Grand Final Review – Women’s Division Three
Written by Michael Shillito
Sunday morning was an early start at Rosedale Oval for the Women’s Division Three Grand Final; a south-western derby that saw Wollondilly Knights take on Campbelltown Blues.
For the Knights, a near-perfect home and away season saw them go through undefeated with a percentage of 2000, conceding just three goals in the regular season. Campbelltown also had an impressive percentage of over 1000 but had lost two games. The Knights had a 12-point win over Manly in their Semi-Final, while the other Semi saw the Blues defeat North Shore by 28 points.
After such a dominant season, the Knights looked to be favourites, and everything seemed to be going to plan when Lisa Kuschert was marched 50 metres to the goal line for the opening goal after just five minutes. But the Blues were getting more of the ball and keeping it in their forward 50, and the weight of pressure built up until Sharon Freeman pounced on a loose ball and ran in for the equaliser. And as the clock ticked into time-on, Freeman again got into the thick of the action, threading the needle from the impossible angle to give the Blues the lead.
Stephanie Robinson was held without the ball early in the second, enabling the Knights to get back within a point. But the Blues were rising to the occasion, with Rebecca Gare marking in the square to restore the quarter time lead and Sam McLean managing to conjure up a goal out of nothing to stretch the margin to 13 points at the long break.
The Knights knew they had to make a move in the third term and couldn’t afford to let the deficit get any bigger. But when the premiership quarter got under way, it was the Blues who were first to the ball and continuing to control the action. An errant kick-in after a behind was pounced on, and Freeman’s dribble extended the lead. And when Rebecca Gair was left unattended within scoring range, the margin was out to 27 points. Lily Salzmann snapped another moments later, and the issue was beyond dispute.
The Knights got one back to cut the margin to 27 points at the last change, but the fate of the premiership had been decided. The sting had gone out of the game through the last quarter, but two more Campbelltown goals were the icing on the cake and the premiership cup was destined for the trophy cabinet under the Monarch grandstand.
A dominant ruck performance by Chantel D’Orazio was rewarded with the best on ground award, while Rebecca Gair and Rebekah Marknah also featured prominently. For the Knights, Fiona Lanz, Kirra Bennett-Smith and Courtney Hart continued to work hard even when the game was clearly out of their reach.
It was a disappointing end to the season for the Knights, having dominated the competition throughout the season until the last day. But history does not reward the team that wins the most matches, but the team that gets it done on the day that matters most.
And that team was Campbelltown. It’s been many a long year since the Campbelltown faithful have seen a premiership cup brought home. They’ll enjoy this one.
Match Result:
Campbelltown Blues 2.2 4.2 7.4 9.4 (58)
Wollondilly Knights 1.1 2.1 3.1 4.3 (27)
Goals:
Campbelltown – S. Freeman 4, R. Gair 2, L. Salzmann, S. McLean, A. Kinniburgh.
Wollondilly – L. Kuschert, J. Powell, F. Lanz, S. Robinson.
Best:
Campbelltown – R. Gair, R. Marknah, C. D’Orazio, L. Seeney, I. Wright, T. Mohi.
Wollondilly – F. Lanz, K. Bennett-Smith, C. Hart, A. Paget, A. Sandland, K. Fairley.
At Rosedale Oval, Sunday 27th September 2020.
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