By Lance Jenkinson
Spotswood has fired the first shots in the Western Region Football League senior women’s finals.
The Wolves had to dig deep to break the resolve of Caroline Springs and record a 25-point win in the qualifying final at Avalon Airport Oval on Sunday.
Wolves coach Theo Theodorou has overseen the most attacking side in the competition, but he knew it was going to take a lot of patience and mental strength to overcome a stern challenge in week one of the finals.
“We’ve been one of the higher scoring teams, but when you get to finals it’s obviously a whole new ball game,” he said. “We knew it was going to be hard and tough and a close game. It was a real gutsy win.”
The first half was an arm-wrestle, but Lauren Dundon put on a show. Dundon kicked her side’s only two goals to give Spotswood a five-point lead at half-time.
Spotswood was in better command in the second half.
Kayla Koropeckyj, Thalia Wright and Felicity Whelan got on top around the ball. Shani Dixon cashed in for the green and golds with two second-half goals.
“We had to open up the game in the second half and play it back on our terms,” Theodorou said. “Once we got it opened up, we got it in our forward line pretty quick and our girls kicked the goals.”
Spotswood has set up a heavyweight clash with minor premiers Manor Lakes for the right to go directly into the grand final. The two best sides in the competition during the home-and-away rounds will meet at Pennell Reserve on Saturday at 9.30am.
The other semi-final will be a cut-throat game between Caroline Springs and Werribee Centrals at the same venue and time on Sunday.
Spotswood will be hoping to keep the good times rolling after its netball team won the division 2 premiership two weeks ago and the under-18 girls football team clinched a fourth successive premiership with a 23-point win over Werribee Districts on Sunday.
