The SKOB Saints have come from behind to win the Premier Women’s Grand Final this afternoon in a thrilling game at Elsternwick Park. The premiership is a first for the SKOB girls - and redemption for missing out in 2017. It caps a magnificent season for the Saints Gold team and is a fantastic reward for all the players and coaches who have worked so hard in 2019 to achieve this feat.
The game was played in very tough conditions and was always going to prove a hard game to win. Despite beautiful sunshine and spring weather welcoming all players to the ground, the heavens opened right on start time and reduced the game to a classic scrap. The first quarter produced no score for either side as both teams struggled to handle the ball in horrendous slippery conditions, and at half time, the difference was only two scrapped behinds scored by SKOB, leaving the half time score showing SKOB 0.2 to 0.0.
It was never going to last like this, but clearly any goal would be precious with the rain pelting down and scoring at a premium. Packs were the order of the day and tackling was at its fiercest as the teams threw everything into the contest. After half time it was West Brunswick that drew first blood with the opening goal of the game and they were looking like they might just have the better of SKOB and repeat the effort of their Reserves team who had won the earlier premiership in the Reserves, but then late in the third quarter, Jess Joyce (daughter of SKOB great Joe Joyce) booted a goal and suddenly SKOB were back in front.
At three quarter time it was all to play for and the SKOB fans on hand were giving the girls the biggest rev-up they could as coach Tom Purcell pleaded to them for one more final effort to claim the ultimate prize. In the final quarter it was all SKOB and they were showing themselves to be the better team. When SKOB saints veteran Georgia Cropley (the first Saint to reach 50 games) kicked an incredible goal in the last quarter to put scoreboard distance between the teams, SKOB looked home.
Showing great determination they started to dominate the contest - if not the scoreboard - and finished with control of the ball running out 9 point winners - and most importantly - Premiers.
Well done to all the girls and congratulations on this historic win
