Tara Murray
Gisborne’s Essendon District Football League division 1 women’s season has again come to an end at the hands of the Essendon Doutta Stars for a second straight year.
For a second year in a row, the Bulldogs have faced the Stars in a knockout semi final with the result being the same both times, a Stars win.
The Stars kicked the only two goals of the first quarter and increased the lead to 35 points at the main break.
The game was over at three quarter time, with the Stars having a match winning 55 point lead.
The Bulldogs showed some resistance in the final quarter and finally got on the scoreboard, with three final quarter goals.
It wasn’t enough with the Stars winning, 11.5 (71)-(22).
Bulldogs coach Jason Peak said they were beaten by a better team on the day.
“I would say they were a little bit better in too many areas,” he said.
“I think we let ourselves down early in the game. We were competitive but not disciplined enough in doing the little things and we know that.
“I think last quarter showed that we can compete with them. We need to figure out a way for doing it for four quarters, not for just one.”
Peak said the last quarter showed what they can do when they stick to processes and they were pleased to have finished the match on a positive note.
“It was a reward for effort more than anything else,” he said. We tried really hard and we were really competitive when we had to be.
“I felt like we got some reward for some of the effort we had throughout the game.”
It was all single goal kickers for the Bulldogs.
Peak said they had a few standouts.
“I thought Chiara Dickins was probably our best across half forward,” he said.
“She had a fantastic last month and is one of those who has improved and improved as the year went on and over the years.
“Her work rate was immense today. I was so glad to see her kick a goal towards the end, probably our best.
“The usual suspects Shannon [McFerran] and Claire [Bourdon] across half back both played really well again. They were the main three.”
The loss has the Bulldogs finishing fourth for a second year. The Stars will face Burnside Heights for a spot in the grand final against Greenvale.
Peak said they were still in a good spot for the future.
“Nothing lost, nothing gained and not a failure,” he said. “We had a couple more extra younger players come in.
“Shakira Parker played across half forward and played every game bar one I think as a 16 year old.
“We had a couple like that. There’s a good bunch of four or five under-18s to come up next year, and we’re looking forward to them coming up.
“We feel like we will be in a good position next year. Bridget Macdonald-Myers played half back and then forward in the last quarter and made a difference.
“Lex [Alexia Todorovic] only played two games with us, but showed something as well.”
