Ballarat Grammar School took another positive step towards a third consecutive Herald Sun Shield by defeating Loreto College by 24 points in the Ballarat Associated School senior girls’ grand final on Thursday.
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Underdogs Loreto took it right up to Grammar in the early stages, kicking the first goal in the opening seconds and held a lead into quarter-time.
But from there on Grammar had control over the match, 14 scoring shots to five underlined its performance which eventuated in a 6.8 (44) to 3.2 (20) victory.
Coach Matt Hanlon was pleased with the girls’ ability to cope with the early pressure, and while it was not at its best, he was stoked to claim the school’s fifth BAS title in a row.
“Their ability to deal with the pressure and not panic (really impressed me),” Hanlon said.
“It’s always hard to play to your best when there’s lots of pressure. But that’s what we want, we want to play under lots of pressure, credit to Loreto...today they brought a whole new level, so it was really good for our girls, some of them wouldn’t have experienced that sort of pressure, so it was good to perform under that.”
As the girls sung the song proudly out in the middle of Ballarat Grammar’s oval, Hanlon said it was great to see how much school football meant to the group.
“We’ve only got our name on the trophy a handful of times, a few haven’t played in one before.
“We just want to savour this.
“It’s awesome to see how much it means to them as well. Some people brush off school footy, but these girls are really passionate.
“It’s a win they will remember.”
Hannah Simpson was influential in the result, impacting the scoreboard in the third term.
Co-captains and Greater Western Victoria Rebels Ella Bibby and Lauren Butler led from the front while Brooke Thompson also impressed.
Grammar now advances to the semi-final of the Herald Sun Shield in mid-July, with the traditionally strong Geelong school Sacred Heart College its likely opponent.