then conducted with Lucy Burgmann, one of our original SWAFL Presidents dishing out the medals to the officials and both teams. Wolves Captain Christine MacDonald and coach Jason King made gracious speeches as runner ups putting aside personal disappointment to congratulate the winners. Shamrocks Coach and President Lisa “Kiwi” Roper then presented the Deb Rogers Cup and match ball to the Best on Ground who was Western Wolves Talei Owen who also has had a most marvelous season. Victorious captain Natalie Redford made a speech thanking the coaches/support team that has driven the Breakaways back to the top of the table before the players took their awards. Retiring coach Jamie Robertson made a speech that thanked the Wolves as raising the standard of play and could now declare she could now retire on a high note.
At the conclusion of Jamie's speech, the Breakaways captain Natalie Redford raised the shield to the screams of the Breakaway supporters and her fellow teammates. This was the moment that players feel that they are in the zone - to be acknowledged by everyone communally regardless of club affiliation that Newtown were the champions of the season.
With a lot of retirements amongst not just the grand finalists but other clubs as well, we pass the torch to a new generation of women footballers who will continue to enthrall us with their feats each weekend. We salute those players retiring and thank you for your service.
The premiership win concludes a wonderful season with Newtown the undisputed club of the decade with five premierships (2002-06, 2009), Wests second with three premierships (2000, 2006, 2008) and Sydney University with two premierships (2000, 2007). Next Saturday night on the 12th September, all the league will get together to celebrate the collective and individual achievements at the SWAFL 2009 Presentation as well celebrating ten years of SWAFL.
Newtown 1.0.6, 4.0.24, 6.0.36, 8.2.50 defeated Wests 1.3.9, 2.6.18, 4.6.30, 5.7.37
Goals: Newtown – Verna Iles 3, Laura Holdsworth 2, Rebecca Burridge 2 , Natasha Devlin 1.
Wests – Talei Owen 3, Baccara Griffiths 1, ? – 1.
Umpires: Rawlings, Freeland and Van Den Ham.
The Grand Final Teams were:
Western Wolves
Coach: Jason King. Asst Coach: Melissa Bibby Runner: Richard Anderson
Captain: 23. Christine MacDonald
2. Jorja Jones
4. Melissa Bibby
5. Rachel Coates
6. Michaela Ekman
7. Heidi Wiedner
8. Davina Pye
9. Cassie Bell
10. Cynthia Dufaut
11. Bree Calderwood
12. Georgia Woodyard
13. Shelley Bates
15. Rachel Mercer
17. Baccara Griffiths
18. Jules Bernstein
20. Kaya Lyons
21. Aimee Isbsiter
22. Emma Brown
24. Lauren Hazell
27. Vicki Zacharia
28. Kristy Stroop
29. Trish Muller
35. Leagh Taylor
37. Talei Owen
Newtown Breakaways
Coach: Jamie Robertson Assistant Coach: Sarah Groube Runner: Roxy McGee
Captain: 11. Natalie Redford
1 Cassandra Lees
2 Natasha Devlin
4 Rebecca McKee
6 Laura Holdsworth
7 Tarsha Gale
8 Evelyn Synnott
12 Nicole Roach
14 Rebecca Burridge
16 Rosalie Graham
18 Krystle Thompson
19 Lianne Watchman
21 Lisa Hopkins
22 Amy Threlfall
24 Melissa Daley
25 Tracey Farrugia
28 Chavvauhn Calver
29 Amanda Jennings
30 Kris Pope
31 Jemma Still
33 Carly Reasbeck
34 Verna Iles
35 Joanne Farrell
40 Pam Hulusi
For the players who missed out, while you may have individually missed out on the big occasion take satisfaction that as a team that as a group you made it to the first Saturday of September and there is no doubt you're opportunity to shine will come.
Photo: Now that's what I'm talking about! Victorious Breakaways Captain Natalie Redford lifts the SWAFL Premiers Shield at the conclusion of the 2009 SWAFL Grand Final.
2nd Photo: Newtown Breakaways pose in front of the scoreboard after the game.
Last Modified on 07/09/2009 10:33