The Eden Whalers have won their third-straight Sapphire Coast AFL Women’s Grand Final with a 16-point victory over the Tathra Sea Eagles at Narooma’s Bill Smyth Oval.
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The victory was Eden’s third grand-final win over the Tathra Sea Eagles, who are left to lick their wounds after another heart-breaking finish.
The Sea Eagles got the early returns in the first quarter, kicking a very early goal as reward for their early dominance.
Eden worked their way back into the match, and despite having the wind against them in the first stanza, kicked the next two goals via 50-metre penalties to grab the lead going into quarter-time.
Eden continued getting their hands on the footy in the second quarter, and played the early part of the stanza in their attacking 50.
Tathra’s defence stood firm, but couldn't stop the Whalers adding two goals to their total to lead by 16 midway through the term.
The momentum eventually swung back to the Sea Eagles, who started winning the territorial battle late in the second term.
They couldn’t take advantage on the scoreboard though, as the Whalers held them to three behinds to lead 3.4 (22) to 1.3 (9) at half time.
The third quarter was good, tight, contested footy, as neither side were willing to give an inch.
Tathra started getting on top towards the end of the quarter, and got just rewards with a goal to bring the margin back to seven points.
They could have had another goal in the shadows of half time after a free kick inside 50, but the set shot fell well short to leave Eden seven points to the good at the last change.
Any momentum the Sea Eagles picked up in the third was quickly taken back by the Whalers, who camped themselves in Tathra’s defensive 50 with the wind at their backs.
Tathra managed to keep the quarter tight, but one goal from Eden was enough to run away with a 4.7 (31) to 2.3 (15) victory.