The Mornington Bulldogs took out the first silverware of the 2016 VWFL Finals Series with a convincing 22-point victory over the Beaconsfield Eagles at Shepley Oval on Saturday night.
In a reversal of the second semi-final – where Mornington were able to run away from Beaconsfield in the first half - the Grand Final was a fierce arm-wrestle early on. Both sides were laying strong tackles, which saw possession chains hard to come by. However, it was Beaconsfield who settled into the game first, and got the first goal of the game from an opportunistic soccer from Courtney Robinson, which was reward for the Eagles’ early dominance.
However, the Bulldogs were able to respond with their first meaningful foray forward just a few minutes later, with Elizabeth Muir profiting from an errant kick-in, and ensuring that the Bulldogs were able to convert a seven-point play.
It was a sign of things to come over the next 10 minutes, as Mornington were able to start stringing together possession. Eventually, they were able to convert, with Renee Dunn snapping through a clever goal under fierce Beaconsfield pressure, giving the Bulldogs a seven-point lead.
The last few minutes of the opening quarter was all Beaconsfield, however, as they wrested back control of the game. Katie Angelis snapped a goal out of a big pack of players to give Beaconsfield a two-point quarter time lead.
The second quarter was scrappy as both teams began to adjust to the fading light. However, it was the Bulldogs who adapted the best, kicking away to a two goal lead.
Lucinda Strong kicked the opening goal of the second quarter as she profited from a 25 metre penalty, putting the Bulldogs back in front - a lead they would never relinquish for the remainder of the game.
With the Bulldogs putting together a very solid period of football, continually putting Beaconsfield under pressure with repeat forward 50 entries, it was only a matter of time before the Bulldogs were able to put some breathing space between themselves and the Eagles and it came in the form of Dunn, who was able to mark a clever kick from Vicki Sanford. The end result saw the Bulldogs now 13 points up.
However, Beaconsfield then put together a solid period of footy to end the half, constantly repelling Mornington’s advances, before getting them on the counter attack which ended with a goal to Georgia Anderson, giving the Eagles’ a second goal soccered off the ground. It meant that the Eagles were able to stay in touch at half time, down by just seven points.
The third quarter saw Mornington turn around their first half deficiencies. Where the Eagles’ were able to dominate clearances in the first half – winning that stat 21-11 in the opening half – the Bulldogs were able to control the midfield in the third quarter, winning the clearances 8-2. As a result, they were also able to win the inside 50 count 10-4 during the third, after that stat was even throughout the first half.
However, the Bulldogs were only able to kick one goal out of all their dominance. That came through Morgan Bain, who put the ball onto her boot and wobbled through a goal to give the Bulldogs a 13-point final quarter lead – equalling the biggest margin of the game in the process.
It was Mornington who continued to try to have the last say in the final quarter, but time and again Beaconsfield would repel every attack and just hold on. The Eagles just couldn’t muster a response to the constant Bulldog pressure.
In the end, it was Hannah Lewis who sealed the win over Beaconsfield, with a goal at the 18-minute mark to give the Bulldogs a well-deserved 22-point victory, 6.7 (43) to 3.3 (21) – the Eagles failing to score a goal in the second half.
Co-captain Vicki Sanford was adjudged best on ground in the Bulldogs’ win, for her efforts in the midfield.
By Michael Thompson
Photo: Arj Giese
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Last Modified on 24/08/2016 17:23