Kyneton crowned inaugural Riddell District women’s premiers, defeating Macedon
The first Riddell District women’s premier has been crowned after Kyneton stormed to victory over Macedon. Check out all the photos here.
Riddell
Don't miss out on the headlines from Riddell. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Kyneton is the queen of the Riddell District.
The Tigers claimed the inaugural RDFNL women’s premiership on Saturday with a 23-point victory over Macedon at Gilbert Gordon Oval.
Kyneton lost just one game for the season as it stormed to a historic flag.
The 5.13 (43) to 3.2 (20) triumph is the club’s senior title first since its men’s Bendigo league win in 1997.
Alex Strawhorn was awarded the grand final medal as best-on-ground, while Jordan Savoia (three goals) and captain Teagan Ainslie also impressed.
Kyneton coach Phil Hawkes paid tribute to his players.
“Everyone is over the moon as you can imagine and all the hard work over the last three years has paid off.
“The crowd was incredible, the league would be very happy with the turnout, the place was packed – there were cars everywhere and people were standing four or five deep.
“Teagan (Ainslie), our captain, played really well, Jordan Savoia kicked critical goals and was a go-to player, Taylah Moore down back with her intercept marking.
“The whole team stepped up when needed, Bre Meadows did a job for us in the backline and Heidi Erasmus was super consistent.
“Alex (Strawhorn) came to us last year and hadn’t played footy. Her background is basketball, she played college basketball in the states.
“She came to play netball initially, and still does, but came over to play footy and just the way she moves you can tell she’s got that innate ability.
“We put her into the centre this season and she’s never looked back, her skills are still developing but her positioning and fitness will take her to another level.”
Kyneton started strongly but struggled with inaccuracy in the first term, kicking 0.5, while keeping Macedon scoreless.
Savoia booted the first goal of the match in the second term with a classy finish on the run but Laura Roberts quickly replied for Macedon and the margin was 13 points at half-time.
The Cats were held scoreless again in the third term as the Tigers took control, extending their lead to 21 points.
Macedon narrowed the margin to 16 points but Nikita Jamson sealed victory with the final goal of the match.
“Macedon brought the pressure, especially in the first quarter, and didn’t allow us to get our free-flowing game going,” Hawkes said.
“It ebbed and flowed early on, the pressure was on and our girls couldn’t get a clean possession.
“We missed some shots under pressure, I think we kicked four or five behinds in the first quarter, but we held the lead throughout.
“I thought we started to control it more in the third quarter, keeping possession but weren’t able to finish, Macedon’s last line of defence was really good.
“In the last quarter I felt our fitness was starting to show and, not completely, but the game started to open up.”
The Macedon, it was an extraordinary season, coming from fourth to storm to a grand final appearance.
Lilli Collins was the Cats’ best in defence, while Roberts finished with three goals and Lulu Slater, Scarlett Lynch and Tamara Collins also impressed.
A bumper crowd packed into Woodend-Hesket’s home ground to witness the first women’s grand final.
WRAP: RAISE THE BAT! 100 GOALS FOR THREE COUNTRY GUNS
LEADER: GET YOUR RIDDELL DISTRICT FOOTY NEWS HERE
REVEALED: THE UNDER—15 ALL-AUSTRALIAN TEAMS
“The way the league has run the competition has been really good, the resources they’ve put into it,” Hawkes said.
“The resources that have been made available to the girls, it’s not like the men have got everything and the girls have got a couple, it’s the same.”
Kyneton crossed from the Central Victoria Women’s league for the first RDFNL women’s campaign, while preliminary finalist Melton joined from the Ballarat league.
Macedon, Woodend-Hesket and Romsey entered from the existing Riddell District clubs with more exploring entering teams for 2024.
Romsey embracing premiership acid test
Win or lose Romsey will learn plenty about its premiership aspirations in the final three weeks of the RDFNL home-and-away season.
Local footy wrap: Streaks survive and contenders emerge
The longest winning streak in local footy was given its biggest test, other contenders emerged, relegation battles were won and a milestone man delivered in perfect style. Catch-up on all of Saturday’s local footy action.