In a wet weather scramble at Deakin Reserve on Sunday, Moama fell to an upset loss to Mansfield in the Goulburn Murray Women’s League semi-final. Photos: Jazzy Johal.
Although both went into their semi-finals as the higher ranked team, only one Moama side emerged from the Goulburn Murray Women’s and Girls League semi-finals victorious on a wet day at Deakin Reserve in Shepparton.
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The women’s side suffered a shock defeat to Mansfield, ending its dreams of a premiership in its debut season, while the girls rolled through Cobram to advance to an intriguing decider.
Women’s
Tori Russell wheels around, looking for a target.
As the rain tumbled down, Moama took to the field against Mansfield.
The Mowers had defeated their opponents twice earlier in the season, although both games were low-scoring battles.
The two sides struggled for offensive continuity throughout the game, with only one goal kicked.
Mansfield found the breakthrough in the second quarter, and also had the best of the opportunities in the second half, while the Mowers continued to find the going difficult.
In the end, Moama was held to a single point, falling 1.4 (10) to 1.
Mansfield’s Mim Davidson kicked the only goal of the contest.
Despite the defeat, Moama will look back at its first season in the women’s league as a success after posting a 12-2 regular season record.
Mansfield goes on to challenge undefeated top side Shepparton United in the grand final in Moama on Sunday.
Moama's Ayrlea Clark applies pressure.
Girls
Defending premier Moama won its way through to another Goulburn Murray Girls League grand final. Photo: Supplied.
The minor premier Moama girls side adapted well to the conditions, posting the highest score of any side across the women’s and girls semi-finals in an 8.5 (53) to 1.2 (8) victory.
“I wasn't sure how the girls were going to play in the wet weather because it hasn't really been a wet weather traditional football season, but they came out and absolutely blitzed it,” coach Kate Christie said.
“We moved the ball forward a lot because that’s what we had to do in the rain.
“It went a little bit soccer-style, the ball got really heavy, really quick but in the conditions they just played their normal game and got the job done.”
The Mowers established a comfortable 40-0 lead by halftime, and rode the momentum to the convincing win.
Ruby McLeod and Chloe Ryan each kicked three majors, while Eliza Leeds and Elli McCallum also got on the scoresheet.
Slippery conditions worked against Moama’s women in the semi-final.
The win sets up a blockbuster clash with Shepparton United, a rematch of the 2025 grand final, after the Demons defeated local rival Shepparton Swans 1.4 (10) to 3 in the earlier semi-final.
Moama’s only loss of the season came in the side’s last meeting on July 24, where a combination of circumstances saw Shepparton United romp to a crushing 100-0 win.
Moama was missing three key players on NSW duty, and several others through injury.
“It was just a really bad time of the season for our girls, and I took over a list of 16 and they were all brand new 13- to 14-year-old girls without the depth of the older girls,” Christie said.
“It wasn’t the greatest for us, but the girls walked in, they knew what the job was, and they all walked off laughing, had a good time, took it as how it is and we just moved on.”
Mansfield's Saige Neave fires over Shani Millett on the mark.
The Mowers are expected to be close to full strength for the grand final, with Elli McCallum the only expected absence, the squad also given a boost with the addition of Bendigo Pioneer Eliza Fraser.
In two other meetings between the sides, Moama defeated the Demons by 67 and 10 points.
“There is going to be some great football,” Christie said.
“It will be very close, both sides have got all their Talent League players in that they can so it's pretty much going to be Murray Bushrangers versus Bendigo Pioneers at Moama.”
The girls grand final will be held at Moama Recreation Reserve from noon on Sunday, followed by the women’s game between Shepparton United and Mansfield at 2pm.
