Tara Murray
A focus on fitness has been the key to Tullamarine’s run to the Essendon District Football League women’s division 2 grand final.
The Demons, who went through the regular season undefeated, won through to their first women’s grand final on Saturday, beating Airport West in a semi final.
The Demons jumped out of the blocks and had the game in control when the game was stopped for more than 45 minutes when an ambulance was called due to a serious knee injury.
The game would later resume, with the Eagles kicking a couple of late goals, but the Demons had done enough, winning 6.5 (41)-4.2 (26).
Demons coach Peter Labbad said he thought heading into the game, that they might lose with the way the Eagles play the game.
But instead it was their fitness that would prove to be the key.
“It was pretty good, it was a pretty big game,” he said. “Our fitness is second to none and I really pushed them and it has paid off.
“The back end of last season we were losing by two goals to the top teams. That’s where they decided to buy into what I wanted.
“Our pre-season was nothing but running and no balls for a while.”
Labbad said he also brought in some stuff he had learned while coaching men’s football, which was hard to beat in women’s football.
He said the game had been played in really good spirits.
Labbard said the group was able to handle the challenging situation of having a break mid game well.
“It slowed our momentum down a bit,” he said. “They were able to kick a couple of goals late after that.
“It was really hard. I went out in my jeans and sneakers and completed some sprints and ball work, to try and keep it like they were still playing,
“I told them we had one foot in the grand final, the only way we won’t be there is if we stop.”
Laura Devlyn-Bennett kicked two goals for the Demons, to be the only multiple goal kicker on the ground.
Labbad said Jade Reaburn was a standout, as was Stacey McDonnell.
He was also full of praise for Courtney Annett.
“She’s normally a forward, but I put her in the ruck for the whole day,” he said.
“They couldn’t compete with her.”
The Demons now have a week off before the grand final. They’ll either face Airport West or Westmeadows.
Labbad said they would look to recover, before then training hard and sticking together as a group.
“We had a movie night before this match and watched The Year of the Dog. Next Friday night [the night before the grand final] we’ll have another movie night and stick together as a group.”
