THE Woorinen women’s football team will be out to create history this evening in the CVFL Women’s grand final against Castlemaine.
Cobbled together just six weeks before the first match, the Tigers have taken all before them in their first season.
Their eight-point, come-from-behind victory over Eaglehawk last Friday night sent the yellow and black army into raptures.
Awaiting them at the Queen Elizabeth Oval tonight is their biggest test of all, with Castlemaine yet to taste defeat this year and chasing their own slice of history with consecutive titles.
While Castlemaine will be favourites, they are by no means unbeatable.
Woorinen coach Katelyn Hazlett was confident her team were as well prepared as they could possibly be ahead of the biggest game of the season.
“(Castlemaine have) come away with the win the three times we’ve played them this season, but we’ve improved each time we’ve played them and now we’re ready,” Hazlett told The Guardian this week.
“We can see areas of improvement and each week it’s been about building on those areas so that we’re ready.
“Having our whole side together this weekend, it will be great to see what we can all do together.
“I could not have asked for more from the girls. For us to be in our inaugural season and end up in a grand final, that doesn’t happen very often.
“We’re just soaking up every moment and appreciating how far we’ve come this season, but to come home with that cup would be a fairytale finish.
“If we just go out there and play our style of footy and attack from the first bounce, we should be OK.”
While confident of an upset, Woorinen will also have a good understanding of what’s needed against the Magpies, after suffering a 32-point loss to them in the second semi-final a fortnight ago.
Castlemaine skipper Eloise Gretgrix kicked five goals that afternoon and will again pose a significant threat up forward, while league best and fairest Aisling Tupper will also need close attention.
The Magpies aren’t the only team with known matchwinners, with five Tigers this week named in the CVFL Women’s team of the year.
Donal Fellows, Tenay Fellows, Freda Wosomo and Carlee and Katelyn Hazlett were all selected, with Carlee Hazlett also finishing third in the league best-and-fairest count.
It’s those five, along with Jemma Meehan, Maddi Jeans and the Peacock twins Sophie and Emma, that will need to be at the peak of their game, according to Hazlett.
“I could probably list the whole team, but those girls have definitely been our key contributors across the whole season,” Hazlett said.
“If they step up and lead from the front, everyone else will follow.”
Regardless of the result, it’s fair to say the Tigers have already won, with women’s football going from strength to strength and here to stay.
“It’s been pretty crazy, we’ve been just taking it week by week throughout the season and to end up here is phenomenal,” Hazlett said.
“It’s a great testament to not only the girls who have played during the season, but also the club for getting behind us, backing us in and helping to create this opportunity for us.
“To pull a team together six weeks before the season starts was huge.
“We’ve been very lucky to have some real workhorses and great people working away in the background to help make this possible.
“It’s really exciting and we can feel the atmosphere around the club and the town, and now it’s our turn to pay them all back.”
