By Mathew Asciak
The Kew Bears are the 2023 VAFA Premier Reserves victors, winning in a heart stopping fashion against Coburg this afternoon at Elsternwick Oval.
Both teams shoed great intent and urgency around the ball in the opening exchanges and showed good poise in 50/50 situations. Lions’ defensive duo Sarah Piggott and Tara Chetcuti were getting bust early on, breaking up play as the Bears entering their forward half.
Kew would strike first however, executing a great counterattack and found space out the back of the Lions’ defence and into an unammaned goal square, despite the desperate chase down attempt of Chloe Perrett.
Ruby Taranto would answer back a couple minutes later, pouncing on a quickly taken free kick by Julia McArdle and soccered through the Lions first, re-taking the lead at the 8th minute mark.
Kew had a big chance go begging soon after, with an instinctive snap hitting thr post.
Louisa Cavanagh took a strong contested mark in the goal square to give the Burgers an early buffer, extending the lead to 8 points soon after, as they took an eventual 7-point lead at the first change.
Five minutes into the 2nd, Brittney Gray hit the scoreboard for Lions, kicking their 3rd for the day. Kew would regain the balance of play in the following 8 minutes, creating repeat entries that would result in an eventual goal after some great work front and centre work before a right foot snap.
That dominance would continue and at the 17th minute mark they would make the scores level with the scores at 20 apiece.
Some great forward pressure from Annalise Vine was rewarded in the final minutes of the term, resulting in free kick and her first goal of the day. The Lions took a one goal lead into the main break.
Both defences held firm in the premiership quarter, as clear scoring opportunities were limited and the Lions only mustered a couple minor scores, keeping the Bears scoreless.
With just 9 points separating the teams at the final break, Kew were eager to surge toward the all-important first goal and came close early on, but only registered a minor score.
Great individual efforts from Ella Menzies and Lilly Primerano surged the Lions forward at the 5th minute mark, but the Bears held firm. Kew were well on top for large parts of the term and locked the ball in their forward half, limiting Coburg to clearing kicks out of defence which were often swept up by a loose Kew defender.
Piggott was outstanding in defence in the final term, taking multiple intercept marks and utilising her penetrating kick to alleviate the Bears’ pressure, giving a couple of chances for the likes of Vine and Emily Balaburov but to no avail.
After kicking four minor scores and the Lions’ lead whittled down to just 5 points, the Bears entered their forward 50 in the dying seconds and managing to take a contested grab just before the final siren, giving a chance to win after the buzzer. They would kick truly from 15m out on a slight angle, giving Kew the victory.
Final Score:
Kew Bears: 1.1. (7) | 3.2. (20) | 3.2. (20) | 4.6. (30)
Coburg Lions: 2.2. (14) | 4.2. (26) | 4.5. (29) | 4.5. (29)
Goals: Taranto, Cavanagh, Gray, Vine
