By: Will Taylor
Grand final day has officially arrived this weekend and what a weekend it will be in the Deakin University Eastern Region Girls Football League.
The Deakin Uni Under 18 Division 1 Grand Final will feature undefeated Blackburn/Norwood taking on Mount Evelyn which is a replay from Semi Final match where Blackburn/Norwood won by 14 points in a hard-fought game. Both teams will be primed and ready to go with the teams knowing what to expect from a Grand Final, this will be a big battle of energy and stamina on who will get on top.
BLACKBURN/NORWOOD KEY PLAYERS: Emily Harley, Gemma Lagioia, Brooke Clare & Olivia Ashcroft
MT EVELYN KEY PLAYERS: Emerson Woods, Lilly Kelly, Hayley Styles, Ysabelle Price & Brittany Cubitt
WILL’S PREDICTION: Blackburn/Norwood by one goal.
The Deakin Uni Under 16 Premier Grand Final will feature undefeated Blackburn taking on Donvale which is also the replay from Semi Final match where Blackburn progress to the Grand Final with a 22-point win over the Vales. These two teams have played at a great intensity and power throughout the season and it was fitting that both teams ended up in the Grand Final.
BLACKBURN KEY PLAYERS: Renee Tierney, Chloe O’Malley, Hailey Morris, Taylah Morton & Tricia Cowan
DONVALE KEY PLAYERS: Jasmine D’Amato, Jenna Richardson, Amelia Van Oosterwijck & Marina Taverna
WILL’S PREDICTION: Blackburn by two goals.
Gembrook Cockatoo will be heading to Under 16 Girls Division 1 Grand Final with the favourites tag on their shoulder but they will need to hold off a very confident Rowville Knights who have peak at just the right time after de-thorning North Ringwood (2nd), Montrose (3rd) & Vermont (4th) in the past three weeks. The ladder leaders will have a week’s break to reset and figure out how the Knights attacks. The two teams last met in Round 9 where Gembrook Cockatoo won by three goals on the back of Lucy Ventham’s three goals.
GEMBROOK COCKATOO KEY PLAYERS: Kathryn Gow, Lucy Ventham, Sarah Templeton & Bianca Moody
ROWVILLE KNIGHTS KEY PLAYERS: Rachael Slater, Madison Church & Hannah White
WILL’S PREDICTION: Gembrook Cockatoo by four goals.
Under 16 Girls Division 2 Grand Final will be a thrilling game to watch with East Ringwood White will hoping to make it two premierships for East Ringwood Junior Football Club in three seasons. Lilydale will be hoping to raise the cup for the first time in this competition. What will unfold as Lilydale have played every single game in the finals while East Ringwood White had the week off last weekend. East Ringwood White won their only meeting back in Round 8 where Isabella Fabris & Olivia Spadea both scored two goals each to give the Roos the victory.
EAST RINGWOOD WHITE KEY PLAYERS: Carla Barics, April Burke-Dunkinson & Isabella Fabris
LILYDALE KEY PLAYERS: Meg Thompson, April Jeeves, Sophie Potts & Monique Davison
WILL’S PREDICTION: East Ringwood White by two goals.
The two best teams in the competition will go head to head at Batterham Reserve for the Under 14 Division One Grand Final as Blackburn and Mount Evelyn will be hoping to complete their season with a premiership. Blackburn haven’t lost a game in 2017 while Mount Evelyn have only lost one game. Blackburn won their only meeting by 26 points at Mt Evelyn when they had a huge second quarter scoring three goals to none and Mt Evelyn will need to score more than 21 points to get over the top of the Blackburn team who will be unstoppable.
MT EVELYN KEY PLAYERS: Casey Mcconchie, Olivia Edwards, Sky Wilson, Matilda Kelly & Caitlin Hoskin
WILL’S PREDICTION: Blackburn by two goals.
Donvale will be playing Mooroolbark for the ultimate prize in Under 14 Division Two Grand Final at Koonung Reserve. Donvale has been the best team all year with 11 wins and two lost while Mooroolbark must go through the long way and the hard way from fourth position to make it to this stage. Mia Van Oosterwijck & Maggie Browne kicked two goals each in their only meeting as Donvale led from start to finish to claim their five-goal win over Mooroolbark back in early May.
DONVALE KEY PLAYERS: Mia Van Oosterwijck, Georgia Dunne, Ella Merton & Meghan Rinkquest
MOOROOLBARK KEY PLAYERS: Maddison Mount, Codie Condon & Jessica Kearton
WILL’S PREDICTION: Donvale by five goals.