With promotion secured last week, Eltham Redbacks are out to go one better in chasing the VPLW league title in the final round of the season, at Quarries Park against Clifton Hill on Saturday afternoon.
The Redbacks hold a three-point lead over second-placed Brunswick Juventus, so a draw at a minimum would secure the trophy. But Jonathan Barrientos and these Redbacks don’t play for draws, and they’ll be out to finish the season in flying form.
This position has been earned via some electric attacking football across the season. Eltham’s 74-goal haul is by far the league’s largest heading into the final fixture, with Bundoora United the next best on 62. Izzy Berks has supplied 30 of the 74 off her own boot, and she will be chasing the golden boot crown on Saturday with Bundoora’s Addison Steiner currently one strike ahead of her in that respect. Paige Foa has chipped in with 12 while Alexandra Giovino has found the net 10 times and Claudia Dimasi eight, creating a fearsome, 60-goal attacking line-up.
The result will be far from a foregone conclusion with Clifton Hill sitting in sixth place on the table, the ‘best of the rest’ behind the top five teams that have all been vying for promotion all year. Eltham only narrowly secured a point in the reverse fixture at home back in May when Natsumi Kanno converted an 89th-minute penalty to record a 2-2 draw.
A years’ worth of fantastic football, grit and determination and 100% backing from the Redbacks community week in, week out. It all comes down to the final day, and one final result to place Eltham in the history books forever.
Saturday 29 August, 3pm, Quarries Park, Clifton Hill.