By Tara Murray
Bundoora has completed the perfect season in the Northern Football League’s women’s division 3 competition.
Fielding a women’s team for the first time, the Bulls completed an undefeated season with a grand final win over Eltham on Sunday.
The Bulls had conceded just 100 points for the season before Sunday’s game and went in as red hot favourites against Eltham, which finished the season in fourth.
The Panthers kicked the opening goal of the game, but after that it was all the Bulls. They dominated the contest, with the ball spending most of the game in their forward half.
The Bulls’ dominance wasn’t rewarded as it could have been, but it didn’t matter as there was little challenge on the scoreboard.
The Panthers had a glimmer of hope when they scored their second goal early in the last quarter, but the Bulls responded immediately.
With the win in the bag, the Bulls enjoyed the final minutes of the game knowing the premiership was theirs.
The final score was 6.9 (45)-2.0 (12).
Bulls coach Gary Moorcroft said it was pleasing to see the side deliver on the big stage.
“It’s been a long road, to start with we had five or six girls at pre-season training and everyone has jumped on board and come together well as a group.
“They are a fantastic bunch of girls to coach, they listen, they learn and want to get better.”
He said there was some early nerves on Sunday which played a part in the game.
“To come into a granny with the mindset of being undefeated, things can go wrong,” he said.
“Our girls took a while to settle and after the first quarter they did. They were a bit fumbly early, but got their run going which was good. They withstood the pressure of Eltham and were able to run over the top of them in the end which was good.”
Neither side kicked a goal in the second quarter, but the Bulls still dominated play.
In the second half they were able to gain reward for their effort. Moorcroft said repeat inside 50s was the key to their game.
“That’s what we try and do, we try and play the game in the forward half,” he said.
“The girls are well structured and they stick to the game plan and press up. That’s how we’ve won most of our games.”
Rebekah Blennerhassett kicked two goals, while Amy Callway, Brittany Del Romano, Bridgette Taylor-Gray and Brieanna Musgrave were the other goalkickers.
Candice Dyson, Jemma Cremore and Jemayne Jonkers Albrecht were named among the Bulls’ best.
Moorcroft said one of the most pleasing things was being able to have the girls enjoy the last few minutes knowing they had won.
It allowed the side’s leading goalkicker Chloe Moorcroft to take to the field.
Moorcroft, who finished second in the competition goalkicking, has glandular fever and shouldn’t have been playing. She got to spend the last five minutes of the game on the ground.
She joins her father, Gary, as a senior premiership player at the club.
Eltham’s Krystal Cullinan was awarded the best on ground medal by the umpires.
Moorcroft, who has been involved all season and took over the head coaching role mid-season, already has one eye on next year.
He said he would probably coach the side again.
In the other women’s grand finals, Bendigo took out the division 1 title, beating Keilor 7.7 (49)-1.4 (10).
In division 2, West Preston Lakeside defeated Montmorency 6.2 (38)-4.5 (29).
For more photos from Bundoora’s win, CLICK HERE
