Tara Murray
Some days on the football field, it just isn’t your day and for Greenvale it came at the wrong time of the year on Saturday.
The Jets entered the Essendon District Football League women’s division 1 grand final against Strathmore as favourites, but went home disappointed.
The Mores came ready to play and were able to control the game throughout the midfield and back line.
The score line reflected that, with the Mores winning 6.4 (40)-1.2 (8).
Jets coach Troy Newton said in the end it wasn’t their day.
“We had one of those days,” he said. “What we tried to do didn’t come off and didn’t go our way.
“Sometimes you have those days and today was one of those.
“We started alright. I think we were in the contest for most of the day and even though the scoreboard doesn’t really show it.
“We had a lot of half opportunities, you need some of them to go your way to win and today wasn’t our day.”
The Jets started well with Alex Quigley getting plenty of the ball but they were able to get any real good opportunities.
Best-on-ground medallist Eloise Freeman provided the Mores plenty of run, while their smalls of Chiara Gaurino and Clara Toperosa were winning the midfield battle.
The Mores got on top on the scoreboard in the second quarter and when they got the first goal of the third, the game was all but over.
They would kick the only goal of the last quarter, which was the icing on the cake.
Newton said they were beaten by a better team on the day.
“They set up well behind the ball and have got good players who can run and carry and break the line,” he said.
“They used that to their advantage and we couldn’t stop that and couldn’t control the ball.
“We had three or four with the flu all week and they couldn’t train, which wasn’t at an ideal time.
“No excuses, they were the better team on the day.”
Newton and the playing group, while disappointed, were proud of their achievements. They set out to play finals at the start of the year, which they achieved.
“There are still a good dozen players who are 21 or under,” he said.
“Our core group is still very young and we probably need a bit more experience, those mature bodies, those players in their mid 20s that have played a little bit more football.
“We have the nucleus there, we will be back.
“They are really united at Greenvale and have a really good culture and they’ve all brought into that,
“They are going to stick together and we will be back and we’ll work on what we need to so we get another opportunity
“From where they’ve come from their first year a few years ago, they had one win and a season and half later they’re playing off a grand final, I couldn’t be prouder.”
