The Esperance District Football Association were runners-up in division two at the 2024 Nutrien Ag Solutions Women’s Country Football Championships after defeat to the hands of the Great Southern Storm, 3.1(19) to 1.0(6) in the grand final at Mandurah’s Rushton Park last week.
Coach Farrin Parker said despite being disappointed in unfortunately not winning the grand final it was still a very successful Championships for the team.
“It was definitely the strongest representation we have had (at the Championships),” she said.
“All players really did play a high caliber level of football across the two days, ending up finishing top of the ladder going into the playoff”.
Leading the division after pool match wins against the Goldfields Football League and North Pilbara, Esperance faced off against their southern rivals in the grand final.
Parker said injuries to key members of the team, including Annie-May Jannings on the Thursday, didn’t faze the players heading into Friday’s grand final against the Storm.
“We unfortunately lost two girls to injury so going into the grand final with a smaller bench (and less rotations), it was such a credit to the girls to be as competitive as they were and still well and truly in the game,” she said.
Esperance scored the first goal of the match through Annika Stone but conceded the next three to go down by 13 points.
[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”22″ display=”imagebrowser” maximum_entity_count=”500″]Best named in all-stars team
A trio of Esperance footballers were named in the 20-player 2024 Nutrien Ag Solutions Women’s Country Football Championships all-stars team.
Prolific midfield pair from Gibson, Alysha Castelli and Lilly Dalton were joined by Ports ruck Chloe Seivwright who were rewarded for their outstanding performances at the two day carnival.
Coach Farrin Parker praised the trio, while acknowledging that the side had multiple player and goal of the match awards as presented by the broadcasters of the live stream on Streamer.
“It was very successful for the Association to have so many award winners,” Parker said.
Castelli capped off an impressive 2024 football season being named the division two fairest and best player.
Photos: Shazza J Photography: https://shazzajphotography.myportfolio.com
