Sport
31 July, 2025
Bloods eye first premiership
THE Terang Mortlake Bloods under 18 girls have their sights set on the ultimate prize as they prepare for this weekend’s Western Victoria Female Football League grand final.
The Bloods will take on Cavendish Football Netball Club at Reid Oval from 12noon this Sunday, August 3.
The blockbuster showdown will see the top of the table teams square off after Cavendish recorded an 8-1 season while the Bloods trailed at 7-2.
The Bloods only two losses of the year came in round three against South Warrnambool, a one-point heartbreaker, and again in round nine when Cavendish earned an impressive 5.5.35 to 0.2.2 win.
But the Bloods showed rare form in the first round of the finals against Cavendish to secure a 5.10.40 to 3.5.23 win, which sealed the grand final appearance.
Coach Kelvin Bell said the success of the year was a credit to the hard work the girls had put in since training began in November.
He said the growth of the squad has been evident since the season’s preparations began.
“We’re just looking forward to it, and it’s well deserved,” Bell said.
“The girls finished second on the ladder for the last three years – in 2023 we lost in the grand final to South Warrnambool.
“We got knocked out last year by Cavendish in the first round of the finals, but they’re back again this year.
“We beat Cavendish in our last game and they’re back this week, so hopefully we haven’t given away too much.
“It should be a good, even tussle.”
Bell said he side knew the would be going into the game as underdogs, but felt the mix of youth and experience the side boasts could provide a lift as the team hunts its first flag.
“Over half the team played in the 2023 losing grand final so there is plenty of motivation to try and go one-further this year,” he said.
“But the message has just been for them to enjoy it, embrace the week and the hype as people at school talk about it, but don’t get too over-awed by it all.
“Hopefully 10, 15 or 20 years from now they can look back and know they played in the grand final, and hopefully it was a winning one.
“They deserve it.”
Bloods captain Chloe Bell said she was proud of what her team had achieved throughout the course of the season.
“Having Jonesy (coach, Nathan Jones) last year and now Kelvin stepping up, they’ve uplifted us all really well,” she said.
“Everyone has worked so hard to make our way back to the grand final this year, we’ve all deserved it, and having two completely new teams in the grand final is going to be amazing.”
Chloe said both sides were hunting their first premiership, which would make for a motivated clash.
“Knowing a new team is going to hold the flag gives people an opportunity and opens up gates to find their full potential, which I think is really important for young girls,” she said.
Chloe said the Bloods boasted a rare mix of youth and experience, which presented opportunities across the ground for leadership to emerge in pivotal moments.
“Whether you’ve got a title or not – leadership shouldn’t have a title,” she said.
“It gives an opportunity for the younger ones to step up, see how it works and have the torch of leadership handed down.
“I think our mix gives people opportunities not every team has.”
The key to success this weekend will boil down to how the team handled the mental pressure associated with finals football, according to the skipper.
“Stay out of your heads and leave the nerves on the bench is my message to the team,” Chloe said.
“We want to come out and be open-minded.
“We’ve all worked so hard, we deserve it, and for many it could be the only grand final they’ll play so we need to work hard.
“We’ve played great, we just got to give it our all.”
The Bloods received a boost at training on Monday night when AFL legend John Rantall, a product of Cobden, met with the girls to impart his wisdom into handling finals footy.
Rantall played 336 games for North Melbourne, South Melbourne and Fitzroy, including winning a premiership with North in 1975, a Syd Baker medal the year prior and ultimately being named to both teams’ Team of the Century.
His message was to trust in their group and rise to the occasion, knowing premierships create lifelong connections.
He said he was a big believer in women’s footy and was proud to see the game grow from strength-to-strength in regional communities.
“The last time I stood on this ground (Terang Recreation Reserve) was 1962 and I was presented with the Judd Cup, which is still being presented after all these years,” he said.
“I think it’s great and I’m a great believer in women’s football.
“I know when it was first muted a lot of people disregarded them, saying it’s only a man’s sport – but it’s just not.
“Each year we’re seeing better sides and more girls wanting to play.”