First Nations Round for Thornton/Eildon footballers

Thornton/Eildon 3.4-22 defeated by Yea 6.7-43

IN women’s football last week Thornton/Eildon hosted Yea for the First Nations Round with the home team proudly wearing their new indigenous jumpers that were designed in co-operation with local artist Sammy Trist.

The jumpers representing the local rivers, spirits and a proud representation of community. Prior to the game players and supporters from both teams gathered to hear from Aunty Aurore of the Taungurung people.

She spoke of her proud indigenous heritage, the importance of the land the team gathered on and the meaning of the smoking ceremony that both teams participated in.

At the first bounce it was clear that the game was to be played out in a fierce but fair battle with both teams desperately needing the win to keep their finals hopes alive.

In what would be a high scoring first quarter it was Yea who would kick the first goal, but Thornton/Eildon’s Kristy Pearce returned fire with a goal of her own. However, it was Yea who had the ascendancy and headed into the first break with a 13-point lead.

In the second quarter the contest evened out with the ball rebounding from backline to backline. Bechet Cousens at full back defended as though her life depended on it while Mia Supple, Xalia Sutton Stevenson and Caroline Fulton continued to work tirelessly to support Bechet. Jade Mewburn was switched into the midfield with immediate results kicking Thornton’s only goal for the quarter while Yea themselves could also only manage one goal for the quarter.

With the margin now 15 points in favour of Yea, the away team was seemingly in control, but Thornton/Eildon was not yet done. Lucy McRae and Anna Pitt continued to impact each contest which saw the ball enter deep into the home team’s forward line finding Lilah Weaver-Galbraith 10 metres in the clear resulting in her first goal in football.

Yea however had a slight advantage scoring a major late, again outscoring Thornton/Eildon to take a handy 21-point lead at three quarter time.

With belief learned from the previous game against Yea a fortnight earlier where Thornton/Eildon came from three goals down to take the lead in the last quarter only to be beaten in the final moments, the final quarter was set to be an encounter that would entertain the supporters that had gathered from both teams.

As the battle intensified and with the ball moving from end to end it was Yea’s early scoring opportunities that would see them take victory by 23 points with both teams only scoring singular points for the quarter.

Later that evening a knowledgeable crowd gathered and were entertained by Music Trivia with this year’s winning team of the Heards and Fitzpatricks pipping back to…

Image: The Thornton Eildon women’s football team resplendent in their new First Nations uniforms.