AFL Gippsland Womens Football Competition Split Round 8 Part 2 review

Moe-Newborough have achieved what many thought was unimaginable, defeating the previously undefeated Boisdale-Briagolong in a nail biter.

The first term saw both sides feel each other out in a battle of ascendancy, with good use of the corridor but lack of reward for effort in each other’s respective forward lines. Both side’s defenses worked hard while the ball pinged in between the arcs. Ultimately the Bombers would be the only ones to register a score at the first break, leading by one point.

The second quarter saw a seasoned Bombers outfit start to take control of the game and dominated for most of the quarter. Once again, they were unable to convert their forward 50 opportunities and were only able to add three behinds to their score. However, the Allies were able to wrestle back some of the play in their favour in the last five minutes before the half time break, which saw them trail by two points at half time.

The third quarter saw an almost complete dominance of the visitors as the game threatened to slip away from the home side. The Allies’ discipline to their game plan started to slip as the Bombers kept the ball almost exclusively in their forward half, keeping Moe-Newborough scoreless in the third term. Boisdale-Briagolong also managed to snag the first goal of the game in the final minute prior to 3/4 time siren. Their lead was an ominous 9-points, which was the largest lead of the game.

Staring down the barrel of defeat, the home side needed to find something more, while the visitors were prepping to cap off another hard fought win. The last quarter opened up and became a bit more free flowing. Despite looking slightly less threatening than their opponents up forward for the majority of the game, Moe-Newborough suddenly started to click and began to look dangerous coming into half forward. Boisdale-Briagolong had their opportunities to ice this game as well, but just couldn’t convert in front of the big sticks. More than once did their shots at goal hit the woodwork – had they have traveled more true, the end result may have been different.
Former Gippsland Power star Nikia Webber proved to be the difference in the end, and the class up forward the Allies desperately needed in order to convert their opportunities. She had a very quiet game, having a long spell on the bench after copping a knock in a contest from the first quarter. She was thrown deep forward in their hour of need and kicked two of the three goals required to drag her team in front before the final siren. The final minute saw the ball deep in Bombers territory, but as was the story of the game, they just couldn’t will it through for a major. Boisdale-Briagolong were in shock after suffering their first defeat since the competition began, while newcomers Moe-Newborough were jubilant knowing they had what it takes to beat the best.