Olinda Women’s team put on their best performance since Anzac Day last year, defeating reigning Premiers Upwey on their home deck.
Olinda’s leadership group had some strong conversations during the week after last round’s disappointing loss against Pakenham, and the response was resounding from the first bounce.
Chelsea (Big Kahoona) Wilson was back in her rightful spot at the centre bounce and her tap to a running Captain Courageous Claire Hyett at the first bounce resulted in a perfect forward entry and subsequent goal from another returning player Amalija (Mars) Kostich Angerson, all in the first 30 seconds. Olinda has struggled with centre clearances all season but this was textbook and great reward for effort.
Chelsea’s tap work all game was exemplary and she frequently gave Olinda’s midfielders first use of the ball, as well as getting plenty of clearances and forward entries herself.
The best was yet to come for Olinda. In a superb passage of play in the middle of the quarter, Kyah (The Missile) Barry took a strong mark on the wing and powered past three chasing Upwey players, launching a rocket into the arms of a leading Olivia (The Weapon!) Edwards, 35 metres out from goal. An inexplicable 25m penalty put Liv at the top of the goal square and she duly slotted the major.
A couple of cheap goals to Upwey in the middle of the quarter levelled the scores. Olinda’s spirits were buoyed late in the quarter when Claire Hyett delivered a ferocious tackle at centre half forward and received the free kick. Claire’s drop punt into a leading 14yo (Kalamata) Olive Kelly was pinpoint. While Olinda’s coaches doubted Olive’s ability to kick the distance, she kicked the cover off the ball as it sailed through the goals post high. Olinda strode into the quarter time huddle with a seven-point lead.
Olinda didn’t register a score at the northern end all game, and in the second quarter Upwey scored 1.3 to go into half time two points in front. A brutal facial injury to leader Lily (Laser) Carlin, where she left the field with blood streaming from her face was a blow to Olinda’s chances, but they would not be deterred.
Olinda would turn the tables in the third quarter, holding Upwey scoreless and peppering the goals themselves, scoring 1.4. Olinda’s goal came late in the quarter thanks to a clever toe poke from the square by Young Blood Claudia Pitts.
Three quarter time saw Olinda with an eight-point lead, but with Upwey kicking to the scoring end it would be a tough challenge to maintain the ascendancy.
The fourth quarter saw Olinda play some of the most dour football they have played. Every Upwey possession was gained under severe pressure, and the whole quarter was a ferocious scrum of tackling, hard running and tough body work.
Olinda fought tooth and nail every contest to limit Upwey to just two points, and when the final siren sounded Olinda were six points ahead in what was a joyous victory.
The final scores were Olinda: 4.5.29 to Upwey: 3.5.23.
Olinda’s desperation and intensity was at the highest level all game, and each player put their body on the line to thwart Upwey’s ball movement or to get the ball going Olinda’s way.
Every player came off the field battered, bruised and caked in mud, but satisfied that they had pulled off one of the greatest wins in Olinda women’s football history.
While there is not enough space to mention every Olinda player that contributed, special mention must go to leaders Claire Hyett, Casey Seymour and Lily Carlin for their work mid week, pre game and during the match.
