AFTER an outstanding performance at last week’s SA country football representative championships, Casterton’s Zhane Crawford is back in the spotlight, named best on ground in the Hamilton Kangaroos’ history-making premiership win at the weekend.

Joining Hamilton in the local competition’s off-season, Crawford was stunning in the Kangaroos’ 12-point win over the Horsham Demons in Sunday’s Western Victoria Female Football League (WVFFL) senior women’s grand final – the first for the Blue and Whites.

Post-match Crawford said she was “really feeling it” throughout the game, but ecstatic with the outcome and proud of her teammates.

“I had to really dig deep for it … really wanted that ball and I guess it showed,” she said.

“The desperation for the ball was immaculate today, the girls really outdid themselves, kept their heads up.”

In just her second season of football – her first only months ago with the Cats’ Limestone Coast women’s league premiership team – Crawford is already tagged as “someone to keep an eye on in the future” by Casterton Sandford and Roo teammate, Scarlett Jarrad.

“Her second and third-efforts were just bloody amazing,” Jarrad said on Monday.

“Her raw talent is just unreal; I don’t think she’ll be playing around here very long before someone scoops her up and she’s playing elsewhere.”

While unable to take the field on Sunday after sustaining a knee injury in the SA championships, Jarrad was trackside to cheer-on the Roos’ side, including fellow Casterton Sandford Cats, Emily Huglin, Natalie Kalms, Carlie Smith, Elly Kumari, Chantelle Johnson, Emma Lynch, Bec Malseed, Chloe Finnigan and Chloe Smith.

The Blue and Whites kicked against the breeze to open proceedings and a strong defensive effort saw the Roos hold Horsham to just three behinds in the first term.

The locals made use of the conditions in the second term, with Emily Pitts breaking through to kick the first goal of the game, before the Roos doubled-up to go into the main break leading by 11 points.

The second quarter was soured by a suspected collarbone injury to Hinemoa Biddle-Maitland, sidelining her for the rest of the game.

Hamilton had dominated the first half, but the Demons hadn’t lost to the Roos all season and would be out to claw back the deficit.

Horsham was kicking to the scoring end and from the midway point of the quarter, the Demons peppering the goals, but inaccuracy proved costly with the team kicking 1.6 for the term.

Despite the flurry of scoring chances, Horsham led by just one point at the final break.

Mimi Chun was forced from the field with a rolled ankle but took her place on the field in the last quarter, kicking an early goal to give the Kangaroos back the lead, before Chelsea Wain also hit the scoreboard to see the blue and white record a 5.3 (33) to 2.9 (21) victory.

Crawford was stunning in defence, rebounding and forcing the ball forward for the winners, collecting the best on ground medal, while Pitts finished with two majors as the team’s only multiple goal kicker.

Leah Mirtschin rounded out the goal kickers for the blue and white.

Kangaroos coach, Pat Sherlock said he was confident going into the decider.

“I did have the belief all week that we had the potential to do it,” he said.

“All week I didn’t see the result going the other way.”

Starting the game off so well defensively was critical, particularly going against the breeze and Sherlock said his message was simple around how to play the conditions.

“I told them if we start with the wind, we need to kick one or two and if we start against the wind, we needed to stop them from scoring,” he said.

“I thought we could lift at half time knowing full well Horsham were going to come out hard again.

“I did think it was our pressure which made them make the mistakes, Brooke (Peel) was amazing back there and having the courage to run with the ball.

“I sort of put it (the misses at goal) down to our pressure on the kicker.”

With an even spread of contributors, it was Crawford who got the plaudits, but Sherlock said others also played important roles.

“I think they were starting to follow her around in the end,” he said.

“Pittsy was good and Caroline McGrath was fantastic, I don’t think there was a centre clearance on the day where she wasn’t involved.”

Roos captain, Bec Malseed said it was a mix of emotions and was excited to be part of a historic group for the club.

“Unbelievably amazing, I don’t think there are any words to describe being winners after going in as underdogs,” she said.

“The girls were phenomenal, they dug deep and it is just a great result.

“We have made history for the Hamilton Kangaroos, to be able to bring home a premiership to the town – it is euphoric.”