SLOW starts crept into Kilmore’s women’s team at the wrong time of the year, and it was another setback which proved a bridge too far for the Blues as their season came to an end at the hands of Darebin at La Trobe University on Sunday.
A battered and bruised Blues team, still reeling from their 126-point qualifying final loss to the Fitzroy Stars the previous week, were jumped from the outset, leaving them with a bridge to climb after just 20 minutes of play.
At the same time, it was an inspired Darebin outfit – in particular, the midfield duo of Julia McArdle and Claire Hardi, as well as the cleverness of half-forward Karly McNiece, that dominated the Blues midfield early, with Abbey Duggan benefitting by kicking three of her six goals for the afternoon as the Falcons charged to a 29-1 lead at the first break.
Kilmore desperately needed a response, but it wasn’t forthcoming immediately as the Falcons kicked the first of the second to make it a 34-point ball game.
Brielle Kinnear did give the Blues a chance by kicking their opening goal of the game just a couple of minutes afterwards, but the Blues missed three more chances to sit 24 points behind at the main break, 11-35.
An entertaining third quarter of footy saw seven goals kicked as the game opened up – at odds with the miserable weather that was a constant throughout the afternoon.
However, Darebin had the game in its safekeeping by kicking the opening two goals of the quarter, extending the lead to 36 points.
Chiara Nardo, returning after missing last week, gave the Blues a bit of spark by kicking three goals for the quarter, but it always appeared as though the Falcons had the answers, kicking another two goals to maintain a 30-point lead at the final change, 60-30.
Darebin controlled the footy in the last term, kicking two goals to ensure it was the Falcons’ day, while Brianna Matthews-Gunn kicked a consolation goal.
Kilmore would eventually lose 5.10 (40) to 11.8 (74).
In many ways, this was a similar affair to last season’s first semi-final – just that the roles were reversed this time.
Kilmore’s best players were not named at the time of production.
The loss brings to an end Kilmore’s season – one where, despite copping key injuries at the wrong time of the year, it was a campaign where the Blues backed up a magical first year by again making the finals.