By Colin MacGillivray

Minyip-Murtoa provided a fittingly dramatic conclusion to the inaugural Wimmera Football Netball League senior women’s football season, upsetting previously undefeated Laharum in Sunday’s grand final.

The Burras had lost to the Demons on three occasions during the home-and-away season, but turned the tables on the minor premiers in the grand final to win 4.4 (28) to 2.3 (15) in front of a strong crowd at Murtoa.

Minyip-Murtoa captain Tegan ‘TJ’ Johnston said the team saved its best football for the biggest game of the season.

“At the start of the game we were confident in that if we played our best football we could beat them, and that’s exactly what we did,” she said.

“It just feels so good that we could achieve that together as a group.”

Tackle pressure was the order of the day for Minyip-Murtoa, with the Burras aiming to shut down Laharum’s outside run.

Ashlee Ison scored the opening goal of the game for Minyip-Murtoa, helping her side to a 2.2 (14) to 1.0 (6) advantage at the first break – the first time since quarter time of round one that the Demons had trailed at any change.

But it was Ison’s defensive pressure that shone more than her goal-kicking, with the midfielder relentless in her pursuit of the opposition.

Taking cues from Ison, the Burras shut down Laharum’s normally high-scoring offence.

The Demons failed to register a scoring shot in the second and third terms, and trailed 3.3 (21) to 1.0 (6) at three-quarter time.

“We were pretty pumped to start that last quarter. Our coach Nick Cushing said to us ‘this is it’,” Johnston said.

“We knew we had to absorb the pressure because Laharum was going to throw everything at us in that last quarter. Nerves were high but we were also calm at the same time, because we knew if we stuck to what we had been doing all day then we were going to win.”

While Olivia Lenehan broke through for Laharum’s second goal of the game in the last quarter to give the Demons hope, the Burras hit back through Scarlett Funcke, another of their best players, to effectively seal the result.

Funcke, full forward Georgia McIntyre and defender Stacey Arnold were among the stars for the Burras, but there were no surprises when Ison was awarded the best-on-ground medal.

“She’s just tenacious. She is unreal. She doesn’t give up,” Johnston said of Ison.

“If we did a tackle count she would have done 80 per cent of the tackles.

“She kicked a goal and she was just everywhere. She’s a freak – there’s no other way to describe it – and she deserved that medal, because not only did she play the best she’s played that day, she’s been in the best all year.”

For Laharum, defender Ema Iredell was excellent across half back, while Ruby Manson, Violet McGennisken, Hailey Puls and Catherine O’Dea worked hard in the midfield.

Demons coach Rod ‘Rocket’ Hogan praised his side for its growth throughout the year.

“I’m really proud of my girls. They’ve had a terrific season and we’ve worked really hard, so they can hold their heads up high and be proud of what they’ve achieved,” he said.

“Congratulations to the girls at Minyip-Murtoa. We’ve had a great season and a great rivalry.

“People like TJ who have been around a footy club for a long time really deserve to have the opportunity to play at senior level in women’s footy.”

Hogan thanked Laharum for offering him the coaching position, as well as the Wimmera Football Netball League for establishing the women’s competition.

Johnston said she believed the women’s league would continue to grow, and said the Burras were keen to defend their premiership next year.

“The vibes are so high. It’s just been so empowering to do what we’ve been able to do together, and I feel like our group is just going to keep building,” she said.

“We’ll keep the group together and welcome any new faces who want to come along. Everyone is wanting to stick around and do it all again.

“It’s one of the best feelings you’ll feel in sports, and it was so cool to be able to do it with a group of people who become your mates. It’s lovely.”

Juniors

Horsham was the victor in the first-ever under-14.5 girls grand final, defeating Laharum 2.9 (21) to 2.0 (12) to open the day.

Laharum went scoreless through the first three quarters, but an errant 1.6 from Horsham kept them in the contest.

While Georgia Foster booted two goals for Laharum in the last quarter to tie the scores, Indigo Pope scored a goal to restore Horsham’s lead for good.

Chloe Stockdale was named best afield for Horsham, with Mila Payne, Sienna Morrison and Asha Meek also prominent, while for Laharum Claudia Penny, Ruby Anson and Lilly Peucker shone alongside Foster.

Horsham coach Darcy Taylor paid tribute to his young players after the match.

“We’ve had a core group for about three years now and you can definitely see, by sticking at it and continuing to show up at training, we’ve improved our skills out of sight,” he said.

“To the girls I want to throw out the challenge to keep sticking at it. Keep together as a group and more success will come.”

Taylor encouraged more girls to consider joining the competition, which he tipped to expand in coming years.

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