Tara Murray
Greenvale is hoping its a case of third time lucky in the Essendon District Football League women’s division 1 competition.
The Jets became the first team through to the division 1 grand final on Saturday, beating Burnside Heights in a physical match up.
The Bears entered the match as favourites with only one loss for the season, but it was the Jets that set the tone after the first five minutes.
The Jets let at every break, but the Bears didn’t let them get away, with the margin back to a goal in the third quarter.
It was the Jets that found another level to come away with a 7.11 (53)-6.3 (39) win and make it through to a third straight grand final.
Jets coach Troy Newton said they were pretty happy to be back in the final game of the season.
“Hopefully it’s third time lucky,” he said. “We played really well.
“It was pretty tough contested footy and we were able to stick it out. They did have momentum for large chunks and there were periods when we were on top. We were able to stay in the game and get over the line.”
Newton said the most pleasing thing for him out of the performance was the way the group responded when they were challenged.
The biggest of those occasions was when the Bears kicked the first three goals of the third quarter.
“They challenged us a few times and we fought back and that was what I was most happy about,” Newton said.
“I was happy that we played some good footy, but more happy that every time they challenged us we were able to respond and wrestle momentum back and stay in the game.”
Alisa Magri was the only multiple goal kicker for the Jets with two goals.
Kiara Delia, Amy Hakim and Adela Luke were the Jets best.
Newton said that every player played their role and that those they gave jobs to really stuck to the task.
He said while their stars did what they came to expect of them, it was the next tier of players that were the key to the win.
The Jets are hoping this season will be the one they break through and get that premiership after being so close the last two years.
Newton said it was a massive effort to get back there again.
“This year we lost our best and fairest winner in Zoe Hardiman and Chantel Caruso, who finished third.
“Indi McNeil-Wren only played two games and we lost our full back early in the season and our captain Paige [Caparello] didn’t play.
“You lose those five and it’s a bit of a different side.”
The Jets now have a week off before the grand final. The Bears will face Airport West in the preliminary final for a spot in the grand final.
Newton said they were looking at how they would prepare for the grand final and what had and hadn’t worked in the past.
