Kelmscott and Koongamia had been the strongest premiership contenders all year, with Kelmscott playing out an undefeated season and Koongamia only losing to Kelmscott in nail-biting matches.
If the Semi-Final between the two was anything to go by, the coaches and players all knew it was going to be a tough rematch.
The crowd certainly wasn’t disappointed, as a huge Grand Final game played out on Saturday at Wyong Reserve.
Kelmscott ruck Mahalia Rukuata was first to the ball and aided the Bulldogs in an early forward entry.
A strongly contested football struggled to make way for either side, but with the wind in their favour Kelmscott started the game with two unanswered goals by the end of the first quarter.
Koongamia came back out from the break and were in higher spirits, and hungry for the football. They put the Bulldogs’ backline under pressure and both Kelmscott and Koongamia kicked two goals and one point each for the second quarter.
At half time, Kelmscott 4.4 (28) lead Koongamia 2.1 (13).
Kelmscott midfielders Anna Shae Michael and Tyla Fitzgerald dominated in the first half, but Koongamia was quick to match them up.
With two goals, Kelmscott’s Hayley McHenry played high in the forward to draw the football, taking impressive marks in the wet weather, and was unlucky not to kick three more.
Summer Yarran, who had kicked 65 goals for the season and finished third in the C2 Women Fairest and Best, twisted and worked around her opponent to claim two.
After the half-time break, the Koongamia Crows put their best on the two key forwards, and made haste through the corridor, alarming the Bulldogs’ backline.
The Crows dominated the third quarter, powering through the Kelmscott defence and claiming two unanswered goals, bringing them right into the game.
At the close of the third quarter, Kelmscott 4.4 (28) had one point over Koongamia 4.3 (27).
With Koongamia’s new-found dominance and just one quarter to award the decider, the Bulldogs needed Samantha Shepherd and captain Louise Knitter to stand up, which they did, taking control of the mid field and making strong contested marks across the centre and wings.
And in the last quarter, Maddie Barnes stood strong against the bigger forwards, and her team mate, Zalie Betts, took three intercepting marks and counter attacked across the half back to close off any of the Crows’ advances. Zalie proved to be one of the game’s best.
Both teams threw everything into the last quarter with just points separating them, and with less than four minutes to go out of a contested football, Richelle McKenzie snatched the football and kicked Kelmscott that desperately needed goal.
At the final siren, Kelmscott were crowned the undefeated Premiers with a final score of 5.6 (36) against Koongamia 4.3 (27).
Kelmscott player Louise Knitter was awarded the Best on Ground medal, voted by the match umpires, as she celebrated her 50th club game.
Photographs – Richard Polden
