North Melbourne Werribee had to do it the hard way but stood up when it counted to make it back-to-back Victorian Football League women’s premierships.
The minor premiers lost in the opening week of finals to Collingwood and from that moment on it was all at risk.
Strong first halves against Williamstown and Box Hill Hawks saw the Kangaroos back through to the grand final and ready for another tilt at the Magpies.
Saturday became a real arm wrestle and it came down to the final minutes.
The Kangaroos held their composure to win 5.4 (34)-4.4 (28) and became the first team since 2016-17 to go back-to-back.
The Kangaroos again jumped out of the blocks and led by 11 points at quarter time with Nyakoat Dojiok kicking two of those goals.
Collingwood kicked the only two goals of the second quarter to level the scores at the main break.
Bella Clarke converted a set shot early in the third quarter to give Collingwood a six-point lead before Stella Reid, who had been moved forward, kicked her second to bring it back to under a goal.
With extra time beckoning, it was Reid who stood up again finding space and snapping through a goal on her trusty left boot with five minutes to play, which proved to be the winner.
Reid finished with three goals for the game, while Dojiiok kicked two goals.
Alana Barba again stood up on the biggest stage winning the Lisa Hardeman Medal as the best player on the field, polling perfect votes.
She had 35 disposals, 11 tackles and 11 clearances in a dominant midfield display.
It’s the second time Barba has won the medal, having won it with Essendon in 2022. In last year’s premiership, Barba had 17 disposals and 14 tackles.
“To our girls, I’m so proud of our efforts,” she said on stage after winning the medal. “We came in as underdogs, but we showed why we belonged here, good job.”
Reid, Maddie Di Cosmo, Charlotte Ryan, Jemmika Douglas were other standouts in the win.
Two-time premiership coach Brett Gourley paid tribute to the partnership between the club and Werribee Football Club.
It was the first of a three year partnership between the two clubs to further progress female football in Melbourne’s west.
“We appreciate everything that you do for us,” he said. “I’m incredibly proud and grateful to be standing up here.
“I look around the faces in the crowd, it’s just an amazing experience.
“VFLW is a program that runs off the smell of an oily rag at times, the amount of hours that you guys put into everything, is never forgotten.
“To our girls I’m incredibly grateful that I get to spend so much time with you all. A fantastic bunch.
“We dug deep today to get that one over the line, To all of you incredibly proud and grateful for the experience you’ve taken me on for this one.
“Amazing to have another medal around the neck, well done.”
