Minor premiers Collingwood claim maiden women’s flag with VFLW win over Western Bulldogs
There was heartache for Collingwood after losing Saturday’s AFL preliminary final, but the Magpies’ VFLW team gave their fans reason to celebrate with a historic win on Sunday.
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Collingwood completed its VFLW season as minor premiers by putting the crown in its year with grand final glory against the Western Bulldogs on Sunday.
And for coach Penny Cula-Reid, the 37-point win at Ikon Park was the realisation of a childhood dream.
Cula-Reid was the face of a Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal case 16 years ago when she campaigned for a youth girls competition.
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She is a Collingwood diehard and dreamt of becoming its first female coach.
“It didn’t really hit until I saw my mum in tears what this moment actually meant, not just for me but my family,” Cula-Reid said.
“It was just a really special moment I had with my mum.”
The 7.10 (52) to 2.3 (15) win also erased memories of last year’s straight-sets exit when the Magpies finished atop the ladder.
Stacey Livingston was awarded the Lisa Hardeman Medal as best on ground.
The Bulldogs drew to within five points at halftime but was held goalless in the second half.
They had to erase a 26-point deficit by final change, before Collingwood youngster Gemma Lagioia provided the sealer midway through the final quarter.
Cula-Reid said Collingwood’s state league success had laid the foundations for an improved AFLW campaign in 2020 after fifth, sixth and 10th placed finishes in the first three seasons of the competition.
“That was one of the things that we always said was that development was our key focus,” she said.
“If could get games into our inexperienced AFLW girls and the more they push through and play in moments like this and they really perform … the better for our program.”
Originally published as Minor premiers Collingwood claim maiden women’s flag with VFLW win over Western Bulldogs
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