A history-making finals debut awaits the Wattle Park Women after an inspired performance in glorious Melbourne sun against Preston saw them leave W.R. Ruthven Reserve 23-point winners, giving them their eighth win of the season and locking up fourth position on the ladder. 

With a new pre-game warm up continuing to work wonders and support from some of the men’s squad, the Women started the game out of their skin. Unsurprisingly, it didn’t take long for Paige Hill to do what she does best, getting the Animals on the board in the first couple of minutes of the first quarter with a quick snap after some forward pressure kept the ball inside 50. 

Apparently inspired by the soccer world cup and perhaps taking a leaf out of the Matildas’ book, for much of the game Preston kept a player planted inside the goalsquare, but it couldn’t stop Wattle Park from peppering the goals any chance they got. Late in the first term, a Blaire Preddey quick kick from a contest was blasted over the stationary defender’s head to give the Animals a 15-point lead going into quarter-time. 

For much of the second quarter, a lull blanketed the game, with the home side scoring just one behind for the 20 minutes of play as both teams upped the ante in terms of pressure around the ball. 

Missed opportunities in front of goal could have been costly for Wattle Park in the third term as they added three behinds to their score, but a strong defence including the likes of Lilly Hutchison, Shannon Harris, Ash Curtis and Elli Haylock, whose united front has been the literal backbone of the side all year, prevented any opposition score. Through more continued forward press, Hill snagged another goal to get the Animals in front by 23 at the final change, with hopes and dreams of a first finals berth for the squad edging ever closer.

With the game still arguably on the line at the beginning of the last term of the home and away season, a ruck tap followed by an expert second effort from Ashton Billing saw the ball launched inside the Animals’ forward 50. It was then brought to ground for Hill to swoop on before she turned through two players to straighten and kick what would eventually be Wattle Park’s final goal of the game, sealing their final aspirations in the process. 

A junk time goal to Preston soured none of the jubilant celebrations that erupted when the final siren sounded to signify the Animals as finals bound. 

Five years of blood, sweat and tears have gone into building the Women’s side into something worthy of the Animals name and this season has been nothing short of monumental, no matter how far into finals they get.

The best players list is full of the year’s usual suspects, with Billing, Tegan Murphy, Clover Hart, Hill, Jas Ardern and Olivia Walker doing their part. 

At the end of the home and away season, the Women sit fourth on the ladder, having evened up their season to eight wins and eight losses, and a percentage of 88.50%.

WP 4.7.31

PRE 1.2.8