“You have all the talent to win a Gold medal, but it’s not going to be easy – do the hard work and you might just win… by a step”

That was my message to our footballers ahead of the season. We, the coaches, believe you can win – but only by a kick. Get ready for a step up in competition, and we’ve certainly felt that this year throughout the GSV Australia Football season and our Herald Sun Shield campaign so far.

On Thursday 7 August, our band of sisters trotted out onto Trevor Barker Oval in Sandringham to face a formidable SEDA College side in the Semi Final of the 2025 AFL Victoria Herald Sun Shield, our fourth consecutive appearance at this stage.

The first quarter showed promising signs. Our mids won early contests, giving our forwards first opportunity, while the backline kept the ball locked in our half. Cleo M could have marked 20 kicks, but was constantly bumped off the ball, yet the ball lived in our forward 50 for nearly the entire quarter. The second quarter followed a similar pattern, with dominant ruck work from Captain Edie M, Chloe W covering every blade of grass, and the Perrett sisters running rampant. We led 32–7 at halftime and looked ready to break the game open.

But true to the quote above, SEDA College found another gear. They kicked three unanswered goals, narrowing the margin to just 10 points. It was a moment for our players to dig deep and stick together, and they did. Midfield clearances from Macy W, Emily A, and Grace A, forward craft from Aggie C-L, and defensive grit from Sam O, Jemima R, and Gigi R helped us hold firm.

The final quarter was a celebration. The team responded to Colin’s three-quarter-time huddle speech, kicked clear, and held the lead 51–26 until the final siren.

We now stand within reach of history – a Herald Sun Shield three-peat – and face a familiar opponent: Caulfield Grammar, for the third year in a row.

Tuesday 19 August … Port Melbourne Oval … 9.30am … History is on the line, but only by a kick!