Cracking conditions painted a picture-perfect setting for Round 9 and the final minor round games in the Limestone Coast Women’s Football League Under 16 competition with the added hype of having AFLW Demons player Ella Little on hand to umpire.

Little did a fantastic job of umpiring and the girls enjoyed her presence throughout the evening.

Hawks v Demons

First to take to the field was the Hawks and Demons and boy this did not disappoint the crowd.

Going into the game both sides had the same idea to go out and win at all costs.

It was a battle in the first quarter with hard tackling and even the good old bump was on display, but both sides knuckled down to put on a solid show of football talent.

The Hawks got the first clearance out of the middle with Evie Sealey getting a long kick away to her teams forward line, but it was repelled back from the in-form Demon of Ella Guest, whose decision making was excellent finding a team mate out wide to run the ball forward to get the scoreboard ticking over with a behind.

The Demons were switched on from that point and it was Jarrah Altschwager and Sophie Wight who stood up and led the charge, taking everything on and pulling other players into the game while the Hawks brigade of Sealey, Lilly Gordon, Stevie Collins and Jasmin McKinnon continued to gather touches across the ground.

But a determined Demon outfit was on show and headed ino the first change with an eight-point buffer while holding the Hawks scoreless.

In the second quarter the Demons continued their form with run and carry foottball and even left the opposition flat footed at times, pressuring them into mistakes leading the Hawks to think twice about how to dispose of the ball.

Despite a better display from the Hawks, the Demons possessed the same eight-point lead at the main break.

There was a battle to be had as both sides emerged from the half-time break not wanting to give an inch, with head-over-the-ball football and hard tackling from the Hawks’ Gordon and Collins giving the side some hope.

Altschwager, Wight and Guest also continued to press forward and lay the hard tackles.

For the Demons side – the momentum was all theirs and there was no chance of letting the game slip away – and while the Hawks managed to kick a goal they still trailed at the final break by seven points.

Going to the last quarter the Hawks found another gear to lift the side’s spirits with Sealey continuing to be the backbone of the team while bringing Gordon, McKinnon, and Collins into the game only to be stopped in their track by a formidable Demons’ side.

Altschwager, Wight, Sam Hobson and Jordy Davis had a great quarter which set up the 19-point win.

Tigers v Kybybolite

This game was played with good spirit and intention, but it was a case of fine-tuning the skills and match-play for next week’s Group A and B grand final.

Kyby came out and pushed the Tigers the entire match with the sheer pressure and determination stinging the home team.

Chloe Copping and Jessica Cox were the top two players for Kyby in the opening quarter and had support from Stella O’Brien, while Tiger Penny Coleman controlled the ruck around the ground with Heidi Berkin and Yenna Joyce providing the link-up.

In a tight and fierce battle, the quarter ran away quickly with Kyby holding a slim four-point lead at the first change.

In the second term the Tigers made some minor adjustments which helped give Coleman, Berkin and Joyce the upper hand, working hard to bring teammates into the game.

Kyby’s Cleo Adams, Zara East and Elsie Hahn bounced back to find the football and put some pressure on the Tigers, but were unable to slow their opposition as the Tigers showed they could control the tempo.

With the Tigers two goals to just the one Kyby behind, the side entered the main break with a nine-point buffer.

The third-quarter action was a tight battle will both sides throwing themselves at the ball at every opportunity.

Hayley Pudney and Jenna Baron put their hands up and had a great quarter while Hahn, Copping and Cox for Kyby were not done and continued to dig deep.

Despite only one behind scored from Kyby in the quarter the Tigers looked to be tiring and the three-quarter time siren could not come quick enough as they held onto an eight-point lead.

Going into the last quarter of the home and away season provided a good opportunity for both teams and coaches to try something new in a bid to claim an advantage.

But the Tigers were the ones that responded well and took the game head-on with a display of skill and teamwork.

Kyby did not give up at any stage of the quarter and gave their all, but in the end it was not enough to get over the line.

Looking to next week Kyby will be looking tot bounce back in tthe Group B final, while the Tigers will have a great contest against Hatherleigh on the main stage in Group A.