With two powerhouses of the Ballarat Football Netball League A Grade competition going head-to-head, it was always going to be a contest that could have gone either way. But for the fourth consecutive year, Darley have booked themselves another Grand Final appearance.
North Ballarat
def. by
Darley
First quarter dominance by Shannon Blackman’s Devils proved the difference in the end.
Liv Cawthray was instrumental in getting her side off to a flying start, nailing 13 of the team’s 16 goals.
Despite the efforts of North’s young gun Maggie Smith (GK), whose deflections created plenty of opportunities, they just couldn’t convert to intercepts, with Cawthray’s strength in the air too much to stop.
Annie McCartin looked to the depth of the Roosters in the second quarter, injecting Georgia Bodey into GA, sister Alana into WD and Milly Simpson into GD.
The changes had impact straight away, with Poppy Douglas feeding beautifully into both Bodey and Maddy Selmon (GS).
The pair were flawless under the post, putting away 14 goals between them without a miss.
Trailing by just six goals at the main break, North Ballarat continued to call on their depth and versatility.
Meanwhile, Darley’s Maddison Bosio – a late addition to the A Grade side this year – came on in goal attack for the Devils.
But it was the midcourt where the Devils’ influence was felt, with Blackman (C) and Lucy Taylor (WA) finding the circle edge with ease despite the best efforts of Brydi Hutchinson and Gina McCartin.
By three-quarter time the margin had stretched to 12, and it looked like the contest was done and dusted.
But in true North Ballarat fashion, the Roosters weren’t done yet.
Loose ball gets, Darley delays and precision feeds saw the margin whittled down to just four with three minutes on the clock.
The fightback had the crowd on edge, but the Devils held firm.
Each centre pass was converted, Cawthray continued to be the target under the post, and Darley would ultimately hold on for an eight-goal win and their fourth straight Grand Final berth.
Whilst it’s the end of an era for coach Annie McCartin, her time leading the North Ballarat A Grade side has been nothing short of extraordinary.
For Shannon Blackman’s Devils, the focus now turns to a fourth shot at premiership glory.
