Senior women’s finals kick off with Barwon Heads taking on Colac Imperials

The finals of the AFL Barwon Senior Female Division Epworth Cup kick off on Sunday.

The elimination final sees Barwon Heads take on Colac Imperials at KFC Oval at 2pm. While at the same time Geelong West Giants face off against St Mary’s at Mortimer Oval in Drysdale in the qualifying final.

Despite Barwon Heads having finished just four points clear of Colac on the ladder, they will be the strong favourites heading into Sunday’s game.

When the two sides met in May Barwon Heads emerged as 23-3 winners. Yet the margin between the two teams would have been much greater had Barwon Heads been more accurate, as they managed 11 points but only two goals.

Barwon Heads percentage of 157.95 also dwarfs Colac Imperials 69.90.

The two sides have a history as well, with Barwon Heads winning the final over Colac by a single point last year when both sides were in Division Two.

But despite their appearance as underdogs, Colac Imperials head into the elimination final in fine form, having demolished bottom placed Ocean Grove 108-8 in their final game of the season.

Tegan Barber kicked four goals in that game to take her season tally to 14. If Barber can get enough chances up front, then Colac may be able to cause an upset.

The qualifying final taking place in Drysdale has no clear favourite, as Geelong West Giants and St Mary’s seem a perfect match for one another.

While the Giants finished ahead on the ladder, St Mary’s managed the superior percentage.

The sides met twice during the season, with a different winner on both occasions.

In their first meeting April, a stunning final quarter saw the Giants come from behind to win 43-26.

However, when the sides last met in June it was St Mary’s that walked away victors, winning 56-44.

It is likely that Sunday’s qualifying final will go down to the final quarter, if not the final minute.

Both Division 1 matches will be preceded by the same Division 2 finals, with Geelong West Giants 2 playing St Joseph’s at KFC Oval in the elimination final, and Drysdale facing St Mary’s 2 at Mortimer Oval. Both games begin a 12pm.