The Border Raiders were favourites to finish on top heading into the weekend, tied with Swan Hill, but leading significantly on goal difference and with a more favourable draw against bottom of the ladder La Trobe University.
As it turned out, Swan Hill dropped its own fixture to Castlemaine Goldfields, meaning the Border Raiders were home barring a huge margin of defeat, but the locals did the job on the field regardless, recording a 5-0 victory.
“We always love versing La Trobe,” Border Raiders co-coach Paige Pinson said.
“They’re such a lovely team, and they’ve got a great group of girls and coaches so it’s always a lot of fun, and it was just beautiful weather too so, can’t really complain at all.”
Charley Schwenke opened the scoring within 20 minutes, and Jessica Pemberton added a second.
Chenayah Lewer put the Border Raiders up by three at half-time, and two more from Pemberton iced the game in the second stanza.
Pemberton’s hat trick puts her equal top of the Golden Boot race, level with Swan Hill’s Judaya Majur, with 16 for the year.
She has added a much-needed injection of scoring to the side this year, returning after a few years off, with regular striker Asha Davies sidelined with injury.
“She’s been an absolute asset this season, having a senior player with so much skill and the capacity to shoot,” Pinson said.
“We’ve definitely been lacking a striker due to Asha Davies getting injured and Jess has really stepped up to the plate, and she’s been putting the ball in the back of the net for us.
“She runs her heart out, she’s extremely fit and she’s just always putting in 110 per cent.”
Pinson also praised the improvement of defender Gabriella Crothers as well as the contributions of juniors Schwenke and Lewer to the team this season.
The Border Raiders now head into an extended three-week finals' series, preparing for a qualifying final with second-ranked Swan Hill rather than the 1st vs 4th knockout format of previous years.
That game will be held in Swan Hill on Sunday, with question marks around some players’ availability due to Father’s Day.
“This season, they’re definitely in their prime, which is fantastic to see,” Pinson said.
“Swan Hill has been a club that’s struggled for quite a long time to put a team on the field, and it’s just fantastic to see them with an abundance of numbers and performing so well.
“They’re a lovely club, and we’ve always had such a good relationship with them, so we’re looking forward to having some good competition from them.”
Earlier on Saturday, the club’s men’s side will return from a bye this week, competing in its final regular season round and hosting Colts United FC at Jack Eddy Oval.
The men’s finals will be in the shorter two-week format beginning the weekend of September 12 and 13.
After finals, both teams will have a decision to make, their top place finishes earning them the right to promotion to League 1 if they want it.
Pinson’s women’s side earned promotion in 2024, and after holding in the top flight in 2025, voluntarily returned to League 2 this year due to key player departures.
At this stage, the club remains unsure whether it will opt for another go around in League 1
“We’re looking at our numbers and starting to finalise all those sorts of things,” Pinson said.
“But our main focus at the moment is just looking at this final, and then we’ll progress to next season once our full season’s over.”
The women’s game will be held from 11am at Ken Harrison Reserve.
A strong crop of Border Raiders juniors have also qualified for finals series, which are beginning this week.
The club’s under-16B, under-14A and B, under-12A and D, and under-12A girls and under-14 girls are all still in the trophy hunt ahead of games this Saturday.
