The scoreboard may have been lop-sided but both teams still had something to celebrate after the historic AFL Darling Downs Women’s decider at Rockville Oval.
South Toowoomba took out the inaugural grand final 8.15 (63) to Lockyer Valley 1.0 (6).
The Bombers were erratic in front of goal and dominated possession, but the Demons didn’t shy away from the contest.
Bombers were inconsistent in the first quarter booting only one of their seven shots on goal to go into the break 1.6 (12) to Lockyer Valley 1.0 (6)
Paige Buzza and Carmen Paia were the standouts for the Demons, while Georgie Seaniger and Tia Scorgie dominated through the midfielder for South Toowoomba.
Hard hitting and skilful was the theme for the second quarter. Both teams were missing a key forward option but it was South Toowoomba who pounced first, which proved to be a game changer.
Ruck Anne Carroll was moved forward and made an immediate impact, taking a much needed contested mark and kicking truly.
She booted her second shortly after to give the Bombers a handy 27-point lead.
Key ball mover Danielle Wall sent a scare through the Bombers camp when she went down and was stretched off with a serious ankle injury just before the long interval.
Demons Paige Buzza started the third term on fire but was lacking support, as Georgie Seaniger, Rebecca McInnes and Jess Harvey of South Toowoomba stepped up the intensity in a physical term.
Kylie Edmonstone was instrumental across half-back, repelling the Bombers forward raids.
Seaniger continued in superb form dominating throughout the premiership quarter and she was influential in both of the red-and-black goals.
Two late goals to South Toowoomba saw the Bombers up by 39-points at the last break.
The final quarter was a mirror of the first with both teams showing great intensity. However it was the Bombers who were able to score, kicking inaccurately once again – 2.6 for the term.
Paige Buzza was again a warrior for the Demons and was supported well with young-gun Chelsea-Lee Rose, Natalee Thompson and Carmen Paia all stepping up to give South’s the premiership.
Georgie Seaniger added to her growing list of accolades with her best-on-ground performance.
Final Score: South Toowoomba 8.15 (63) def. Lockyer Valley 1.0 (6)
PHOTO BY: Kevin Scorgie – South Toowoomba celebrating the Women’s League premiership
