The closest competition this year was in Division 4 across the VWFL in 2015.
At the end of the home and away rounds, just percentage separated the top four teams.
After sitting the majority of the season in first spot, Chirnside Park lost its last two home and away games to drop to second in the final round, and then exited the finals with defeats to Grand Final teams South Morang and Brunswick.
Brunswick knows that feeling all too well, finishing second last year in the clubs first year in the VWFL, only to exit the finals in straight sets. The final round win against the then top side was the perfect warm up for the finals.
“Beating Chirnside Park at their home ground in the final round of the home and away season was a critical moment for us,” Brunswick Renegades team manager Kim Hennessy said.
“It gave us confidence that we could go deep in the finals.
“The playing group is ecstatic to make the Grand Final after moving up a division this year.
“We know we've got a decent list, but we did not expect to do so well.”
The Grand Final matchup pits two teams with a win each from their two encounters, and less than 10 points separating the sides on both occasions.
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While the Renegades have finals experience, South Morang has progressed from no wins in 2014 to top of the ladder in 2015, and coach Maurice Baldasso still cannot believe the progression of the side over the last 12 months.
“This team was formed in 2014 and started out with 16 girls and not winning a game in their first year,” Baldasso said.
“2015 was our time to build a senior girls side so we started a recruit program and picked up experienced players that had played seniors before to give this side an even balance.
“In saying that this group trained hard as a team to at least win a few games in their second year, but low a behold they kept winning against good opposition and realised how great it was to win and from then on they formed a great bond with each other.
“They knew how each other played and from there they won game after game and are now playing off in a Grand Final - it’s just like a fairy-tale for these girls from not winning a game to be playing in a Grand Final is a great achievement for this side.”
Brunswick is the inform side, having won five of its last six games. That does not change the fact that Hennessy has South Morang still as the flag favourites.
“They are definitely the team to beat. We are going in as underdogs,” she said.
“They have some key on-ballers that we will have to watch out for.”
Whatever the result, the current playing group at ‘flag favourites’ South Morang has left a lasting impression on its coach.
“In all my years as a coach this is by far the best group of footballers I have coached,” Baldasso said.
SUNDAY AUGUST 30, PIRANHA PARK, COBURG: 12:15pm
PLAYERS TO WATCH
South Morang: Cassie Hurst, Demi-Lee Hallett, Tara Chetcuti, Jacinta Campbell
Brunswick: Kate Sullivan, Esther Hassett, Sarah James, Melissa Doria, Anna Morrow
PATH TO GRAND FINAL
South Morang
Semi-final: South Morang 6.5 41 d Chirnside Park 1.2 8
Brunswick
Semi-final: Brunswick 11.8 74 d Port Colts 3.1 19
Preliminary final: Brunswick 8.7 55 d Chirnside park 1.11 17
HEAD TO HEAD
Rd 5: Brunswick 2.6 18 d South Morang 1.2 8
Rd 12: South Morang 4.4 28 d Brunswick 3.2 20
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Video stream link for ALL Grand Final matches
Division 3 Grand Final preview: Kew v Deer Park
East Grand Final preview: Gippsland v Ajax
West Grand Final preview: Sunbury v Melton
VWFL finals information
Photo: Arj Giese
Last Modified on 28/08/2015 10:40