MPFNL Women’s grand finals: Bonbeach goes all the way to claim premiership
Bonbeach’s women’s football side may have broken a hoodoo after claiming its first premiership. Here’s how the Sharks did it.
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At last, Bonbeach is popping premiership champagne.
The Sharks’ 3.6 (24) to 1.4 (10) win over Edithvale-Aspendale in the grand final of the Mornington Peninsula league’s Division 2 women’s competition at Frankston Park on Saturday was the club’s first premiership in any grade in 40 years.
Driven by motivation after losing the preliminary final last season by a point, Bonbeach’s talented women’s side put the clamps on Edi-Asp while building a winning lead.
“They (Edi-Asp) like to use the ball, play on and go through the corridor a lot, so we knew we had to stop that,” Bonbeach coach Stephen Rowe said.
“We had some things set up for that to make sure we didn’t give them easy access through the corridor.
“But overall it was a good team performance, everyone played their role.”
Bonbeach co-captain Amanda Wheeler won the medal for best-on-ground after shrugging off an arm injury to be pivotal in the midfield.
“At one stage she came off and we thought she had a serious arm injury,” Rowe said.
“We weren’t sure if she was going back on…but she did and played a key role.”
Keilah Kelly at half back was outstanding, keeping Edi-Asp’s key forward quiet.
Bonbeach’s midfield had grunt and drive, led by Maddy Wagner in the ruck.
“She’s a raw talent, she can go a long way if she wants to,” Rowe said.
Bonbeach’s forward line was sparked by Lauren Colquhoun, a smart footballer who worked hard to do the right thing by her fellow forwards, often coming up the ground.
Caitlin Tayleur slotted a goal to cap an excellent game, highlighted by her run and ball skills.
Rowe said the flag triumph was fitting reward for nine months of hard work.
“To see all the hard work — we started back in November — the development and improvement in them all has been fantastic,” he said.
“As a coach that’s what I look for. I’m not too much about we’ve got to win every game. I just want to girls to develop and enjoy it and that’s been my coaching philosophy ever since I started to be honest.
“I found out after it was the first premiership for Bonbeach in the last 40 years, and for the women to do that was fantastic.”
Bonbeach club president Paul Smith said the victory was vital for his club.
“We’ve had some bad luck at Frankston Park in the last 10 years so the girls may have broken the hoodoo for us,” he said.
Meanwhile, Warragul Industrials capped an outstanding season by claiming the Division One grand final, beating Mornington Blue, 7.3 (45) to 5.5 (35). In a tight tussle, the Dusties kicked three goals in the last quarter to edge clear, with Kelly O’Neill finishing with two goals and Monai Porykali, Abbie Hoiberg-Cox, Alisha Molesworth and Isabella Brown among the best.
In the Division Three grand final, Frankston Dolphins slotted two last term goals to beat Seaford, 2.4 (16) to 1.4 (10). Teagan Bitters, Ebony Robinson, Seikula Drodrolagi, Kiarna Barton and Tialah Mills were named best for the Dolphins.
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