SOUTH secured top spot on the Senior Women’s ladder, with an 8.3.51 to 3.2.20 win over Central in the final round of the season, and will now play North in a qualifying final next weekend.
Zali Bright and Abbey Stevens were midfield maestros, able to get the ball forward for the Roos as they put the Magpies backline under constant pressure. They were assisted by their ruck Macy Edgecumbe, who locked the football in the Roos forward 50 for her team using her aerial ability, and she also gave her midfielders first use from the centre.
For Stevens, 2025 has seen her continue her outstanding form since 2023, she has been voted in the clubs’ best in all but one game, and is a massive part of the teams continued success.
Having now played 134 games for the club and kicked 96 goals, the captain will be massive in the run to the second Saturday in September.
“We told her this year it’s not all about her,” coach Dylan Browne joked when asked about Stevens. “She’s sharing it around a lot more which has just made her game excel.”
For Central, the duo of Elsie Dawes and Nikki Phillips both ended up on the scoreboard. The entire back six for the Magpies was also strong and probably stopped the score blowing out past what it did, as they repelled constant surges in South pressure.
Zoe Imisides was strong in her 50th game, the Central captain having played with the club since the beginning of the 2023 season.
South got the fast start at Alma Oval as the Roos defensive set up in the first quarter saw them generate repeat entries as they found themselves a couple goals to the good.
“We’ve been working on that all year,” Browne said. “To try and stop the run of the opposition if you can stop it at centre half forward you get another chance to kick a goal.”
Midway through the term, the Magpies finally found a foothold in the contest, an amazing goal to Nikki Phillips from the boundary saw a shot from the tightest angle fly through.
However that foothold was short lived.
Jordynn Arnold and Zali Bright combined in the centre of the ground to set up the quick response from Frankee Baldwin, her second goal in her 50th game setting up a 13-point lead for the home side at the first change.
It was a tough second quarter as the football was played between the acres.
The only score was a minor going the way of the Roos, as the Central defence continued to hold. It was at this point that the back six was under the most pressure, constant entries were headed inside the South attacking zone, but the defence, and particularly those at half back, were able to hold firm.
There were moments of positives for the Magpies too on the attacking front, but unfortunately, nothing went into the scorer’s notes during their purple patches.
Central’s first in the third came from good ball movement down the wing. Using a kick-mark style of the play, they transitioned the ball from defensive 50 into the attacking end and it was finished off nicely by Phillips for her second.
Baldwin’s third moments later saw the lead extend into double digits, the Roos just able to check the Magpies anytime they got close.
The goal for goal nature of the quarter continued. Elsie Dawes kicked true, and the lead was once again slashed to single digits.
South’s clearance dominance eventually paid dividends. Two quick goals to end the quarter coming from stoppage had the lead at a game high, and top spot was secure heading into the last quarter.
South closed out the result with a two goal to nil final quarter, one eye already on the next monster challenge.
With North having needed to overturn a serious percentage deferential to finish top, the win secured the minor premiership for the Roos.
South are now just one win from the grand final, and now have the added security of a double chance should they suffer a loss next weekend.
“It’ll mean everything for the girls to get the grand final,” Browne said.
“They’ve worked so hard from the preseason. It’s really not about us coaches, it’s the girls. If the girls are working and they are enjoying footy, they play awesome footy like today.”
South Roos: 3.1 3.2 6.3 8.3 (51)
Central: 1.0 1.0 3.1 3.2 (20)
Goalkickers:
South Roos: Baldwin 4, Bright 2, Edgecumbe, Stevens
Central: Phillips 2, Dawes
Best:
South Roos: Baldwin, Bright, Stevens
Central: Dawes, Phillips
