KILMORE’S historic day in the limelight on Sunday saw the Blues take to La Trobe University’s Tony Sheehan Oval for its first final in the NFNL Women’s competition, and while it was unable to score a victory, the all-important double-chance means it has a second opportunity to make even more history and score its first finals win.
The Blues entered their meeting with Fitzroy Stars with some confidence, having taken victory against the Stars in their last meeting in a thriller at JJ Clancy Reserve.
However, on the bigger expanses of Tony Sheehan Oval, and with perfect conditions on their side, it appeared the Stars were more than comfortable with their ability to move the ball with pinpoint accuracy and took control in the first quarter.
Kilmore, to its credit, defended the ball exceptionally well in the Stars’ front half, and restricted them to just one goal from five scoring shots in the opening term, giving the Blues an opportunity to reset at the first break, trailing 10-0.
The Blues got their opportunity to hit the scoreboard in fortuitous circumstances, with a switch kick from the Stars missing a target, before Chloe Talbot converted with a kick off the ground to put Kilmore on the board.
This was as close as Kilmore got, however, as the Stars immediately took back control, immediately responding within a matter of minutes, before another goal saw the Stars lead by 17 points at the main change, 23-6.
With two goals in the first 11 minutes of the third quarter, the acid test was on Kilmore to not let the margin blow out. To the Blues’ credit, they played their best brand of footy in the second half of the third term as they fought hard to keep themselves in the contest.
The Blues were eventually rewarded with the goal they deserved when Tahlia Pyle converted from a set shot to reduce the margin to 23 points, 13-36.
But Kilmore was shot from the effort they had to give, and frustration seeped into its play as Fitzroy Stars used the final break wisely to reset and kicked four goals to extend the margin to 48 points by the end, 9.7 (61) to 2.1 (13).
Kasey Marsden fought hard against the tide, as did Jessica Vilinskis, Naomi Whalan, Shenay Reeves, Alexis Knight and Ella Stewart.
The Blues will live to fight another day, but they will have to bounce back quickly against a Darebin outfit with its tails up following a momentous win against South Morang in the elimination final.
