Darebin Falcons go back-to-back with victory over Diamond Creek in VWFL Premier Division grand final

DAREBIN Falcons capped off a second undefeated season in as many years on Sunday, claiming back-to-back premierships with a 30-point win over Diamond Creek in the Victorian Women’s Football League.

VWFL Grand final: Darebin Falcons V Diamond Creek

IT WAS August 25, 2012, and Darebin Falcons were hot favourites to take out the Victorian Women’s Football League Premier Division grand final.

It had lost just one game for the season and had never been beaten by opponent Diamond Creek in its history, before falling to a heartbreaking, five-point loss in the decider.

In the two seasons since, Darebin has not lost a game, capping a second straight undefeated campaign on Sunday, with victory over the same team that beat them on that devastating day in 2012.

While not as comfortable a win as some might have expected, Sunday’s grand final triumph came by 30 points in front of a crowd of 1812 at Coburg City Oval, 10.15 (75) to 6.9 (45).

Just eight points had separated the sides at the main break before the Falcons went on to record a three-goal-to-none third quarter to set up victory.

“The first half was tight — very tight, as a final should be,” Falcons coach Richard Dal Pos said.

“They really took it up to us, but to the girls’ credit we really stuck to the way we want to play and prevailed in the end. It was great.”

Captain Daisy Pearce led the way for the victors, receiving best-on-ground honours despite receiving some close attention from Diamond Creek’s midfielders.

Moved into the midfield in the second half, Elise O’Dea was also pivotal, as was Melissa Hickey, while Katie Brennan finished with four goals up forward.

But as has been the case throughout the season, it was a consummate team performance that saw the Falcons to their seventh premiership flag in nine years, in their 10th consecutive grand final.

It is a record of success that might not have fully sunk in yet, but it is nothing short of remarkable.

“Some girls today played in their 10th grand final. There was about four of them, I think, and there’s quite a lot that have played in seven or eight,” Dal Pos said.

“So that’s quite remarkable — it really is.”

With Darebin’s Northern Football League Youth Girls team having taken out a fifth consecutive grand final last month, the period of success could live on for some time, too.

It seems the Falcons’ talent pool runs as deep as any local football side going around.

“It all looks good for the future,” Dal Pos said.