Mitcham have been the best side all year. But that means nothing in a grand final. Flinders Park have stormed into the premiership decider and now present a huge challenge to the Hawks girls
By Jessica Phipps

Marion V Flinders Park 

With a place in the grand final up for grabs it was anyone’s game as Flinders Park took on Marion on Saturday afternoon. Flinders Park, who hadn’t beat Marion all season, were coming off a win in the first weekend of finals and were set to keep their finals journey alive. Marion, on the other hand, were coming off a devastating loss and after such a successful season it would be disappointing for the girls if they let a chance at the flag slip whilst being so close to the ultimate glory. As the first bounce commenced on Saturday afternoon, with Mitcham waiting the announcement of who they will verse in the grand final, neither side had a dominant start. The contest looked even across the ground, however as the quarter continued Flinders Park seemed to gain control of the game. After the first, there was not much separating the two as Marion sat on one point, and Flinders Park had begun their total with 14. With a first quarter that was sliding Flinders Park’s way, it was the second quarter that summed up how the rest of the game was going to pan out, and unfortunately for the girls at Marion, it was just not their day. In a powerhouse forward line performance from Flinders Park, the girls converted continuously off their wins in the contests. At the half-time break, things were beginning to look dim for Marion and worries begun to brew that this could be the last half of football they would play for the season. Sitting on one point was Marion, whilst it was Flinders Park who were powering away on 46. Marion could play some brilliant women’s footy and it had been on display for the majority of the 2020 season, however they needed their start of the season form to present itself, and fast, if they held hopes of playing again next weekend. Flinders Park had other ideas in mind, and although Marion slowed down Flinders Park’s scoring, it was not enough. Only increasing their score to two points, Marion were looking set to play their last quarter of footy for the season, and Flinders Park now sitting on 60 points had their sights set on the grand final. For the last quarter of the match, the goals slowed, the contests tightened, and defences was set into overdrive in a shocking final quarter that saw both sides scoreless, leaving the final scores of Marion on two points, and Flinders Park on 60. When the final siren sounded, the girls at Flinders Park embraced in celebration of their glory. It was another tough day for the girls at Marion, and with no goal-scorers, the best players were separated across impressive efforts from P. Ridgway, L. Canino, and S. Brown. It was an unfortunate way for the girls to go down, especially after such a dominant season, however they most certainly proved to many that they can be a dangerous team and are showing positive signs going into their next season. As one teams season comes to an end, Flinders Park’s continues after a goal kicking performance that will be remembered from I. Battifuoco who kicked six, A. McNeill with 2, and G. Trowse also contributing with a major. It was a team effort which got the girls the win on the day, yet the best players still had to be decided, granting D. Jenner, N. Fazzalari, I. Battifuoco, D. Marciano, and G. Trowse with their names in the top five. We say our goodbyes to Marion but set our sights to our Division Four women’s grand final where Flinders Park and Mitcham battle it out for the ultimate prize: the title of our SAWFL division four champions for season 2020.

 
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