Two teams have stood out in Division 2 this year, and fittingly they meet in the season decider.
Port Colts finished the season undefeated on top of the ladder, with Montmorency in second suffering just the two defeats – both to the ladder leading Colts.
Both clubs are only in their second year in the competition, with Montmorency enjoying instant success last year with a Division 4 premiership.
The Magpies coach Craig Shillinglaw says it is a fantastic effort by his team to be promoted two divisions and continue to be successful.
“The team worked very hard over preseason and it’s now paying off,” Shillinglaw said.
“I think we surprised a number of teams with how much we had improved from last year.
“We had a few midyear injuries which unsettled the team structure, and I think we struggled a bit with form after the bye weekends.”
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For the Port Colts this season it has all been about structures, with coach Gary Booth setting the standard for the group in the preseason.
“We set a game plan at the start of the season (and) we have stuck to it and improved as a team every week so we are excited for the opportunity to play in the Grand Final,” Booth said.
“The great thing about our team is that all players contribute every week.”
Despite finishing the season undefeated, with Redan the only club to get within seven goals of the Colts, Booth said the side continued to challenge itself, and learn throughout the year. As a coach, he was not afraid to make changes as well.
“A turning point for us this year was playing Whitehorse at home in horrendous winter conditions that we weren’t used, so we stepped our game up to a new level,” he said.
“In the semi the girls played a good consistent style of football as a team for 80 minutes.
“We moved Amy Unwin from the wing down forward for the first time this year and she managed to kick multiple goals which was great to see.”
Montmorency is ready for its fourth battle of the year with the Colts, and an ‘extremely tough physical game’ in the semi-final was just the lead up the club needed to prepare for the season finale.
“We knew they (Redan) would come out hard and hit us with everything they had which they did,” Shillinglaw said.
“Our back line was exceptional only allowing three goals from a quality opposition.
“The forwards spread well and worked exceptionally hard to keep the ball in the 50, along with strong running all day from the midfield.”
Magpies leading goalkicker Deanna Berry has been well held in the contests against Port Colts this year, but seven goals last round will make her hard to stop this weekend.
Will it be an undefeated season for Port Colts and a breakthrough premiership, or can Montmorency go back-to-back across two divisions?
SUNDAY AUGUST 30, PIRANHA PARK, COBURG: 2:30pm
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Port Colts: Jade Stonemen, Andrea Cameron, Emma Mackie, Paige Holt, Jacinta Dimasi
Montmorency: Brooke Lochland, Nikki Blyth, Tenille Webb, Deanna Berry, Bailey Hunt
PATH TO GRAND FINAL
Port Colts
Semi-final: Port Colts 13.8 86 d Montmorency 2.8 20
Montmorency
Semi-final: Port Colts 13.8 86 d Montmorency 2.8 20
Preliminary final: Montmorency 14.6 90 d Redan 3.3 21
HEAD TO HEAD
Rd 8 Port Colts 11.15 81 d Montmorency 4.7 31
Rd 13 Port Colts 13.13 91 d Montmorency 2.1 13
Semi-final: Port Colts 13.8 86 d Montmorency 2.8 20
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Division 3 Grand Final preview: Kew v Deer Park
Division 4 Grand Final preview: South Morang v Brunswick
East Grand Final preview: Gippsland v Ajax
West Grand Final preview: Sunbury v Melton
VWFL finals information
Photo: Arj Giese
Last Modified on 27/08/2015 21:24