Undefeated Kew sweeps VWFL Division 1 season with grand final win over Darebin
It grew out of the grand final pain of 2015, this week Kew is celebrating a perfect season and the VWFL premiership flag.
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KEW completed an undefeated clean sweep of the Victorian Women’s Football League Division 1 season when it held off a determined Darebin in a tough, defensive grand final at Coburg City Oval last Sunday.
After a scoreless first quarter, Kew gradually edged clear and looked to have done enough entering the final quarter.
Darebin was far from finished, however, and kicked a couple of quick goals to cut the deficit to five points early in the final stanza.
But, spurred on by the disappointment of last year’s grand final defeat, Kew red-doubled its efforts and goals from Isabelle Harding and Gabrielle Mahoney, on the siren, gave the Bears a well-deserved 5.3 (33) to 2.2 (14) win and a place in the history books as Kew’s first ever senior women’s premiers.
The ground-breaking victory was bankrolled by an outstanding defensive effort in the early going.
With Darebin throwing everything at the Bears in a frantic opening, indeed there were no fewer than 49 tackles between the sides in the first quarter alone, the Kew defence was besieged.
But, despite having 14 inside-50s, Darebin was unable to get itself on the scoreboard.
“We always call our defence a rock,” Kew coach Ben Forrest said. “They just don’t give up, they don’t quit. They do their job and let the midfield and forwards get on with theirs.”
Forrest said, despite his team being the competition standout all season, the Bears were ready for an early Darebin onslaught.
“We’d talked about it during the week,” he said. “We can’t win a grand final in the first quarter, but we can certainly lose it.”
After edging three-goals clear, Kew looked to have placed one hand on the cup.
Darebin, however, had other ideas.
“They pushed us really hard,” Forrest said. “I thought, going in to halftime, that we might be able to pull away.
“Towards the end of the game we were peppering away but we just couldn’t score.
“They got back within five points at one stage but we just changed things around.
“Gabrielle Mahoney stepped up. She’s been the league-leading goalkicker all season and she kicked the sealer.”
After a towering game in the ruck and around the ground, Sarah McKenna earned the nod as the grand final’s most valuable player.
Much of this year’s success had its seeds in last season’s grand final defeat.
“About three-quarters of the side played in that loss and they know how hard it is to make a grand final and how hard it is to win one,” Forrest said.
“It’s a credit to the club (as a whole). They are a great club. Super, super welcoming. It’s been a big part of the success of the team this year.”
While the promotion/relegation picture has yet to be determined, Forrest felt his side would make the step up to the top flight Premier Division and acquit itself well.
“The plan is to have two teams next year, a development squad and our ones,” he said. “So, like all clubs, we’ll have players pushing for a place in the ones.”
VWFL Division 1
Grand Final
Coburg City Oval (Sunday, September 18)
Kew 0.0 2.1 3.1 5.3 (33)
Darebin 0.0 0.0 1.2 2.2 (14)
Kew Goal Kickers: G. Mahoney 2, S. Taylor, C. Mahoney, I. Harding Best Players: I. Harding, S. McKenna, J. Metres, C. De Luca, J. Burger, S. Wilmott
Darebin Goal Kickers: J. Chiera, S. Boyden Best Players: T. Olcorn, J. Chiera, V. Smiljanic, S. Egan, C. Byrne, S. Siam
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