THE Bendigo Thunder completed a season of domination with another commanding victory in Sunday’s grand final against Strathfieldsaye to be crowned the inaugural Central Victorian Football League Women’s premiers.
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The Thunder were challenged early by the Storm, but controlled the game after quarter-time to win 15.12 (102) to 2.3 (15) at Weeroona Oval in front of a big crowd.
The 87-point victory was the icing on the cake for an undefeated season in which no opponent got within 10 goals of the Thunder.
“The girls really had to stand up today. When you go into a grand final undefeated, anything can happen, but they were fantastic today,” a proud Thunder coach Terry Burt said.
In what was an encouraging start for the underdogs, the Storm led by five points at quarter-time, 1.2 to 0.3.
However, the Thunder took a stranglehold on the contest in the second quarter, kicking 6.4 to no score to lead by 35 points at half-time.
The Thunder’s Beppina Marshall, who kicked four goals, earned one of the best on ground medals, while the other was won by Strathfieldsaye’s Madeleine Evely.
“Beppina was fantastic and a real livewire who thoroughly deserved that award,” Burt said.
As well as Marshall, the Thunder also had Jaime Sawers kick four goals.
Sunday was a second flag in a row for the Thunder’s second-tier side, which also won the Northern Country Women’s League premiership last year before that competition was disbanded.
Strathfieldsaye coach Graham Gamble said despite falling short on grand final day, the team would take plenty of positives out of its first season.
“I’m really proud of the girls… it’s our first year with a lot of girls who haven’t played football before and the way they have developed over the past month in particular has been fantastic,” Gamble said.
“The girls gave 100 per cent today, which is all you can ask.”
Jennifer Morrison and Taylah Pratt kicked Strathfieldsaye’s two goals.
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• MATCH DETAILS:
Bendigo Thunder
0.3, 6.7, 11.10, 15.12 (102)
Strathfieldsaye
1.2, 1.2, 2.3, 2.3 (15)
GOALS – Bendigo Thunder: Beppina Marshall 4, Jaime Sawers 4, Molly Metcalf, Ebony Whiley 2, Kate Hare, Allanah Rowland, Chloe Vella 1. Strathfieldsaye: Jennifer Morrison, Taylah Pratt 1.
BEST – Bendigo Thunder: Beppina Marshall, Ruby Campbell, Lily Campbell, Rochelle Daley, Jacinta Morrissey, Kate Hare. Strathfieldsaye: Madeleine Evely, Rhian Moresi, Shanae Sawyer, Jennifer Morrison, Donna Slevin, Liza Edwards
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