Tara Murray
The momentum is growing for Roxburgh Park as it is through to an Essendon District Football League women’s division 2 preliminary final.
After a slow start in their return to the EDFL women’s competition, the Magpies entered the finals as one of the form teams in the competition.
Playing their first ever final on Saturday, the Magpies were able to keep their season alive while ending the Sunbury Kangaroos.
The Magpies took control of the game early before going on to win, 7.12 (54)-5.3 (33).
Magpies coach Kevin Allan said his group of players continue to inspire him every week.
“It’s beyond explanation,” he said. “Everyone has come together and it’s been really good.
“Because of momentum all of sudden everything is happening.
“It’s amazing and I can’t put into words how hard work has made these dreams and hopes come to fruition.”
Allan, who has coached since he was 18, said he has never been more nervous before a game in his life.
Some inaccurate kicking in the first quarter kept the Kangaroos in the game before the Magpies kicked away.
“It was one of those games I thought we were well in control,” Allan said. “Had we kicked straight in the first quarter it could have been a really one sided game.
“We had come to play. We have had some good starts the last few weeks and it came to fruition.”
Natalie Tull-Boyle and Summa Blackburn kicked three goals each for the Magpies. Tull-Boyle could have had a bagful had she kicked straight early on.
Blackburn, McLeod and Megan Allan were named the Magpies best.
Allan said the experience that many of the group had in playing in a division 1 grand final last year in the Northern Football League had really helped.
He said the biggest thing this season had been the growth of the players towards the bottom of their list who have developed and made the side more even.
The Magpies now face the Sunbury Lions on Saturday in the preliminary final.
The Lions lost to Coburg Districts in the other semi final.
Allan said while anything they achieve in finals is a bonus, they were keen to continue their journey.
“When we beat them that was our greatest win of the season,” Allan said about the Lions. “They were undefeated and it set us going.
“We are pretty much at full strength and we are excited. We’ve been making small steps and we’re in the big step class now.
“I’m full of confidence that our side is bringing our best. Momentum is a hard thing to stop and we have the momentum at the moment.”
