THE Lady Eagles’ 2026 season came to an end last Saturday at the TCA Ground in the SFLW Community League semi-final against Hutchins. Based on previous encounters it was always going to be a tough task for the Eagles. They lost previous encounters with Hutchins in the 2025 Qualifying Final by 63-points, the 2025 Preliminary Final by 22-points and their only encounter this season by 52-points.
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The Eagles kicked to the city end of the TCA in the first quarter. The sun was shining but there was a strong blustery breeze which favoured the city end. The Eagles bounced straight out of the centre with their first goal from Sophie Farrow at the two-minute mark of the quarter. Play was confined between the two 50 metre arcs for
some time before Hutchins recorded their first goal at the 11-minute mark via Emma Upton. The Eagles retaliated quickly when Sidonie Skelly bounced one through from long range at the 12-minte mark.
A strong mark and goal from Tiarna Ford at the 14-minute mark gave the Eagles a 10-point lead. A Hutchins goal from Brooke Miller just before the siren reduced the New Norfolk lead to four points at the first break. While the Eagles held a slim lead, the big question was whether it was enough as they had the advantage of a strong breeze and Hutchins had managed to score two goals and two behinds against the breeze to be close at the first change. Quarter-time scores were New Norfolk 3.0 (18) to Hutchins 2.2 (14).
Hutchins had the aid of the breeze in the second quarter. The Eagles were defending strongly in the first six minutes of the quarter with all players in the Hutchins forward line. It took until the seven minute mark for Hutchins to record their first goal of the quarter and take the lead for the first time in the match. They followed up with another goal at the 12-minute mark as the Eagles were doing a great job against the breeze.
The Eagles could only manage a single behind for the quarter but would have been happy with their performance in holding Hutchins to two goals with the breeze and to trail by only nine points at the main break. Half-time scores were Hutchins 4.4 (28) to New Norfolk 3.1 (19).
It was important that the Lady Eagles made good use of the breeze in the third quarter to try to get a lead on Hutchins going into the last term. The breeze was not as strong as the first half, but Hutchins came out full of running and really put the pressure on the Eagles. Goals at the 10- and 11-minute marks of the quarter gave Hutchins a 20-point lead.
The Eagles, while fighting hard, were finding it difficult to get any score on the board. Hutchins recorded another goal at the 16-minute mark of the quarter to really put the game beyond the Eagles, who could only manage one behind for the quarter. Hutchins held a match-winning lead of 27 points at three-quarter time and were kicking with the aid of the breeze in the last term. Three-quarter time scores were Hutchins 7.5 (47) to New Norfolk 3.2 (20).
The breeze eased in the final term. Hayley Browning gave the Eagles a glimmer of hope with a goal at the two-minute mark of the term to reduce the lead to 21-points. A snap from Brooke Miller at the 9-minute mark restored the Hutchins lead to 27 points.
The Eagles were giving their all but another goal to Mia Giles at the 11-minute mark put the game beyond their reach. The final margin of 34-points looks reasonably comfortable. However, the Eagles were very competitive in each quarter and really took it up to their bigger and stronger opponents.
They won the first quarter and were only outscored by seven points in the final term, in what was a very good performance. It was a great team effort by the Lady Eagles as every player contributed. The Eagles should be proud of their performance on Saturday and for their successful 2026 season.
The New Norfolk District Football Club congratulates all Lady Eagle players who represented the club throughout the season. They are a credit to themselves and the club, and we thank them for their commitment and spirit and the way they approach community football.
There were tears in the change rooms after the game as coach Zoie Crawford announced her retirement after a long and distinguished career. She addressed the players and congratulated them on their season and the improvements made and asked them to stick together as she saw potential for the group to continue to improve. She also thanked the support staff and volunteers who helped to make the season a success.
In the Qualifying Final 2, Claremont defeated The Port Women by 24 points to move into the grand final, meaning Hutchins will play The Port Women in the Preliminary Final at Pembroke Park.
CHRIS LOVELL
Final Scores
New Norfolk 4G 3B 27 points
Hutchins 9G 7B 61 points
Best – New Norfolk: Ashley Harwood, Erin Lawler, Ellie Henricks, Tiarna Ford, Sophie
Farrow, Sidonie Skelly; Hutchins: S. Botterill-James, E. Upton, G. Crawford, N. Terry. M. Crosby, A. Park.
Goals – New Norfolk: Tiarna Ford, Sidonie Skelly, Hayley Browning, Sophie Farrow; Hutchins: B. Miller 3, M. Crosby 3, M. Giles, E. Upton, A. Park.
NEXT GAMES
Saturday 5, September 5 at Pembroke Park, Sorell
Dodges Ferry Under-18 Boys v Hobart Under 18 Boys at 9am
Cygnet Reserves v Lindisfarne Reserves at 10.55am
The Port Senior Women v Hutchins Senior Women at 12.50pm
Sorell Senior Men v Hobart Senior Men at 2.30pm
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