KILMORE’S women’s team will wait with bated breath to find out whether their first season in the Northern Football Netball League women’s competition will yield a top two finish after completed a spectacular campaign with a dominant 51-point win over South Morang at JJ Clancy Reserve.
The victory, for now, takes them up to second position, and with top team Lower Plenty hosting third-placed Fitzroy Stars in the final round, a victory for the Bears will mean the Blues stay in second at the end of the home-and-away campaign.
Irrespective of that, the Blues did its own work to ensure that there would be no questions asked of their status, completely dominating against the Lions in what was its inaugural NAIDOC round celebration.
It was the Chloe Talbot show early in the piece, the high-flying athletic forward kicking the only three goals of the quarter to give the Blues all the impetus to take control of the game from the outset, allowing the Blues to lead 20-0 at quarter time.
The Blues continued to maintain its dominance in the second term, but weren’t quite able to put the game away, instead kicking just one goal from seven scoring shots.
However, more importantly, the Lions were kept scoreless by Kilmore’s resolute defence, and it was Kilmore who led 32-0 at the main break.
The third quarter saw Chiara Nardo erupt, kicking three of her five goals for the quarter as it was party time for the Blues. Despite conceding a goal late in the quarter, it was clear that the Blues were home, leading 51-7 at the final change.
Nardo kicked the only goal of the last quarter, marking a spectacular first season which is not yet done, giving the Blues an 8.11 (59) to 1.2 (8) victory.
Kasey Marsden and Tahlia Pyle were incredibly busy around the ground, while Noami Whalan, Jessica Vilinskis, Chloe D’Elia and Tori Brooks were also named in the best.
The Blues will now kick its feet up for the final round of the season with a bye, before reconvening for week one of the finals at La Trobe University.
Wallan also had a positive day out as it looked to finish off its season on a positive note, taking a 12-point win against Epping at Greenhill Reserve.
The Magpies were off to the perfect start, kicking the only goal of the first term through Lily Borg to open up a seven-point lead at the first change, 7-0.
Scoring was hard to come by in the second term, with both teams finishing the quarter the way they started it on the scoreboard.
Wallan made its move in the third term, and more specifically, it was Melanie Hope who led the charge, kicking two goals for the quarter to put the Magpies into pole position to take a much-needed win.
With their defence resolute, Epping were held scoreless again, and Wallan led 20-0 at the final change.
Epping did the bulk of the attacking in the final term, and were rewarded with a goal, but it was too little, too late as the Magpies took a 3.2 (20) to 1.2 (8) victory.
Borg, Shannyn Powell, Chelsea Paton, Jordan Stanyer, Hannah Paton and Hope were named in the best for the Magpies, who will bow out of the 2025 season with a game against Montmorency 2 next week.
