Tara Murray
Talia Motta was the hero for Greenvale as it snuck home against Burnside Heights to earn a second straight Essendon District Football League division 1 women’s grand final.
Having trailed all day, the Jets fate came down to a shot on goal from Motta with four seconds to go.
After winning a free kick, Motta was able to slot her second goal for the game, in what would be the final possession of the game.
The goal gave the Jets a 3.6 (24)-3.4 (22) win and the first spot in the final match of the year.
Jets coach Troy Newton was speechless after the game.
“We had been behind all day and maybe we pinched it with the last kick of the day,” he said.
“We didn’t start well and were 20 points down at quarter time and we just had to stem the scoring.
“We looked a bit flat… I said to the team if we can even it up a bit more, we will get our opportunities and I think we kept them to two points after quarter time.”
The Jets made a few chances at half time and were able to get their running game going a bit more in the third quarter.
Newton said after that point the group just had to be patient and keep on attacking.
“We did want to get it to the outside a bit and carry it a bit more to give our forwards a bit more opportunity,” he said.
“From half way through the third quarter… getting a goal in that third quarter and keeping them goalless when they had a bit of a breeze, that was really big.”
The Jets hopes took a hit when Alisa Magri was one of two players, one from each team, sent from the field late in the third quarter after a scuffle.
Newton said they had to restructure without the league’s leading goalkicker as they tried to find the score to get over the line.
He said Burnside played really well defensively and made it hard for them to get any clear shots on goal.
“We got the message out with four to five minutes to go, to keep creating opportunities,” he said.
“Go all out attack as we were willing to lose by two or three goals to try and win it and luckily it went our way in the end.”
As for the winning shot on goal? Newton had plenty of nerves.
“It was hard to judge how far out she [Motta] was,” he said. “She’s a good kick of the ball but there were few options short.
“She wasn’t really looking to give off, I was thinking oh Jesus. She works hard on her game and has lovely foot skills and great for her to have that moment in her career.”
Motta was named the Jets best along with India McNeill-Wren and Amy Hakim.
The Jets now have the week off before the grand final. Burnside Heights will face Essendon Doutta Stars in the preliminary final on Saturday.
Newton said they are keen to go one step further this year.
“It’s good reward for the players,” he said. “We’ve trained a bit differently this year and been really physical.
“We’ll use the lessons of last year, and the lessons of today’s game to stay in the game and keep creating opportunities and anything can happen.”
