North coach Amanda O’Shaughnessy came onto the court for the final quarter against East Gambier in the preliminary final and dragged her A reserve side over the line.

Her pace and smarts set up many scoring opportunities with plenty of teammates making contributions in an opening half that set up the victory against minor premiers Millicent.

Alisha Bryan was unstoppable as O’Shaughnessy, Alycia Close and Phoebe McInerney kept hitting the circle and feeding the ball with accuracy to the star shooter, who clocked up 300 games this season.

Bryan was again the difference in the second as North powered to a 10 goal half time lead.

Tigers defenders Emily Stafford, Jessie Little and Libby Morgan-Howe applied relentless pressure to the Saints frontline.

Millicent brought Daisy Tunkin into wing attack, Shelby Gallio to centre, Olivia Dean to keeper, with Alice Pratt moving to goal defence and Alana Craig to the defensive wing.

It was Saints shooter Annelise Janssen’s best quarter and Millicent went into the last with a seven goal buffer.

In the end there was too much experience in the Tigers’ line up and they held on for a six goal victory.

B GRADE

Jacqui Matthews was a strong target for the Saints while goal attack Mia 
Varcoe worked hard to either set up her own scoring opportunities or fed the ball to Matthews.

The hard running of Jackie Sunderland was also a factor and her battle with Shelby Auld in the opening half was one to watch.

Leyna Bruggemann was looming as the key for the Demons, finding plenty of space and ensuring South had a slender half time lead.

She was fed well by Jaymee O’Neil and reliable wing attack Maddie Burley, while Charlene Riley and Tash Attiwill were getting some important touches at the defensive end.

South injected Ruby Richter into the contest at centre and her fresh legs were handy.

The final quarter came down to shooting accuracy and it was South that finished the better with a nine goal win.

C GRADE

North trailed by three at quarter time and it was association runner up best and fairest Sapphire Sims who shone for the Saints.

Sims made her mark in the second quarter as Millicent took complete control, with Nicola Batten and Sophie Skeer finding good connection with Sims and Jodie Reilly to keep the scoreboard ticking over, while Ella Wesolowski and Krystal Coghlan made life tough for the North shooters.

The Tigers brought Kate Dyson to keeper, Kasey White to wing attack, Zoe Rout to the shooting circle, Chloe Miller to wing defence and Zarly Jones brought fresh legs into centre.

Millicent found another gear with Abby McShane at wing defence and her combination with Coghlan and Wesolowski shut down the North attack line.

Sims returned to her best in the last as Millicent powered to the premiership with a 31 goal victory.

17 & UNDER

Millicent’s Lucy Denton and Rylee Kenny combined for 21 goals in the opening quarter, setting up an eight goal quarter time buffer.

Daisy Tunkin and Paige Lucas hit the circle hard and fed their shooters with precision.

Sarah Ritter ensured West stayed in touch for the opening quarter, set up by the hard work of Zoe Malseed.

Denton was unstoppable as the Saints defensive line of Portia McRae, Olivia Dean and Keeley Stuart smothered the Roos frontline.

Ritter went to goal attack, Malseed to the defensive wing, Stevi Clayton to the shooting circle and Nicki Clayton brought fresh legs.

Millicent had two sets of fresh legs with Saige Gibson bringing pace to wing attack and Sophie O’Connor tight checking defence.

Denton and Kenny had a strong final quarter again to set up the eventual 45 goal margin.

15 & UNDER A

Millicent was missing star defender Edie Easterby through injury, but did not disappoint getting off to a flying start with Annelise Janssen and Abby 
Denton.

Lillie Paul created play from WA, while Lauren Van Eeden and Maya Tarrant played a tight checking game.

North’s Tenille Human and Stella Mobbs took timely intercepts.

Jayme Young and Poppy Venn had a great battle through the midcourt.

Millicent’s Ella Easterby used her speed and the Saints remained 6 goals up at the break.

The third quarter was North’s best with Macey Griffith shooting accurately and Mobb’s restricting Janssen.

Denton found her range and connection with Paul to maintain scoreboard pressure.

Ella Easterby moved into centre, Venn to the wing and Easterby had an immediate impact in her new role.

Van Eeden continued to gain touches and ensure her side finished strongly.

The Saints won the quarter by 4 and the match by 9 goals.

15 & UNDER B

The feel good result of the day came in the 15 & Under B decider when undefeated Casterton Sandford overcame limited training and border closures to complete the perfect season with an eight goal win over East Gambier.

East Gambier was in no mood to hand Casterton Sandford their fairytale finish and at half time scores were locked away.

Tonique Burford and Grace Gazzard did some strong defensive work, including strong rebounds that created turnovers which Millie Button and Ambah Beveridge converted.

Hard running from Bridget Facey was critical as she battled with eventual best on court Indi Longhurst.

Cats defenders Sarah Richardson and Laura Michelmore limited supply to the accurate East shooting duo, while at the other end Longhurst and Phoebe Carlin worked hard to find Ivy Lane and Chelsea Hulm.

Matilda Lamb entered at goal shooter for East but the Cats defenders continued to take front position.

Lane kept finding space as the Cats powered to an eight goal victory and a season they and their coach Claire Foster will not forget.

13 & UNDER A

Both teams started nervously in wet conditions as North’s Claire Mitchell made good position in the goal circle despite pressure from Eva Crowe and Emily Denton.

Mia Gysbers and Maggie Collins worked well through the midcourt for North.

The Saints persisted and their defensive pressure continued through Bell Coghlan gaining important touches while North’s defenders Ruby Mitchell and Kelsie Anderson played a tight checking game.

Denton and Crowe shut down North’s attack as Ashlee Dean and Mylee Lynch found space and Piper Paul created play from WA.

The last quarter went goal for goal with the Saints switching Gysbers and Paul.

Millicent’s Sarah Sigston gained crucial turnovers in the dying minutes to ensure the Saints held on to take the win.

13 & UNDER B

Accuracy from goalers Megan Wells and Mia Griffith ensured North got value for their possession.

Strong rebounding from Mischa Human and Penny Coleman was also critical in creating turnover ball, while the strong running from Georgia Nulty was key in transition.

The Tigers had the better of the last as well as the Saints could not find a way to eat into the deficit, despite the efforts of mid courter Poppy Thorne and the shooting combination of Kalani Dunn and Tahnee Grosser.

Millicent led by one at quarter time and it was all tied up at the half, before the Tigers started to take control, eventually taking the flag with an 11 goal win.