Jimboomba Redbacks brushed aside their underdog status to win the Queensland Football Association Women's Division 2 grand final on Sunday.
The Redbacks beat the highly fancied Beenleigh Buffaloes, who finished on top of the table after the home and away rounds, 4-4-28 to 4-3-27.
The Redbacks, who enjoyed great support from their fans who travelled to the match at Bond University on the Gold Coast, were made to fight all the way in the win.
They had a seven point lead cut down to one midway through the final term, and defended hard deep in their own territory to secure the victory in a physical encounter.
Beenleigh pushed hard, but could not get past the Redbacks' defence.
It was a sister act at the other end of the park. Hayley and Larni Milne joined Courtney Turner and Emily Dunn on the scoresheet.
Dunn's fourth-quarter major was a big part of the team getting over the line.
Earlier, the teams traded goals in the first quarter, before the Buffaloes skipped out to a six-point lead by the main break.
The Redbacks turned it around in the third term, and led 21-14 at three-quarter time.
Beenleigh kicked two goals to Jimboomba's one in the fourth quarter, but it was not enough, despite the sustained pressure on the Redbacks' defence.
It was a long final term, 21 minutes instead of the usual 12 plus injury time, as players dropped like flies after a brutal match were tensions threatened to spill over.
The win is a remarkable achievement, given 14 of the Redbacks had never kicked a Sherrin before this season started.
Coach Steve Alford lauded the players for their attitude during the match as they battled in every contest.
You've just got to weather that storm. It's about getting down there and flooding that zone
- Coach Steve Alford on his team's final quarter defence
Alford and the team abandoned the full forward position in a bid to have everyone behind the ball.
"That's why we flooded the back line," he said.
"You've just got to weather that storm. It's about getting down there and flooding that zone."
He said Phoebe Balmforth was the standout in the ruck.
"Phoebe Balmforth set the tone from the first ruck contest," Alford said.
Alford said in the week leading up to the match that fitness would be the key, and he was proved right on the day, with his team's engines helping them get the win.
The Redbacks were yet to beat the Buffaloes this season. The teams drew back in July, before Beenleigh got the better of Jimboomba in their second encounter.
Alford praised Beenleigh for their strong season at the presentation.
Win will inspire local women
The Redbacks' brave grand final victory will inspire young mums to have a crack at the code next year, the club president says.
Tom Vidoni, whose wife Rosanna and daughter Olivia played in the team which beat Beenleigh Buffaloes at the Gold Coast on Sunday, said he hoped more women would sign up and get in on the club's success.
The women defended staunchly to win by a point in the season decider, 4-4-28 to 4-3-27.
Vidoni said he was blown away by the players.
"I'm so proud of them," he said.
"On the way back from the Gold Coast, I cried all the way home. I just could not believe what they did.
"It was such an emotional time at the club last night."
He paid tribute to his players for their strong season, after finishing third on the ladder behind Beenleigh and Sherwood.
The women revelled in the underdog status, first beating Sherwood in the semi-final before knocking off Beenleigh in the final.
"These players, half of them had never played before. And the ones who did had only played junior footy," Vidoni said.
"They were on their hands and knees at times, fighting for every contest.
"My wife was out there, smashing players.
"All the young mums out there now know they can get out there and have a crack."
Vidoni urged supporters to get down to Glenlogan Park on the weekend for the last home matches of the year.
The Masters team is in action on Saturday, followed by the under 12s, 16s and 17s on Sunday on a huge day for the club.
