Trailing by three goals at the final break of the clash at Wangaratta, Majella Day booted three fourth-quarter goals — including a sharp left-foot snap for the sealer — to help power the Bushrangers to a seven-point win.
Sophia Green, Carmela Perri and Ellie Hall were instrumental, while the backline, which featured Shepparton United’s Leila Creevey, kept the Knights to one behind for the entire second half.
With a 7-6 record, the Bushrangers are perched in eighth place, setting the stage for a do-or-die final-round clash against Geelong at Deakin Reserve on Sunday, August 24.
But after being a part of the weekend’s “awesome win” and seeing the team’s journey unfold throughout the season, coach Tyson Saunders says that won’t be the marker by which his united Bushrangers will be judged in 2025.
And the message from the Bushies’ mentor for the Deakin game is simple; get on down and support the next generation of future stars.
“Seven wins in the season is just unbelievable,” Saunders said.
“As a coaching group and a club we're so proud of what they've done and we'll just continue to build off the back of what the girls delivered on the weekend.
“They get the week off with National Championships, and then we get another bye, so it is a bit of an extended break before our next game.
“Regardless of the (Geelong) result, I think we'll celebrate this season as creating a foundation moving forward for some really good footballers and some really good talent that's coming through in the area.”
Meanwhile, a gallant Bushies couldn’t topple the Knights despite a fast start in the boys’ fixture.
They jumped to a seven-point advantage at quarter-time before the Knights launched a comeback, keeping the Bushies at bay for the remaining three quarters to claim a 21-point victory.
Blake Newton booted five goals, while Mooroopna’s Caden Ratcliffe and Shepparton's Angus Williams were named in the best.
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