EAGLES SECURE HISTORIC GRAND FINAL BERTH

By Kel Rowe | 

Preliminary Final – Parkside Spurs def by Yarraville Seddon

A surprise upset continued to add to an already entertaining St Vincent’s Private Hospital Werribee Senior Women’s Finals Series with Yarraville Seddon overcoming Parkside Spurs on Saturday morning at Donald McLean Reserve to secure their very first Grand Final appearance.

 Early weather conditions forced both teams to meet head-on in a tough, wet contest for possession.

The Eagles claimed the upper hand in the opening quarter, finding their first major through key forward Katelyn Kissack.

The second and third terms proved to be a low-scoring, contested tussle, with both teams working hard to gain territory and turn the momentum of the game.

Despite Yarraville Seddon leading at every break, the fourth quarter was a true footy finals blockbuster – with both teams repeatedly testing their opponents’ foothold in the game.

In the opening half of the final term, the Eagles look set to steam home, quickly responding to a Spurs challenge with two goals from the boot of Kissack.

However, a number of stoppages saw the quarter play out for an additional seven minutes, giving the Spurs an opportunity to lay siege to the Eagles defensive 50.

A late-term goal from Mary Sandral saw Parkside get within a point of the lead — but it was simply too little, too late — with Yarraville Seddon hanging on to claim a one-point victory.

Whilst the Spurs will be bitterly disappointed to finish one short of the Big Dance, the Eagles camp will be brimming with excitement as they make their historic first WFNL Senior Women’s Grand Final.

There they’ll go head-to-head with 2025 minor premiers Caroline Springs.

Rita Ceravolo and Natalie Pearce worked tirelessly through the middle for Parkside but were evenly matched by the skill and strength of Yarraville Seddon on-ballers Ruby Jones and Rachel Culvenor.

All four players were named in their team’s best, with young gun Jones marking the occasion with her 100th appearance in the red, gold and blue.

Eagles Akec Makur Chuot and Rosie Ronan-Yates along with Spurs ruck Hannah Lazzaro and teammate Nadine Lampard – all key ball movers for their respective sides – were also named amongst their teams’ best.

Eagle Ashleigh Guest and Parkside skipper Jessicia Byrnes were recognised for their respective solid defensive efforts, with Byrnes putting on a courageous captain’s performance across the game for her club.

Final Score
Parkside Spurs: 0.1 0.1 1.1 3.4 (22)
Yarraville Seddon: 1.1 1.2 1.3 3.5 (23)

Goal Kickers
Parkside Spurs: Taquila Angel, Samara Arena, Mary Sandral.
Yarraville Seddon: Katelyn Kissack 3.

Best Players
Parkside Spurs: Rita Ceravolo, Jessica Byrnes, Natalie Pearce, Mary Sandral, Nadine Lampard, Hannah Lazzaro.
Yarraville Seddon: Ashleigh Guest, Katelyn Kissack, Rachel Culvenor, Ruby Jones, Akec Makur Chuot, Rosie Ronan-Yates.