Finals football is now underway across all Premier Leagues statewide, with the SFL and NTFA competitions beginning post-season play over the weekend.
SFL Premier League - Week One of Finals
In the south of the state, Clarence and Kingborough’s senior women’s sides clashed at Pontville on Saturday morning, with the winner advancing straight to the grand final.
Clarence were the better side early in the piece, kicking three goals to the Tigers’ two in the first quarter.
Kingborough hit back in the second quarter, kicking 3.3 to 1.1 and taking a lead of nine points into half-time.
In control with two terms remaining, the Tigers asserted their dominance in the third quarter, kicking another three goals to one and extending their lead to 21 at the final change.
Despite not registering a goal in the final quarter, Kingborough held on to win 8.7 (55) to 6.5 (41) and book a spot in the season decider.
Matilda Lange (one goal, eight clearances, 31 disposals) and Agnes Sakina (five tackles, six one-percenters, 19 disposals) were pivotal for the Tigers in their victory over Clarence.
For the Roos, Jemma Webster (five tackles, eight clearances, 24 disposals) and Luca Murgatroyd (four goals, 13 disposals) stood tall in defeat.
Later in the day at North Hobart Oval, North Hobart and Glenorchy’s women’s teams skirmished in a sudden-death fixture.
The hosts made a solid start against Glenorchy, notching two goals to one in the opening quarter.
North Hobart kicked away in the following term, putting three further majors on the board to lead by 25 points at the half.
The third term was another dominant display from the Demons, who kicked three goals to one and extended to a 39-point lead at three-quarter-time.
In the end, North Hobart were the victors, running out 9.10 (64) to 3.4 (22) winners and living to fight another day.
Emily Mifsud (five goals, five marks, 16 disposals) and Madi Lamb (one goal, 10 clearances, 29 disposals) were instrumental for the Dees.
Meanwhile, Glenorchy’s Brieanna Barwick (nine tackles, nine clearances, 29 disposals) and Salome Holika (one goal, six one-percenters, 16 disposals) were brave in defeat.
At Lauderdale Oval, Lauderdale’s senior men’s team hosted Clarence in a top-of-the-table semi-final.
The first term was an eventful one, with seven goals registered between the two sides. With four of them to their name, the home side led by three points at quarter-time.
Both opponents notched 2.2 in the second quarter, meaning the Bombers retained their quarter-time lead at the main break.
The arm-wrestle resumed in the second half, however the Roos scraped two points clear of Lauderdale before the final interval.
In the last quarter, the Bombers surged past Clarence with four goals to one for the term and were victorious 12.10 (82) to 9.14 (68), locking in a grand final appearance in the process.
Tom Ratcliffe (one goal, seven clearances, 28 disposals) and Mitchell Rainbird (eight tackles, 11 inside-50s, 28 disposals) were excellent for Lauderdale.
For Clarence, Fraser Turner (one goal, nine marks, 31 disposals) and Baxter Norton (one goal, seven rebound inside-50s, 25 disposals) stood tall against quality opposition.
And lastly, North Hobart and Glenorchy’s men’s teams also clashed in a do-or-die match-up in like fashion to the women’s teams for both clubs.
Both teams kicked three goals apiece in the first quarter, however Glenorchy held a slim lead at quarter-time after having kicked a couple more behind.
Scoring was scarcer in the second term, however North Hobart snuck ahead of the Pies before half-time and led by five points at the main change.
The floodgates opened after half-time, with eight goals notched between both teams in the third term. With five of the eight, the Demons extended their lead to 17 at three-quarter-time.
Majors continued to be registered quite frequently throughout the final quarter, and North Hobart accounted for a half-dozen of them to win 16.9 (105) to 12.8 (80).
Jack Miller (four goals, 16 disposals) and William Peppin (six tackles, ten marks, 32 disposals) put in vital contributions for the Dees in their victory over Glenorchy.
And for the Pies, Keegan Wylie (six one-percenters, 10 rebound inside-50s, 25 disposals) and Baker Smith (four goals, eight marks, 19 disposals) were defiant in defeat.
This coming weekend, both the men’s and women’s teams for Clarence and North Hobart will face off against one another in a pair of preliminary finals.
NTFA Premier League - Week One of Finals
In the north, South Launceston and Deloraine’s senior women’s teams faced off on Saturday afternoon at UTAS Stadium with a spot in the grand final on the line.
The first quarter was a fairly even contest, with Deloraine leading by four points at the first break after kicking two goals to the Bulldogs’ 1.2 in the term.
South Launceston were held scoreless in the second quarter, however the Roos were only able to further their lead by two points before half-time.
Deloraine remained in control after half-time, keeping the Dogs scoreless for the second quarter in a row while extending their lead by seven points.
In the final quarter, a resurgent South Launceston restricted the Roos’ scoring and kicked three majors to pip a 4.4 (28) to 3.3 (21) victory and secure a grand final berth.
Jaslyn Freestone (six clearances, seven inside-50s, 23 disposals) and Hayley Breward (seven inside-50s, 21 disposals) were integral in the Dogs’ come-from-behind victory.
Meanwhile, Deloraine’s Alex Whitehead (five tackles, six marks, 28 disposals) and Lauren Stevenson (five marks, 20 disposals) held their ground for the Roos in a nail-biting loss.
Later in the afternoon, North Launceston and Launceston’s senior men’s sides battled at the same venue for a spot in the big dance.
Despite some early inaccuracy the Bombers started well against Launceston, kicking 3.6 to 1.2 in the opening quarter.
The Blues regained some ground in the second quarter, kicking three goals to one and closing to within eight points of North Launceston at the main break.
After half-time however, the Bombers kicked away emphatically, kicking 5.7 in the third term while holding the Blues to just a point.
The final quarter was another dominant display for North Launceston, who notched another six goals while not conceding one to win 15.23 (113) to 4.8 (32).
Harry Bayles (six marks, seven rebound inside-50s, 29 disposals) and Beau Nash (seven marks, seven clearances, 28 disposals) were superb for the Bombers in a big win.
For Launceston, Zachary Morris (eight marks, 19 rebound inside-50s, 31 disposals) and Jayden Hinds (nine marks, 11 rebound inside-50s, 29 disposals) stood tall for the Blues.
On Sunday afternoon, Scottsdale and Launceston’s senior women’s teams did battle in a semi-final at Youngtown Memorial Oval.
Launceston held sway over the Magpies early, kicking two goals in the first quarter and keeping their opponents to just two behinds throughout.
In the second quarter, the Blues kicked away to a lead of 35 points at half-time after kicking four majors for the term while entirely restricting Scottsdale’s scoring in the interval.
The Pies broke their goal drought in the third term, however they failed to put any dent in the margin between themselves and Launceston.
Neither side managed to kick a major in the last quarter, however it was of little consequence as Launceston were ultimately victorious 7.3 (45) to 1.3 (9).
Launceston are set to take on Deloraine this coming weekend, with the winner advancing to the grand final against South Launceston.
Following that match, South Launceston and Longford’s senior men’s teams skirmished in a cut-throat final of their own.
South Launceston began well in the driving rain, kicking 2.4 to two Tigers points in the opening quarter.
Longford notched the only goal of the second term and cut the margin back to single figures at the main break.
Both sides kicked a major apiece in the third quarter, and the Tigers ever so slightly reduced South Launceston’s lead to just eight points at the last change.
In the final quarter, the Bulldogs finished strongly, kicking two goals to one and securing a 5.10 (40) to 3.6 (24) win over Longford to take their season onward in 2025.
Launceston will host South Launceston in a preliminary final this coming Saturday afternoon, with the winner to take on North Launceston in the season decider.
NWFL Premier League - Week Two of Finals
And in the North West, Devonport’s senior women’s side hosted Ulverstone in a semi-final on Saturday morning.
Devonport registered the only scores of the opening quarter, which were a pair of behinds.
Ulverstone came out strongly in the second quarter, putting three majors on the board to lead by 17 points at half-time.
The Pies recovered some territory after half-time, notching two goals to Ulverstone’s one in the third term and reducing the deficit to just 12 points at the final interval.
In the final quarter, the Robins were able to hold off Devonport to win 6.3 (39) to 2.5 (17) and end the latter’s season.
Lucah Conkie (three goals, seven tackles, 25 disposals) and Amarli Johnson (seven tackles, nine clearances, 19 disposals) were excellent for Ulverstone in a spirited performance.
For Devonport, Sarah Skinner (six inside-50s, seven marks, 21 disposals) and Kelsey Aherne (six inside-50s, 11 tackles, 21 disposals) held their ground against the Robins.
The senior men’s teams from both clubs faced off directly after for a spot in the grand final.
Devonport had the better of the Robins early, kicking 3.2 to 2.1 in the first term. They kicked away in the second quarter, notching eight goals to one and grasping a commanding lead.
After half-time, an arm-wrestle ensued between the two sides, with both teams kicking three goals apiece in the third term and six goals apiece in the final quarter.
However, with a big lead in hand a Devonport victory was inevitable, the hosts winning 20.10 (130) to 12.7 (79) and locking in a grand final spot.
Charlie Castles (five goals, six marks, 18 disposals) and Blair Ryan (four goals, seven tackles, 26 disposals) were prominent for the Pies against Ulverstone.
For the Robins, Oliver Depaoli (one goal, seven marks, 38 disposals) and Luke Murfitt-Cowen (six goals, seven marks, 12 disposals) were defiant in defeat.
On Sunday morning, Penguin and Wynyard’s senior women’s teams clashed in a qualifying final at the latter’s home ground.
Wynyard started solidly in trying conditions, kicking 1.3 in the first quarter and keeping the Two Blues scoreless throughout.
Penguin got on the board in the second quarter, however the Cats maintained their control of the contest, marginally furthering their lead to 10 points at half-time.
In the third term, the Two Blues cut the margin back to single figures at the final break after kicking two goals to one in the quarter.
Neither team notched a major in the last quarter, however Wynyard emerged as the victor at the final siren, having outlasted Penguin to win 3.6 (24) to 3.1 (19).
Penguin and Ulverstone are set to skirmish this weekend to determine who will take on Wynyard in the grand final.
Following this game, Wynyard’s men’s team took on the Burnie Dockers in a semi-final at the same ground.
The Cats made a strong start on their home deck, kicking 3.1 to four Burnie behinds in the opening term.
Wynyard held steady throughout the second quarter, adding two more goals to their tally and taking their lead out to 27 points at the half.
The Dockers did not concede a score in the third term, however they failed to do any real damage to the deficit they faced, still trailing by 19 points at three-quarter-time.
In the end, Wynyard finished well and clinched a 7.6 (48) to 2.10 (22) win over Burnie.
The Cats and the Ulverstone Robins will resume hostilities on Saturday afternoon, with a grand final spot on the line.