It remains uncertain how many will fork out their hard-earned cash to watch a state league women\u2019s Grand Final at Etihad Stadium; it\u2019s uncertain how many will watch the first ever telecast of a state league women\u2019s match, to be aired live on Channel 7.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s uncertain if these two teams will ever meet again at this higher level of Victorian women\u2019s football with a VFLW licence shake-up on the cards; and most importantly, it\u2019s truly uncertain who will end the match victorious and as 2017 premiers.<\/p>\n
However, if there\u2019s one certainty, it\u2019s that there will be plenty of the emotion in the match, as two old foes go to battle in their fifth \u2013 and possibly last \u2013 Grand Final in six years.<\/p>\n
Melbourne AFLW midfielder and captain of the Darebin Falcons Elise O\u2019Dea told Girls Play Footy she hopes it won\u2019t be the last time her side plays together as a team in the VFLW.<\/p>\n
\u201cReally, the only thing I\u2019ll be thinking about going into the game is that I\u2019ll be hoping it isn\u2019t the last time I play with this bunch of girls,\u201d O\u2019Dea said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re a terrific bunch of girls, and I\u2019ve got some really great friendships here, I love playing football here and I think our football shows that.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen things don\u2019t go our way, we don\u2019t turn on each other \u2013 we embrace the challenge.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m glad that we\u2019ve got to play as many games as possible this year\u2026 that\u2019s the bonus of playing in a Grand Final, that you\u2019ve played as many games as possible, and hopefully give it a good send off if it is the last time we all play together.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Falcons already had one send off for the year, when in the final round they had a day of celebrations marking their last ever state league match at AH Capp Reserve in West Preston, a small ground that saw many teams end up on the wrong side of a Darebin thrashing.<\/p>\n
Darebin\u2019s state league farewell to \u201cThe Nest\u201d came about due to AFL Victoria requiring all VFL Women\u2019s teams to be playing out of a \u2018VFL standard\u2019 ground from 2018, as part of their move to a more professional environment for women\u2019s football.<\/p>\n
Another complexity is that with Melbourne\u2019s VFL sub-branch \u2013 the Casey Demons \u2013 entering a side in the VFLW next season, Melbourne might request that their stars such as Elise O\u2019Dea, Daisy Pearce, Karen Paxman and Melissa Hickey run around for Casey next VFLW season, rather than the Falcons, even if Darebin was to still be in the VFLW in 2018<\/p>\n
Already Cranbourne and Seaford have bowed out of top flight state league football after just two seasons, joining North Geelong and Knox who only lasted one year.<\/p>\n
Question marks already hang over the head of the ex-VWFL Premier Division clubs, with sides like the Eastern Devils required to find a \u2018VFL standard\u2019 ground when there are none in their area.<\/p>\n
The Devils are also contemplating whether it is worth it to pay the expensive yearly licence fee, especially if they\u2019ll lose some or a bulk of their talent to potential AFL club-backed VFLW newcomers.<\/p>\n
Diamond Creek is also in the same boat, needing a home ground that is \u2018VFL standard\u2019; plus facing the prospect of losing future stars that would normally come to them from the Calder Cannons, who are now expected to head to soon-to-be confirmed VFLW newcomer, Essendon.<\/p>\n
150-game footballer and Diamond Creek co-captain Tanya Hetherington told Girls Play Footy that a Grand Final win for the Creekers, in what might be their last ever state league match, would mean everything to her club.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is kind of fitting that it is Diamond Creek versus Darebin, because we\u2019ve played off in so many Grand Finals, and each one of them has meant a huge amount to both clubs,\u201d Hetherington said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe haven\u2019t spoken about it too much, but it will definitely be brought up this week.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think with the fact that it could be the last time, we don\u2019t know what the future holds.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt would mean a lot to walk away with the premiership cup because we\u2019re such a proud club, and we really are like family.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll definitely be playing for each other, the club, and the community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both clubs tell a great story coming into the final game of the 2017 VFLW season.<\/p>\n
A weakened and wounded Darebin paints the picture of a champion getting back up off the canvas to go one more round and do the improbable: win five flags in a row, tying the consecutive streak of premiership wins the club accrued during the Peta Searle-coached era.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Diamond Creek may be the favourite, but is quick to remind everyone the Creekers the underdog, only beating the Falcons for the third time ever two weeks ago in the Semi-Final.<\/p>\n
Their second ever victory came earlier this year at home, albeit against a depleted Darebin outfit missing many of its stars.<\/p>\n
The other occasion\u00a0being the 2012 Grand Final when they claimed the premiership, and were the last team to beat Darebin in the final game of the year.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s not much that can be done about the uncertainty around the future of these clubs in the state league until AFL Victoria makes its announcement on licences in October, but there\u2019s something that can be done about the other uncertainties.<\/p>\n
When it comes to uncertainty about crowd size, tell your friends and family about the event and how two great clubs might be going to battle for one last time.<\/p>\n
If they\u2019re uncertain they can make it, then tell them to either flick on the TV and watch it on Channel 7, or turn on their digital radio and listen to RSN Carnival for Girls Play Footy\u2019s radio broadcast. Or both, if you want to be creative.<\/p>\n
Whatever the future for Darebin and Diamond Creek, they deserve a big crowd at the ground and a big audience tuning in at home to salute what\u2019s been a great rivalry.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
12pm AEST
\nSunday, September 24 at Etihad Stadium<\/p>\n