MILLICENT and Kybybolite will battle in the 2018 Limestone Coast Women’s Football League grand final this weekend after a dominant seven rounds in the home and away season.
The two sides just edged out South Gambier, who also won six games.
All three teams finished on 12 points, but the Saints had the best percentage, earning them the minor round premiers status.
A 28-point win over East Gambier at Glencoe on the weekend cemented Millicent’s position on the top of the ladder, while Kybybolite, South Gambier and Glencoe also snatched victories in the final minor round of the season.
South GAMBIER 4.3 (27) d Kalangadoo 1.3 (9)
IN the first game of the day South Gambier just missed out on a grand final position, despite its three-goal victory over Kalangadoo on the weekend.
The Demons finished with the same points as both Millicent and Kybybolite – who sit above them – but their percentage let them down in the end.
With the grand final position on the line, South rocketed out of the starting gates early in the first quarter to score two goals, while holding Kalangadoo to just one minor score.
The second term was an even affair where inaccuracy in front of goal cost the Magpies.
Kalangadoo had more scoring opportunities than its highly fancied opponent, but failed to make the most of them.
As a result, South held a 15-point lead at the long break.
Another well contested quarter – which saw South add just two minor scores to its total – meant the deficit was slightly out of Kalangadoo’s reach coming into the final term.
However, the Magpies did not give up.
The Demons added 1.1 for the quarter, but were well matched by Kalangadoo who scored its first and only goal of the game through Holly Watson.
Despite Kalangadoo’s efforts, at the final siren South had an 18-point lead at the final siren after goals to Kelly Anderson, Chelsea Frost, Kendell Saffin and Imogen Walker.
Best for the Demons were Kaylene Nuske, Sarah Milne, Frost, Walker, Jasmine White and Zoe Duncan.
Kalangadoo was best served by Paris Ackland, Bianca Thorn, Chloe Pratt, Alix Lescure, Emma Mules and Jess Stone.
South will aim to hold onto third when it tackles East Gambier at Millicent this weekend, while Kalangadoo will hope to move up when it battles for fifth position with Glencoe.
Kybybolite 5.7 (37) d North GAMBIER 0.1 (1)
KYBYBOLITE proved it is a premiership contender with a 36-point victory over a struggling North Gambier in the battle of the Tigers.
North started well and kicked a point in the opening quarter of the game, while restricting Kybybolite to just 1.1.
However, it was not long before the northern Tigers showed why they are up with the best in the competition.
They held North scoreless for the remainder of the game, while piling on a further 4.6 for the game.
Tyler Atkinson contributed to her best-on-ground performance with two goals, while Susie Maber, Mardi Riley and Georgie Irvine chipped in with one apiece for the winning side.
Other impressive players for Kybybolite were Dellie Brown, Casey McElroy, Hayley Smart and Sophie Ford.
While inaccuracy in front of goal arguably cost Kybybolite top spot on the ladder, it would still be pleased with where it finished in its first season in the Limestone Coast Women’s Football League competition.
The northern Tigers will battle for supremacy in the 2018 grand final this weekend against Millicent, while North will hope to remain off the bottom of the ladder when it clashes with West Gambier.
Millicent 5.4 (34) d East GAMBIER 1.0 (6)
MILLICENT stamped its authority on the LCWFL with a 28-point victory over East Gambier.
The win handed the Saints not only a grand final spot, but cemented the minor premiers honours.
Millicent swung the game its way early in the opening term.
The Saints had more of the ball and it reflected on the scoreboard at the first break.
Millicent scored both a major and minor in the opener – while holding their opponents scoreless – and repeated that in the second term.
Despite the 14-point margin, East never gave up.
Tyne Bosko and Bo Creek were working hard around the ground, while Nic Collins was using her height in the ruck and in defence to give the Bulldogs their best chance at a come-back.
Madeline Fry was able to give East something to cheer about when she kicked truly in the third term.
However, the Bulldogs were not able to stop the Saints’ flow.
In the final stanza Millicent booted 2.2 to seal the game.
Hayley Bell’s contribution around the ground handed her best player honours for the Saints, while Kristie Rowe was a standout up forward, kicking an impressive three goals for the game.
Millicent will tackle Kybybolite in the grand final this weekend, while East will battle with South for third.
Glencoe 11.11 (77) d West GAMBIER 0.0 (0)
AN impressive seven-goal haul from Simone Macdonald handed Glencoe its biggest win of the 2018 season over West Gambier.
Macdonald earned herself best on ground for her four-quarter performance, which saw her boot almost half of the All Stars’ 77 points.
Glencoe had a lot of the ball in the opening term, but failed to make the most of it in front of goal.
The All Stars kicked 1.4, but managed to keep the Roos scoreless, which resulted in a handy lead at the first break.
Glencoe only improved as the game went on.
West struggled to keep up with its opponent’s intensity and as a result Glencoe only extended its lead.
The All Stars booted two goals in the second quarter to put the game beyond doubt.
However, the 23-point deficit did not stop Glencoe from wanting more.
It scored four goals in both the third and fourth quarter to take an impressive 77-point win.
Macdonald was awarded best player for her work in the forward line, while Libby Howe-Morgan, Madi Zujidveld, Shelby Auld and Emma Hartung-Gleeson also contributed to the big win.
West’s Lesley Macdonald, Brittney Allen, Darcie Kuhl, Melanie Deak, Cody Millard and Dearnna Richardson were recognised for their efforts.
Glencoe will now prepare for its game with Kalangadoo for fifth place, while West will hope to get the upper-hand over North to claim its first win of the season.
