The words of coach Tom Bluhm summed up the exciting feeling in the Pakenham rooms after the Lions scored a heart-stopping five-point victory over Karingal in the South East Women’s Division Three second semi-final at Beaconsfield on Saturday.
“Congratulations, we’re in to a grand final – I’m so proud of you girls,” Bluhm said after the Lions booked a ticket to the big dance at Shepley Oval on Sunday 8 September with a 4.8 (32) to 4.3 (27) victory.
This was a performance that every player in the Pakenham team should be proud of, coming from behind against a tough and determined opponent that had the key focus of stopping the Lions’ free-flowing brand of football.
Karingal won the toss and kicked with a stiff breeze blowing towards the Beaconsfield end of Holm Park Reserve.
Defenders Zoe Loudon, Nat Staunton, Mel Stocker, Bec Domotor, Steph Scott and skipper Rachel Betteridge held firm in a strong opening for the Lions who kept the Bulls scoreless in the opening passages of play.
But two quick goals had the Lions on the backfoot before a brilliant conversion from full-forward Sage Hahn cut the margin back to eight points at quarter time.
The hard work of forwards Rosie Davis, Hayley Denboer, Courtney Dodson, Chloe Bluhm, Melina Eppel and Kerrie-Anne Micallef all contributed to the goal and gave the Lions a huge boost heading into the first change of ends.
Exciting half forward Kiana Te Huia then brought the Lions back into contention with an early second-quarter goal before the Lions squandered opportunities to build a handy lead at the main break.
The Lions, with Lauren Hojnacki, Sophie Gray, Rosie Bureta and Bel McGee right on top through the midfield, kicked 1.5 to no score in the second term to take a three-point lead to the sheds.
Pakenham bottled things up beautifully in the third term and looked in good shape to run away with victory, with the breeze at their back and with a three-point deficit to overcome at three-quarter time.
An early goal to Hahn saw the Lions hit the front early in the final term before the Bulls answered quickly. A classy finish from Eppel saw the Lions regain the lead and survive a late scare to book a well-deserved place in this year’s grand final.
Danielle Case, Tash Wakenshaw and Beth Studd produced some important defensive efforts in the last quarter, while the run and carry of wingers Chloe Nagel and Ros Cook gave the Lions some real impetus in the final term.
Loudon was superb off half back for the Lions, while Hahn’s two goal were super important in the context of a low-scoring match. Betteridge, Gray and Hojnacki were terrific all day to help steer the Lions across the line.
Pakenham will now enjoy a week’s rest before taking on the winner of this week’s preliminary final between Karingal and Frankston.
