Grand Final Review – Women’s Division Two
Written by Michael Shillito
It was a lunchtime Sunday match to decide the Women’s Division Two title, on a day that was thankfully nowhere near as blustery as Saturday. Playing off for the cup were St George Dragons and Western Magic.
The Dragons had taken out the ladder leadership after the regular season, dropping only the opening round game. They were tested in the Semi Final against Manly but managed to get through. Their opponents, the Magic, were winless after round 2 but fought back to make their way into the finals and then enjoy a comfortable Semi Final win against the Magpies to make it into the competition decider.
From the opening bounce, the Magic wasted no time in making a statement of their intention as they took a stranglehold over the contest. Every time a pack formed, there was a black jumper emerging with the ball. Helena Smith was on the scoreboard after just four minutes with a mark at the edge of the square, and Zarlie Goldsworthy converted a set shot from a tight angle moments later. And when Goldsworthy flew high to mark and kick her second, the Magic were already 18 points ahead and the game was barely 13 minutes old. The Dragons were under siege, and all they could do was to defend resolutely for the rest of the quarter against wave after wave of Magic attacks.
The Magic led by 19 points at the first change, but they were just getting warmed up. The second quarter would be another one-sided display as they raced away to a match-winning lead and denied the Dragons any chance to work their way back into the game.
Goldsworthy had her third goal on the board within minutes of the restart, positioning herself perfectly for the mark within kicking range; and number four came not long afterwards with a run, a bounce and got the kick away just in time. Courtney Corr found room to add another, and when Ashlee Weir converted a set shot at the 14 minute mark, the lead was out to an uncatchable 43-point margin.
The situation looked impossible for the Dragons, and so it would prove to be. They finally achieved some reward for effort in the third quarter when they got two goals on the board; but the Magic also added two goals to keep the half time margin intact. The Magic were counting down to premiership glory, and put the icing on the cake with three goals to one in the final quarter to extend the final margin to 59 points.
There were scenes of joy among the Magic players and club stalwarts. The start of the season had been a struggle as they forfeited the opening round and were well beaten in round 2. But as the season continued, they began to build momentum, coming from behind but making progress every week. And suddenly they were premiers.
Mallorie Jansen was awarded the best on ground, while Jaimie Druery and Zarlie Goldsworthy also featured prominently, with Goldsworthy finishing with five goals. Maddison Hatswell, Hannah Ascoli and Emma Ross tried hard all day for St George, but the Dragons were never in the contest after the ferocious first half of the Magic.
Timing their run to perfection and hitting their best form of the season at the time that mattered most, this was a premiership for the Magic that will long be treasured.
Match Results
Western Magic 3.2 7.4 9.4 12.7 (79)
St George Dragons 0.1 0.2 2.2 3.2 (20)
Goals:
Western Magic – Z. Goldsworthy 5, C. Corr 3, A. Weir 2, H. Smith, M. Jansen.
St George Dragons – J. Bevan, S. Wynn, L. Hoban.
Best:
Western Magic – M. Hatswell, H. Ascoli, E. Ross, L. Hoban, R. Burns, J. Gallehawk.
St George Dragons – J. Druery, M. Jansen, Z. Goldsworthy, C. Corr, K. Spender, D. Darwall.
At Rosedale Oval, Sunday 27th September 2020.
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