THURGOONA clinched back-to-back AFL NEB Female Football League premierships when it upset Wodonga Raiders by two points at Birallee Park on Sunday.
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In a battle of wills, the Bulldogs defended bravely for the majority of the final quarter before emerging victorious 3.2 (20) to 2.6 (18).
It was Wodonga Raiders' first loss of the season.
Thurgoona set a cracking pace early with Olivia Hall booting two goals in the opening term to give the Bulldogs a 13-point buffer at the first change.
Raider Kiralee Brockhurst booted the only major of the second term to cut the deficit to three points at half-time.
The home team hit the lead for the first time when Floss Abel snapped a goal and, with Elise Franco, Sallie Findlay and Meg Todhunter working hard around the packs, the Raiders had momentum on their side.
Talented Thurgoona ruckman Jaclyn Giltrap replied minutes later to set the game up for a cracking finish.
And it was.
Wodonga Raiders attacked feverishly from the outset but were unable to break the spirit of the Bulldogs who had a star in Chelsea Hargreaves.
Defender Beth Knox received a heavy knock late and, with the clock ticking, was stretchered from the ground.
Sophie Bignell and Emilee McPherson also stood up under pressure.
Coach Tim Madden was thrilled with the way his players lifted after going down to Wodonga Raiders earlier in the finals series.
"The girls showed a lot of maturity for a young group," Madden said.
"We knew it was going to take our best going in as underdogs and I thought we played really well.
"We played our best footy at the right time of the season.
"The girls had a real crack.
"It was a really physical game and we knew we would have to tackle well to beat them.
"It was good to get reward for effort."
Madden said it was difficult to split last year's comfortable grand final win over Wodonga Raiders and Sunday's triumph.
"It's different in the sense that last year we were always thereabouts and the team all year," Madden said.
"In this one there was a bit less pressure as underdogs with such a young group."
Wodonga Raiders coach Shane Laverty was shattered by the result.
"They were too good on the day," Laverty said.
"I'm gutted and I know the girls are too."
In the youth grand final, Lavington ran-out comfortable 38-point victors over Alpine Lions.
The Panthers finished with 18 more scoring shots thanks to the workrate of centre half-forward Grace Hay and key defender Charlotte Rainbird.
Hay, who was best afield, was given plenty of opportunities by fleet-footed wingman Alice Voss.
"They are a very resilient and hard-working group," co-coach Martin White junior said.
Lavington finished as minor premier and lost only one game during the season.