Victorian Amateur Football Association: Ivanhoe through to women’s Division 1 grand final after win over St Bedes-Mentone Tigers

Ivanhoe is through to the VAFA Division 1 women’s grand final after an 11-point preliminary final win over St Bedes-Mentone Tigers at Elsternwick Park on Sunday.

Ivanhoe is through to the VAFA Division 1 women’s grand final after an 11-point preliminary final win over St Bedes-Mentone Tigers at Elsternwick Park on Sunday.

The Ivies led throughout in a low-scoring affair on the big ground at VAFA headquarters before winning 4.4 (28) to 2.5 (17).

The victory sets up a grand final rendezvous with nemesis Hawthorn at Elsternwick Park on Sunday (9.30am).

Both teams will be promoted to Premier B (White) next season.

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Ivies coach Bill Emerson said he was proud of the way his team had responded after the semi-final loss to Hawthorn last week.

“The whole club should be proud for what they have achieved, but there’s still a long way to go,” he said.

“The big dance is still to come, but you can’t dance if you are not at the party.”

Ivanhoe’s Sarah Kerr breaks a Tiger tackle. Picture: Phil Skeggs

Kicking with the aid of the breeze, the Ivies rattled the Tigers with three goals in the opening quarter as on-ballers Tahlia Day, Georgia Scarce and Sarah Kerr were quick to win possession.

Goals from Georgia Aanensen, Anita Dolzan and goalsneak Sarah Emerson gave Ivanhoe the early ascendancy.

Just a second before the siren, Tigers forward Isabella McConville was awarded a free kick on the boundary line after a heavy bump from Ivies full back Malika Bowles. Her goal on the tightest of angles gave fresh hope to the Tigers going into the huddle.

The Tigers slotted their only other goal from a set shot by Charis Ulu Peniata two minutes into the second quarter before the Ivies clogged up the Tigers’ forward 50m with fierce tackling and pressure.

The wind started to swing across the ground and added an extra layer of difficulty.

The Tigers struggled to get the ball beyond the centre, where Kira Duroux, Rachel McLean, Emily-Jane Johnson, Emelia Bisogni, Scarce and Kerr combined to drive the Ivies back into attack.

Five minutes into the third quarter Aanensen managed a hurried snap from 30m out despite close attention from two defenders.

The ball dropped short and Emerson swooped for a toepoke goal that gave the Ivies a handy 11-point buffer, an advantage they held until the final siren.

Georgia Scrace runs the ball out of the centre with help from Tahlia Day Picture: Phil Skeggs

Meanwhile, Old Ivanhoe bowled out of the Division 2 women’s finals race after going down to Whitefriars in the preliminary final, 1.12 (18) to 1.1 (7), in difficult conditions at Williamstown’s Burbank Oval on Sunday.

Old Ivanhoe sits fifth on the Premier C men’s ladder after an 18.15 (123) to 6.14 (50) loss to Fitzroy at the Brunswick St Oval on Saturday.

Richard Skok, William Gough and Jordan Stanton did best for Old Ivanhoe while Luke Scuderi kicked two goals to be the side’s only multiple goalkicker.

Old Ivanhoe will roll out the welcome mat for Old Geelong at Chelsworth Park this week.

And, in Division 1, Ivanhoe copped another heavy loss, going down to West Brunswick by 111 points, 25.17 (171) to 8.8 (56).

Lachie Roberts (four goals) was best afield for Ivanhoe along with Billy Zagontinos (two goals), ruckman Wes Mayne, James Legreca, Pat Legreca and Danny Jones.