Padua College was proudly represented by four teams in the Herald Sun Shield Finals Series this month, with all teams demonstrating outstanding commitment, determination, and sportsmanship throughout their respective campaigns. Competing against some of the strongest school football programs in Victoria, our students represented Padua College with distinction and should be extremely proud of their achievements.
Senior Girls AFL Division B Grand Final
Following a dominant finals campaign, our Senior Girls progressed to the Division B Grand Final at Tony Sheehan Oval in Bundoora. The girls produced one of their most complete performances of the season, dominating from the opening bounce and showcasing their skill, teamwork, and determination. Congratulations to our Senior Girls AFL Division B team on their premiership win against Our Lady of Mercy College with an outstanding 56-point victory and well done to Ruby Geurts who won Best on Ground. As a result, the Senior Girls will be promoted to Division A next year.
"On Tuesday 8 September, our Senior Girls Football team celebrated a big win in the Herald Sun Grand Final, securing the premiership title. It was fun to watch and cheer on the Intermediate Girls team that played before us and having them around really boosted our spirits as they supported and motivated us during our game. The first half was intense and closely contested, with both teams displaying fair and even skills. However, we regrouped during halftime as Patto, Morgs and Tranter gave us some motivating words making us come out strong in the third quarter. We began dominating the stoppages, winning contests and kicked several quick goals that increased our lead immensely and took control of the game. Our momentum continued to build and we maintained our lead until the final whistle. Winning the premiership was a testament to our hard work, teamwork and resilience. We couldn't have achieved it without the incredible support from our inter girls and the coaching staff who came along including Heidi who has gone above and beyond to organise us. We couldn't be more grateful for the opportunity to compete at such a high level and the experiences that came with it."
Jemma Judkins, Year 11 Elizabeth House, and Amelia Hamod, Year 11 Francis House
Intermediate Girls AFL Grand Final
Congratulations to our Intermediate Girls team on showing tremendous determination in a finals contest with Emmaus College. The girls produced a competitive performance despite conceding an early lead. Padua's ball movement and effort around the contest allowed them to remain competitive for much of the game, with several players stepping up and making valuable contributions. Emmaus proved effective in generating scoring opportunities and were ultimately able to maintain their advantage on the scoreboard.
Senior Boys AFL Division A Semi Final
Congratulations to our Senior Boys AFL team on securing a spot in the Semi Final, taking on Emmanuel College Warrnambool in the Division A at Dingley. Playing in extremely challenging weather conditions, the match developed into a tough defensive contest with limited scoring opportunities. Despite the loss, team showed tremendous resilience and effort throughout the contest, never giving up despite the tough conditions. The entire squad should be commended for reaching the Division A Semi Final and competing strongly against one of the state's top football programs.
Intermediate Boys AFL Division 2 Semi Final Round Robin
The Intermediate Boys travelled to Altona to compete in a unique three-game cross-over round robin format, with only the top-performing school progressing to the next stage of the competition. The boys enjoyed a strong day of football, winning two of their three matches and competing at a consistently high standard. While disappointed not to advance to the next stage, the boys can take great pride in their performances. They demonstrated excellent teamwork, resilience, and sportsmanship throughout the day.
Photos courtesy of Lachie Chugg.