NTFA: Third time’s the charm as Rogers inspires Sunettes to grand final win
Meander Valley co-coach Kia Rogers couldn’t hide her emotions after a key moment in Saturday’s NTFA division one women’s grand final win. It was pure joy for the Sunettes after losing the previous two deciders.
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It was an outpouring of emotion that was equal parts joy and relief for Meander Valley women’s co-coach Kia Rogers.
In the third term of the Sunettes’ breakthrough NTFA division one grand final win over Deloarine, Rogers squared up a kick to Tiffany Whitney in the third term, who kicked a goal to give them a ten point lead.
Rogers pumped her fists in the air and high-fived a Sunettes fan near the UTAS Stadium fence, as she could sense their grand final heartache was over.
Meander Valley lost the past two deciders to South Launceston and the Kangaroos, but there was no tripping up a third time on Saturday.
Rogers was deservedly named player of the match after also kicking the opening goal of the game.
Asked if her goal assist celebration was relief, Rogers said: “Yeah. I was just happy to be coming to the bench and get a rest,” she said.
“Knowing we were able to play our game and control the ball, we had control and it felt really good.
Although their defensive group was fantastic, especially Sophie Townsend and co-captain Caitlyn Lee, Rogers said they were determined to be more proactive in their third straight decider. “This was definitely player driven. We really changed up our approach this time and it was all concentrating on our game, and our game only,” Rogers said.
“The girls really bought into it and that’s what got us over the line. Every single player believed in each other.
“We hit the training track and it was all attack and taking the game on. We thought we played too defensively last time, so we just believed in ourselves and took every opportunity to attack.
Fellow co-coach Charlotte How spoke of their pride in creating history for the club.
“As soon as we won there was tears of joy. It’s been a long time coming and we’re so proud of the girls,” she said.
“It’s huge or the community to win the first NTFA premiership for our club. We have such a good group and the girls worked so hard to get to this point.
“(Defensively) everybody dropped back when they needed to, to hold the ball up. We know how good Deloraine can be when they get the ball (out the back), the girls did an awesome job of shutting that down today.”
The Sunettes absorbed pressure defensively early, and were rewarded when Rogers slotted the only goal of the first term.
Deloraine responded in the second quarter with a nicely taken opportunity from Kathleen Parker from the pocket to take a one-point lead into the major break.
Meander Valley regained the lead through a goal to key forward Chloe Perry in the opening minutes of the third term.
The key moment of the game came with Rogers’ brilliant goal assist at the end of the third term.
Whitney made no mistake to give the Sunettes a ten point lead at the last change, and their stoic defence then shut the game down.
NTFA DIVISION ONE WOMEN’S GRAND FINAL
MEANDER VALLEY 1.0 1.1 3.2 3.3 (21) def DELORAINE 0.1 1.2 1.5 (11)
Goals: Meander Valley - Chloe Perry, Kia Rogers, Tiffany Whitney; Deloraine - Kathleen Parker
Best: Meander Valley - Kia Rogers, Sophie Townsend, Megan Jones, Tiffany Whitney, Cleo Cresswell, Brianna Bowen; Deloraine - Alex Whitehead, Cec Cameron, Renee Walker, Tahlia Powe, georgie bowman, Nicole Poke
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