Victorian Amateur Football Association: Kew edges St Kevin’s to win in first week of women’s finals

Kew and St Kevin’s kicked off the VAFA women’s Premier finals on Saturday, battling out a sudden death first semi-final at Victoria Park.

Kew and St Kevin’s kicked off the VAFA women’s Premier finals on Saturday, battling out a sudden death first semi-final at Victoria Park.

After sharing wins in the home and away season, the third-placed Bears went in as slight favourites against SKOBs who’d finished fourth.

And, after an arm wrestle, it was Kew that lived to fight another day after escaping with a 2.10 (22) to 1.6 (12) win.

SKOBs leapt out of the blocks with the first goal but found it impossible to snag another for the remainder of the tight contest.

St Kevin’s first-year coach Tom Purcell highlighted what had been a great season for the SKOBs women.

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“Sure today was disappointing because it’s over far too soon but you can’t be unhappy with the year these girls have had,” he said.

“Today was very tough all game and Kew were stronger around the footy and really that was the difference.

“It was stoppage city all day and they like the crash and bash type of game, whereas we like the ball out in the open and running with it.

“Our captain Alex Hynes had a remarkable 78 tap outs in the ruck, so that tells you what type of day it was.”

Kew can look further afield after a win in this week’s first semi-final Picture: Valeriu Campan

Purcell said that this had been a year to remember and, after 30 years of coaching, season 2018 proved to be a career highlight.

“It’s my first year coaching females and overall it’s been a fantastic year and really it’s rejuvenated my passion for the game,” he said. “We had a senior and reserves team and we played 67 girls for the year, 36 of those girls played in the senior team during the year and we had 25 girls play their first ever season of footy.

“Football is about community and it embraces everyone, and after what I learned this year I can’t wait for next season.”

Best for Kew included Danielle Calautti and Lauren Grant while for SKOBs, Emma O’Shaughnessy and Jessica Joyce worked hard.

Melbourne University hosted Marcellin in the second semi-final on Sunday (scores unavailable at the time of going to print) with the winner moving into the grand final while the loser will take on Kew in next weekend’s preliminary final.

Meanwhile, in Division 1 men’s action this week, Kew went down to Ormond 17.17 (119) to 8.9 (57) at EE Gunn Reserve.

In Division 3, Canterbury had the percentage booster it needed and grabbed fourth spot with a 24.16 (160) to 1.7 (13) whitewash of Albert Park.

Hawthorn dominated a hapless Latrobe University, waltzing to a 35.28 (238) to 6.13 (49) win, while Swinburne University remains in the hunt for a finals spot but didn’t do itself any favours with an 11.12 (78) to 5.11 (41) loss to Aquinas.

Coach Ash Mills and Prahran Assumption continue to press for the finals. Picture: Valeriu Campan

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Prahran Assumption is building belief in its progress to a finals berth in Division 1 men’s, after a thumping 83-point win over Brunswick NOBS at Toorak Park on Saturday consolidated it in fourth place.

With two games remaining before the finals — including a supreme test against ladder leader Hampton Rovers this Saturday — last year’s Division 2 premier needs to win both games to ensure another finals appearance.

The Two Blues’ superior fitness, class and speed were on show after half-time when they added 11 goals to three with key forward Brent Chapman kicking four and feasting on constant supply from the Two Blues on-ballers led by Brett Dickinson.

In Division 2, MHSOB fell just shy of Emmaus St Leos, going down 14.15 (99) to 15.4 (94).

Premier, Premier B and Premier C had the week off for a bye.