Sport
9 September, 2025
Hawks fly into first grand final in 31 years
For the first time since their premiership triumph back in 1994, Talbot have punched their ticket to the grand final after conquering Carisbrook by nine goals.
After their startling run to the preliminary final last season, the underdog Hawks have gone one step further, upsetting the favoured Redbacks to earn the chance to face Avoca for the MCDFNL crown.
Talbot player-coach Eleisha Phelps said she was at a loss for words following the victory, praising her team’s effort to run the finals gauntlet.
“I think I’m still in shock — it’s exciting and I’m proud of the girls,” she said.
“No one expected us to do it. It’s been 31 years since A grade has been in the grand final, so it’s pretty exciting for Talbot.
“We had really good defensive pressure, kept composed, and were able to transition down the court quite well.”
Earning the week off after their qualifying final victory over Natte Bealiba, Carisbrook looked sharp in the early stages, getting a quick jump on their opponents with an 8-3 run to open proceedings.
Despite the Redbacks’ fantastic start, the Hawks flipped the game on its head in an instant.
Multiple defensive stops from Jess White, Jane Costello and Melissa Scott, as well as some clinical shooting from Phelps and Elenoa Costello, allowed Talbot to score 12 of the last 16 goals in the first term, building a three-goal lead at quarter time.
Elenoa Costello led the charge with 12 goals for the period, while Phelps went a perfect three from three from the field.
Carisbrook’s dangerous shooting duo of Abbey Nalder and player-coach Jordan McClure both scored six goals for the quarter.
Continuing their first-quarter momentum, the midcourt link-up between Loren Aquilina and Shianne Milera powered the Hawks’ offence to create a double-digit lead midway through the second quarter.
After only using seven players in their win over Natte, Carisbrook looked to their deep bench to stem the tide, with Ella Patten coming on into wing defence and Chloe Egan at goal keeper.
Those substitutions did help the Redbacks close the gap to seven goals, but some late breaks from the Hawks built the margin back out to 11 at half time.
Phelps maintained her perfect shooting record with seven consecutive makes in the second term, with Elenoa Costello following suit with 11 goals from 12 attempts.
Similar to Phelps, McClure was perfect from the field with five goals, while Nalder also scored five.
Despite some fantastic moments from Redbacks’ defenders Egan, Maggie Tranter and Finley Wagstaff, the Hawks’ offence continued to keep their opponents at bay.
A combined 17 goals from Elenoa Costello and Phelps stretched the margin out to 16 goals at three-quarter time, putting the game seemingly out of reach for Carisbrook.
That belief only strengthened at the start of the fourth quarter, as Talbot were expertly killing precious time by maintaining possession for extended periods and converting their centre passes.
Maintaining a healthy lead midway through the final term, it looked like the Hawks would finish the job in style.
The Redbacks had other ideas, led by McClure and star midcourter Laura Hurse, they capitalised on multiple mistakes from their opponents and began to mount a late comeback.
However, it was too little too late as Talbot officially advanced to the season finale by nine goals.
“I was still stressed right until the final siren, we got really relaxed towards the end of that last quarter and I was quite concerned but we were able to move the ball, take our time and keep our centre,” Phelps said.
“To be in front at the start and for them to chase us instead was really important to us.
“It was a rough five to seven minutes, but we adjusted quite well and then finished off that first quarter strongly.”
Elenoa Costello continued her white-hot shooting form in this finals series with a game-high 42 goals. Not to be outdone, Phelps was virtually automatic shooting the ball, converting 17 of her 18 attempts for the match.
McClure’s brilliant final term ended with her scoring 11 goals, bringing her game total to 27. Nalder was close behind with 23 makes for the game.
