Sport

Local flavour could get a boost in AFLW preliminary finals

Nov 21, 2023

Marching on: Geelong's Rebecca Webster is one of a handful of Goulburn Valley exports with everything to play for. Photo: AAP Image/James Ross Photo by AAP Newswire

The girls of the Goulburn Valley brigade powered on in AFL Women’s semi-final action at the weekend ― but only just.

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Geelong got up the highway and over the line in a do-or-die match-up with the favoured Melbourne at IKON Park on Sunday, but had to sweat far more than anticipated in the closing stages.

In an almost identical scenario to the previous week, Benalla’s Becky Webster took the game on and became a significant influence going forward, finishing with 19 touches ― all of them uncontested, remarkably ― and 354m gained.

Kyabram’s Julia Crockett-Grills also followed up her outing from the elimination final win over Essendon in similar circumstances, registering fewer touches, but delivering a crucial major.

For the second straight finals game, though, the Cats appeared to be cruising before conceding significant ground in the final term.

On Saturday night, Geelong will receive a sterner test in a preliminary final against Brisbane Lions at Brighton Homes Arena for a spot in their first grand final.

It was heartbreak for Euroa’s Georgia Gall, not selected in the past two weeks, as her Demons followed the lead of their male counterparts by exiting finals in straight sets.

Meanwhile, with the benefit of a week off after a thumping qualifying final triumph, North Melbourne could welcome former Shepparton United junior Cassidy Mailer back to the side for its meeting with Adelaide this weekend.

Mailer, 19, will be touch and go as she continues trying to prove her fitness following a thigh injury.