By Tara Murray
Westmeadows’ season remains alive after a strong performance against Strathmore in their Essendon District Football League Women’s elimination final.
With both club’s fielding sides for the first time this season, finals football was a new experience for both teams.
The Tigers started the better and then went to another level in the second half, eventually winning 7.12 (54)-4.0 (24).
Tigers coach Matty Walker said they were stoked with the win.
“They’ve exceeded all my expectations,” he said.
“We had six players before Christmas and we weren’t sure we were going to have a team.
“We re-assessed during the year … we thought it we could win a final, it would be a pass mark.”
The Tigers entered the final against Strathmore as favourites, but knew that finals are a often a different kind of football.
The Tigers led by 11 points at half-time, but could have been further ahead had they kicked straight.
Walker said at half-time there was one simple message for the players.
“We knew that if we could kick the first two or three goals of the quarter we could break the game open and we did that,” he said.
“We then got the first couple of the last and got up by six or seven goals and put the cue in the rack.”
Emily Brebner kicked two goals, while Natalie and Danielle Linton, skipper Jacinta Scott, Tylah Evans and Nat Egan also scored goals.
Walker said Scott was best on ground and led from the front.
He said Brebner was also good.
This week, they face Aberfeldie in a knock-out semi-final. Aberfeldie lost its qualifying final to Pascoe Vale.
“We think we can beat Aberfeldie,” Walker said. “We only lost to them by a goal in a tight tussle last time.
“We’re hoping to get into a preliminary final and we think we will be a good show.”
Sunbury Lions won the other elimination final, defeating Keilor 3.3 (21)-2.2 (14).
The Lions will face the Sunbury Kangaroos, who lost their qualifying final to Burnside Heights 6.7 (43)-5.9 (39).
The Bears and Pascoe Vale both get the week off and are through to preliminary finals.
