By Harrison Borthwick
THE South Mornington Junior Football Club under14 girls’ team have achieved premiership success in their inaugural season.
On Sunday 30 August the South Mornington Tigers defeated Rosebud 23 to 11 at Crib Point to round out what had been a remarkable season.
As footy season was on the horizon it seemed unlikely that the club would even be able to field an under14 girls’ team but after a few “Come and Try” nights they were able to recruit enough new players for the 2026 season.
What makes their success even more extraordinary was that sixteen of their twenty-one players were new to the game of football.
With so many new faces, coach Shaun Brooks’ main priority was the enjoyment and development of the girls.
“We were really competitive throughout the year with lots of development still needed. What was really pleasing was that the girls were really committed,” said Brooks.
“And then we really just grew from there, the team really connected, we focused on the fundamentals, ball movement, contested work and having fun.”
The Tiger only just snuck into the finals after winning their last game of the home-and-away season, then came up against two tough opponents in Berwick and Pearcedale, who had both finished higher than them on the ladder, to qualify for the grand final.
Come grand final day, the tigers were both nervous and confident about coming up against a Rosebud side who had gone through the entire season undefeated up until that point.
It was a tight consent with the teams locked at one-point each at quarter time, but as the last quarter hit, the tigers were able to find momentum at key moments, kicking two of their three goals in the final term, both scored by Ruby Tucker.
When the final siren sounded, South Mornington had the better of Rosebud by 12 points and the Tigers came away with the premiership.
“It was a really nice feeling,” said Brooks.
“When that siren went, we were pretty relived, there were twenty girls jumping and screaming in excitement, it was really fantastic to see.”
“We just had this groundswell of momentum. To see the girls sing the song, to kick goals, and just embrace the game, and be up on the truck receiving the trophy, it was really rewarding.”
First published in the Mornington News – 8 September 2026
