Finals fever hit Melbourne’s west the last six weeks with sporting finals across a number of different sports including, football, netball, basketball, hockey, lacrosse, soccer, tennis and the list goes on. Here’s some reader snaps of some of the sporting achievements in the finals.
Albion under-12 girls
Albion’s under-12 girls were determined to build a great team in 2024 in the Western District Football League division 2 competition.
In their first year, 2023, they bravely turned up despite losing every game by an average of 12 goals, at times, struggling to get numbers.
Come the start of 2024, with half 2023 players, and half who had never played before, the girls worked hard in a big pre-season.
Coach Kane Roach, assistant Rachel Collins and a host of dedicated parents, created an inclusive and supportive culture, with the core values of try your best, be a great teammate and have fun.
Keeping their opponents to an average of just over five points a game, Albion became fierce rivals for first place with the Truganina Thunder.
Their three games were decided by less than a goal.
Showing passion and commitment to be all in, the girls defeated Truganina to win through to the grand final, facing Werribee Districts.
At half time, scores were level at one point apiece.
Werribee had thrown everything at the Cats. Surrounded by a host of Albion supporters, including the whole Albion senior men’s team, cheering them on, the Cats showed their grit, making history, to win the first ever female premiership for Albion 3.4 (22)- 0.2 (2).
Riddells Creek under-11 netball (HAS TWO PICS)
Riddells Creek had a strong Riddell District Netball League season in the under-11 division 1 competition, losing just one game for the season.
The team finished the season off with a 17-7 win against Melton South in the grand final.
Two weeks later these same girls had another grand final for the Riddell Ravens in the Macedon Ranges Netball Association winter season.
The Ravens had two players ruled out with gastro as well as their coach. The side played a player short, but still won the grand final against the Possums, a team which they hadn’t beaten all season.
Riddells Creek under-17 football
Riddell and Woodend had played some close ones during the season, with each team getting a win by three points. The Bombers won the semi final by that margin before winning the grand final, 12.5 (77)-9.5 (59). The Bombers did the damage in the middle two quarters, kicking six goals to two to go from trailing by two points to leading by 29 heading into the last quarter. Ben Taylor was named the Bombers best, while Kristian Savage kicked four goals.
Baseball
It was a brilliant start for the Point Cook Baseball and Softball Club. Having formed a club after the development of new facilities in Point Cook, the Aviators had two sides in the winter season. Playing in the Melbourne Winter Baseball League, the Point Cook Aviators started the season in E-grade before being promoted to D-grade after round one. They made the grand final and faced Waverley. The Av’s, led by coach Marty Marek and the pitching of Jack Nottelmann, swapped leads with Waverley throughout the game including a late game-tying home run by Ben Loveridge. Unfortunately, Waverley had a walk-off RBI [runs batted in] single in extra innings to win the championship, 8-7.
Athletics
Western Athletics set a new record as it claimed the Athletics Victoria Tan Relays men’s event, while also claiming the Athletics Victoria premier division state title.
On September 14, the team of Will Lewis, Zayd Al Sayd, Abdillhaziz Haji Ali, Cody Shanahan, Ben Chamberlain and Liam Cashin competed in the Tan relay event.
They ran a time of 1:06.54 to beat Box Hill’s record which had stood since 2012.
This cemented their position at the top of the premier men’s ladder, winning the XCR (Cross Country Roadracing) premier division state title by 21 points.
It was a hard earned feat made possible by the efforts of 16 athletes who competed during the cross country roadracing season.
It showed the depth of the club to be able to share the load when injuries, work and other commitments impacted athletes.
The sixteen athletes who competed throughout the season were Al Sayd, Peter Boyle, Chamberlain, Cashin, Luca Di Conza, Callum Drake, Daniel Dunstone, Brett Ellis, Haji Ali, Matthew Hussey, Lewis, Brandon Muscat, Nathan Pearce, Cody and Kirk Shanahan and Daniel Verlado.
